Thinking of becoming a driving instructor?

READ THIS FIRST!

So you’re a good driver, you enjoy driving, great, this will help you pass the part two exam, but being a good driver does not necessarily mean you will make a good instructor. Can you transfer your knowledge to others? Previous teaching experience whilst obviously an advantage is not a requirement, but the ability to learn the skills and techniques needed to teach others is! Do you believe you have this ability? If you’re not sure find out now, not after you’ve paid for your training course.

Please take the time to consider the following points. They’re not exhaustive, but may give you some idea as to the pitfalls that await the unwary.

• Most driving instructors are self employed. This means if you don’t work you don’t get paid.

• “Earn £30,000 per year!!!!!” Yes it’s possible but unlikely, particularly in your first few years of trading.

• “Work the hours that suit you!!!” Only if they’re the same hours that your pupils want! This job is by nature unsocial, you must be prepared to work when people are available.

• DO YOUR RESEARCH!!! Don’t part with your hard earned cash until you’ve shopped around. There are some very good training companies who offer value for money together with high quality, consistent training. Unfortunately, like nearly every other industry we have our share of sharks. Failing the exams, or simply deciding this job isn’t for you can be very disappointing, to then be told that you are not entitled to a refund on the balance of your unused training can be a real blow. Remember: Read the small print!!

• After passing parts one & two of the qualifying exams you may wish to obtain a pink PDI (Potential Driving Instructor) badge. This allows you to legally charge pupils for lessons and at the same time gain experience in preparation for the third and final exam, the test of training ability. You can only do this if your training provider or a third party driving school is willing to sponsor you. If you are successful in obtaining a sponsor you may be offered a franchise opportunity. Be careful! You could be asked to sign a contract for twelve months or more, your PDI badge is only valid for six months with the chance of getting a second one being highly unlikely. Therefore if you fail the final exam (Maximum three attempts) or simply decide to give up the idea you may well have to find the balance of the outstanding franchise payments even though you are no longer involved with giving instruction. Once again: Read the small print!! Do not get tied into a long contract!!

We can’t claim to be impartial; after all we are in this industry. However we do have a policy of giving best advice, so if the above hasn’t answered all your questions please feel free to give us a ring.