For many people, becoming a driving instructor is a rewarding and flexible career. It offers good earning potential, the chance to help people and independence. However, just like any job, it comes with its challenges.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of becoming a driving instructor and what you can expect to encounter. By the end, you should have enough information to help you make the right decision for your career.
Is being a driving instructor a good job?
Being a driving instructor is an excellent job for the right person. Specifically, it can be a very worthwhile and rewarding career choice if you:
- Want to be in charge of your own business and schedule
- Are looking for a career that’s in demand
- Love helping people and seeing them grow in confidence
- Prefer flexible hours and earning potential
- Enjoy meeting people and learning about them.
On the other hand, it may not suit everyone. For example, it might not be the perfect choice if you prefer a fixed routine or guaranteed amount of income. As with all jobs, there are also challenges and stressful times.
What makes a good driving instructor?
To meet the challenges of the role, a good driving instructor must have a combination of:
- Driving skills and knowledge
- Training and qualifications
- Personal traits and soft skills.
As part of your driving instructor training, you take both a written and practical driving test before you can sit with a learner driver. But passing tests isn’t the only indicator of whether or not you’ll be a good driving instructor. You’ll also need to be patient and a good communicator, for example.
One way to decide if being a driving instructor is the right fit for you is by weighing up the pros and cons.
What are the pros of becoming a driving instructor?
1. You get to be your own boss
Do you dream of being self-employed? Or maybe you have ambitions of being your own boss and owning your own business? Well, as a driving instructor, you can do both.
Whether you sign up for a national driving school franchise or follow a more independent route, becoming a driving instructor allows you to take charge of your career. You can choose when to give driving lessons, when to take time off, and how many students you want to teach.
Remember that the more driving lessons you book with students, the more money you’ll earn. Your income can grow over time as you gain in experience and reputation. The average driving instructor salary can be around £31,000 a year in the UK, after tax, national insurance and expenses.
2. Driving instructors are always in demand
New learner drivers are looking to practise their skills every day, and this isn’t going to change any time soon. That means starting a career as a full-time driving instructor offers plenty of job security, with the industry seeing record numbers of learner drivers take to the road.
If you spend time building a good reputation, you can build a steady stream of new learners. As your reputation grows, you can build a steady flow of learners and charge competitive hourly rates.
3. You can help others
As most professional driving instructors will tell you, teaching learners how to drive is a fun and rewarding experience. After all, we were all learner drivers at one stage – and our instructors made a huge difference in how we felt about driving.
Much like other professions where you can help and teach others, a career as a driving instructor has excellent job satisfaction. Just imagine your students’ faces when they get their licences. It’s a feeling that can’t be recreated in many other jobs.
Being able to drive is an important life milestone which gives people freedom and opportunities. As they learn to drive, they often develop in confidence as well – and you could be a key part of that journey.
4. Flexible hours
Driving instructors typically have the choice to work part-time or full-time. You can even work as an instructor if you already have a job and set your own hours to work around your schedule.
When you set your own hours, you’re also free to take time off or go on holiday whenever you want. Of course, the more available you are, the more lessons you’ll book. In turn, you’ll earn even more money and ultimately have more financial freedom.
What’s more, you can even begin earning money as a trainee driving instructor, making this career path even more affordable.
5. Meeting new people
Being a driving instructor means you interact with different people every day. You’ll get to meet people from various backgrounds, of different ages and with different driving skills. This means your lessons will never be dull.
You can also use your social skills to boost your instructional ability. When you can be more open and light-hearted with your students, they’ll usually do much better than if you’re cold. Learning to drive can be daunting, and having a friendly, patient instructor can make all the difference.
What are the cons of becoming a driving instructor?
While there are plenty of benefits to becoming a driving instructor, there are also potential drawbacks to consider.
1. You’re typically self-employed
Being a driving instructor gives you a lot of freedom. But if you struggle to manage your time, being self-employed can be a learning curve. Of course, you won’t earn a set salary unless you manage your time and clients wisely. This means that there may be a little uncertainty about how much you’re earning every month.
Still, if you work out a schedule for yourself and secure a set number of bookings every month, your salary will be just as consistent as with any other job. Plus, you don’t have a cap on how much you can earn or your hourly rate. If you have a week or two where you want to work longer to earn more, you can.
As a driving instructor, you have the option to work either independently or under a driving school. If you choose to work within a driving school franchise, you receive all the support you need to set yourself up for self-employed success.
2. Spending time in a car
As a driving instructor, the car will become a combined second home and office space. When you have back-to-back lessons, sitting in the car for extended periods means getting in your daily exercise routine can be a bit of a challenge.
However, you probably wouldn’t be thinking about becoming a driving instructor if you weren’t really passionate about driving. A key part of working for yourself is to plan breaks and downtime when you need it. Choosing the right tuition car can also go a long way to make your office space comfortable.
3. Some lessons can be challenging
Every pupil is unique and learns in a different way. This means patience and perseverance are incredibly important to instil confidence in your students. These traits are key to success in terms of reaching your potential as a driving instructor.
When you master your professional skills, sharing them with others is fun and rewarding. Although you may feel like driving lessons can sometimes be difficult, they don’t have to be. Interacting with different learners in each lesson helps to gain experience.
4. There may be competition
Because of the high demand for driving instructors, there is bound to be some strong competition. If you build a good reputation you won’t have to worry about your students looking elsewhere for an instructor.
Word of mouth is also a powerful marketing strategy. By putting effort and passion into your career, you’ll reap the rewards. Plus, when you have a positive impact on your students, they’ll naturally recommend you to their friends and family.
5. You’ll need to pass some exams
To qualify as a driving instructor, you’ll need to take and pass a series of three qualifications. This process is usually manageable with the right effort and attitude to learning. However, it may be hard to become a driving instructor if you’re not used to learning, or if you don’t find the role a good fit.
On the other hand, if you’re passionate about learning and are ready to put the effort in, passing the ADI tests is definitely achievable.
Become a Driving Instructor with Bill Plant Driving School
If you feel that becoming a driving instructor could be the right fit for you, the next step is deciding how you’d like to train. Working with a structured training provider can help you understand the process, prepare for your tests and build confidence as you progress.
At Bill Plant Driving School, we offer comprehensive driving instructor training that supports you from your first step through to qualification. You can explore our driving instructor training courses or get in touch with our team to learn more.
FAQs
Is becoming a driving instructor worth it?
Being a driving instructor can be worth the effort for people who value flexibility, independence and working with others. While it comes with challenges such as managing your own workload and income, many instructors find it to be a rewarding and enjoyable career.
What are the main pros and cons of being a driving instructor?
The main advantages of being a driving instructor include flexible working hours, the ability to be self-employed and strong demand for lessons. The main drawbacks include income variability, long hours in the car and the need to build a client base over time.
Can you make a living as a driving instructor?
It’s possible to make a good living as a driving instructor. If you set realistic goals and manage your schedule, you can earn a consistent and competitive wage.
Of course, the amount of money you make will depend on your availability and the demand for lessons in your area. Having a reputation as a passionate, helpful and friendly instructor should also help you secure more bookings.
How stressful is being a driving instructor?
Being a driving instructor can be stressful at times. How you handle that stress makes all the difference. It’s important to remember that as an instructor, you may deal with nervous or difficult students and long hours on the road.
As the instructor, you’ll need to be alert to ensure you and your students are safe on the road. Outside of the car, you’ll also have to think about the competition with other instructors and how you want to market yourself, which can be tricky.
If you think you can handle these challenges, then you may find that becoming a driving instructor is a rewarding career move.