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Becoming a driving instructor can be an extremely rewarding career, both for yourself and your wallet. But we appreciate that when you’re looking to start a new career, it’s likely you’ll find yourself asking whether or not it’s worth pursuing and if it’s the right fit for you.
Demand is currently at an all-time high due to a large backlog of driving lessons. There is also a national shortage of driving instructors but an increase in demand for lessons as more people are now learning to drive, to avoid using public transport.
We are getting unprecedented levels of new customers wanting to learn to drive, allowing our instructors to work when and where they want. There’s never been a better time to learn, so be your own boss and take control of your career today.
As a driving instructor, you won’t have someone telling you what to do. You’re in charge. So, instead of being behind a desk or doing back-breaking labour, you’ll be meeting new people everyday, from the comfort of the driver’s (and also passenger’s) seat.
You’ll get to meet lots of new people and teach them an important life skill. Taking a complete beginner and guiding them through to passing their driving test can be an extremely rewarding experience.
Making time for things outside of work is important. As a driving instructor, you control your own hours and balance everything else that’s important to you: from family to hobbies and everything in between, leading to increased job satisfaction and a greater sense of well being.
Another benefit of meeting a range of different people from different backgrounds is that no day will ever really be the same. You’ll be teaching students at all different levels, finding the best way to help them grow and become great drivers.
RED provides their Full Franchise instructors with up to date dual-controlled cars that can even be driven by named family members once approved. This means you can focus on teaching and building your business, without worrying about sourcing your own car.
As a qualified Driving Instructor there are opportunities to develop professionally. Many RED instructors go on to qualify and work in corporate driver training roles, opening up exciting opportunities to broaden experience in the driving industry.
You can’t become an instructor overnight and this can take months of work before you start teaching. You will need to pass your ADI exams, pass checks and show you’re enthusiastic about the career.
As a teacher, you need to be patient with your students. Everyone’s going to make mistakes from time to time, and some students may find it more difficult to pick up a certain manoeuvre than others.
Becoming a driving instructor can sometimes be harder than it first seems. Instructors will have to invest their own money and put lots of hours into training, and still this doesn’t guarantee you will pass.
Salary is a large factor that most take into account when starting a new career – and rightly so. The average figures we see for RED’s driving instructors are:
If you want, you can dive into more detail on driving instructor earnings.
Overall, becoming a driving instructor can be a highly rewarding career for the right person. It offers flexibility, the chance to be your own boss and the satisfaction of teaching a vital life skill to a wide variety of people. Also being able to benefit from strong job security with a constant flow of students, will help you to build your career how you want. However, it does require patience, strong people skills and good time management which can be challenging for many instructors. So it is important to think carefully before making the big decision.
The key skills in becoming a successful driving instructor is being both well organised and personable. Strong organisation helps you manage your schedule efficiently, ensuring you make the most of your time without overworking. Equally, working in a friendly manner where you are able to stay calm, smile and teach in an engaging way creates a positive learning experience for everyone. Mastering these two qualities will make you a great instructor.
Driving instructor insurance varies depending on experience, location and vehicle type but you can expect to pay between £600 and £1,500 for a full year’s cover. Insurance will be higher while you are training and will quickly drop when you become qualified.
Yes, one of the great advantages of becoming a driving instructor is the flexibility it offers. As a self employed instructor you are in control of your own diary, meaning you can choose the hours and days that suit your lifestyle and other commitments. It is worth bearing in mind however that the more hours you put in, the quicker you will build up your student base and begin to see a strong return on your investment.
As with any job, being a driving instructor can have its stressful moments, but for the right person it is generally considered to be a very rewarding and enjoyable career. Sitting with nervous or inexperienced drivers on a daily basis does require patience and the ability to stay calm under pressure, which can take some getting used to. Also, managing your own diary does come with its own pressures, but we help you at all stages and our experts who have over 15 years of experience are there to help you. Overall though, instructors find that the flexibility, independence and satisfaction of watching their students progress and pass their tests far outweighs any day to day challenges.
There is no minimum number of hours needed from instructors but it is important to remember when you are not teaching you are not earning. The more hours you are able to commit, especially during peak times, the faster you are likely to grow your student base and establish yourself as an instructor. You have the freedom as your own boss to work when you want and if you need time off that’s the joys of the job, but before you commit it is also important to consider how much time you are going to be able to put in.
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