Driving Instructor Age & Requirements UK | Pass N Go

9th September 2026

Home » Blog » Driving Instructor Age & Requirements UK | Pass N Go

Thinking about becoming a driving instructor but not sure whether you’re actually eligible?

The good news is that you don’t need a degree or previous teaching experience. There are, however, a few requirements you’ll need to meet before you can work towards becoming an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI).

One of the main ones is age. You need to be at least 21 years old, but you’ll also need enough driving experience, a suitable driving record and a new criminal record check.

After that comes the qualification itself: ADI Parts 1, 2 and 3.

Let’s go through the requirements one by one so you can work out whether you’re ready to start your instructor training.

How Old Do You Have to Be a Driving Instructor?

You need to be at least 21 years old to become an Approved Driving Instructor in Great Britain.

Turning 21 doesn’t automatically make you eligible, though. You also need to have held a full driving licence for at least three years.

So, for example, if you’ve recently turned 21 but you’ve only held your full licence for two years, you’ll need to wait until you’ve met the three-year requirement.

If you’re already over 21 and have been driving for several years, there’s a good chance you’ll have already ticked these first two boxes.

What Are the Requirements to Become a Driving Instructor?

Before you start thinking about tests and training, it’s worth checking the basics.

To become an ADI in Great Britain, you’ll generally need to:

be 21 or older
have held a full driving licence for at least three years
be qualified to drive the type of vehicle you want to teach in
meet the requirements relating to your driving record
not have been disqualified from driving during the previous four years
complete a new criminal record check
be considered suitable to join the ADI register
successfully complete the ADI qualification process

If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry. You don’t have to complete everything at once.

Think of these as the entry requirements followed by the stages you’ll work through during your training.

How Long Do You Need to Have Held Your Driving Licence?

You need to have held a full driving licence for at least three years.

This is just as important as the minimum age requirement.

It makes sense when you think about the job you’re training for. You’ll eventually be sitting next to new drivers and helping them deal with everything from their first junction to busy roundabouts, dual carriageways and unpredictable situations on the road.

Having a few years of your own driving experience behind you gives you a much stronger foundation to build on when you start learning how to teach.

Can You Become a Driving Instructor With an Automatic Licence?

Yes, you can train to become a driving instructor if you have an automatic-only licence, provided you meet the relevant eligibility requirements.

The important thing to understand is that your licence affects the vehicles you’re qualified to drive and therefore what you can teach.

If you only hold an automatic licence, you won’t be able to teach pupils to drive a manual car.

If you’re deciding between becoming an automatic or manual instructor, it’s worth thinking about this before starting your training.

Can You Become a Driving Instructor With Points on Your Licence?

This is where things aren’t always as simple as a yes or no.

Your driving record is considered when your suitability to become an ADI is assessed. Having points doesn’t necessarily mean you should give up on the idea, but driving offences, convictions and previous disqualifications can affect an application.

One clear requirement is that you must not have been disqualified from driving during the previous four years.

If you do have points or a previous driving offence and you’re unsure where you stand, check your individual circumstances with the DVSA before committing money to training.

It’s much better to know where you stand at the beginning than discover a problem further into the process.

Do Driving Instructors Need a DBS Check?

Yes. A criminal record check is part of the process of applying to become an Approved Driving Instructor.

Even if you’ve already had a DBS check for another job, you’ll need to complete a new check for your ADI application.

The current first-time criminal record check costs £5.40.

You’ll be asked to provide documents to confirm your identity. Depending on your circumstances, this could include your driving licence, passport and other supporting documents.

If your identity can’t be verified online, you may need to complete an identity check at a Post Office, which can involve an additional charge.

It might seem like another bit of admin, but it’s an important part of the process. Driving instructors work closely with members of the public, including young and potentially vulnerable learners, so suitability checks form part of joining the profession.

Can You Become a Driving Instructor With a Criminal Record?

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically mean you can never become a driving instructor.

The ADI Registrar looks at whether an applicant is suitable to join the register, and the circumstances surrounding convictions or other relevant information can matter.

That’s why we wouldn’t recommend relying on a generic online answer if this applies to you.

Check the current DVSA guidance for your circumstances before paying for training. That will give you a much clearer idea of whether anything in your history could affect your application.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Driving Instructor?

You don’t need a university degree, and you don’t need to have worked as a teacher before.

Your professional qualification comes through the Approved Driving Instructor qualification process.

There are three tests to work through.

ADI Part 1 – Theory and Hazard Perception

Part 1 tests your knowledge of driving theory alongside your ability to recognise developing hazards.

If you’re approaching this stage, our ADI Part 1 Test guide explains the questions, hazard perception section, pass mark and how the test works.

ADI Part 2 – Driving Ability

Next, you need to demonstrate that your own driving is at the standard expected of someone training to become a professional instructor.

It’s a step up from simply being a competent everyday driver.

Our ADI Part 2 Test guide takes you through what happens on the day, manoeuvres, faults and how to prepare.

ADI Part 3 – Instructional Ability

This is where you show that you can actually teach.

You’ll deliver a real driving lesson while an examiner assesses areas including your lesson planning, risk management and teaching and learning strategies.

You can see all 17 competencies and how the scoring works in our ADI Part 3 Test guide.

Can You Teach Before You’re Fully Qualified?

There is an optional route that can allow you to start gaining real teaching experience before you’ve passed Part 3.

Once you’ve passed Part 2 and completed the required instructional training, you may be eligible to apply for a six-month trainee driving instructor licence.

You’ll often hear someone teaching under this licence referred to as a PDI – Potential Driving Instructor.

With a valid trainee licence, you can teach real pupils and charge for lessons while continuing to develop your instructional skills for Part 3.

If you’re wondering how the pink badge, 40-hour training requirement and trainee licence work, we’ve covered the whole process in our guide to becoming a trainee driving instructor.

Is It Hard to Become a Driving Instructor?

It takes work, but you’re not expected to know how to teach from day one.

One of the biggest adjustments for many trainees is realising that being a good driver and being a good driving instructor are two different things.

You might know exactly what you’d do when approaching a busy roundabout, for example. The challenge is learning how to help a nervous pupil understand it, make their own decisions and stay safe without simply telling them what to do every few seconds.

That’s what your training is there to develop.

You’ll build your theory knowledge, sharpen your own driving and then learn how to plan lessons, communicate clearly, manage risk and adapt your approach to different pupils.

Do You Need Teaching Experience to Become a Driving Instructor?

No. Previous teaching experience isn’t a requirement.

Of course, being comfortable talking to people helps, but you don’t need to arrive at instructor training as a finished teacher.

Some of the qualities that can help you along the way include:

patience
clear communication
good observation
the ability to stay calm
good risk awareness
adaptability
organisation
the ability to give constructive feedback

You’ll also meet pupils who learn in completely different ways. One person might need a detailed explanation, while somebody else may learn much more effectively by having a go and then talking through what happened.

Learning how to recognise those differences is part of becoming an instructor.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Driving Instructor?

There’s no single answer because everybody’s circumstances are different.

Someone training regularly may progress differently from someone fitting their training around a full-time job and family commitments. Test availability, retakes and whether you use the trainee licence can also affect the overall timeline.

There are DVSA time limits within the qualification process too, so it’s worth understanding those before you start.

Rather than trying to squeeze the whole timeline into this article, we’ve broken it down stage by stage in How Long Does It Take to Become a Driving Instructor?.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Driving Instructor?

You’ll need to budget for both your training and the official costs involved in qualifying.

Pass N Go’s Driving Instructor Training programme is currently £1,499.

There are then separate costs for things such as your criminal record check, ADI tests, registration and the optional trainee licence if you choose to use one.

Rather than throwing a long list of numbers at you here, we’ve put the complete calculation in our guide to the cost of becoming a driving instructor.

That also explains what happens financially if you need to retake a test.

Can You Make Good Money as a Driving Instructor?

You can build a good career as a driving instructor, but there’s no single salary that every instructor earns.

Many instructors are self-employed, so factors such as the price you charge, how many paid lessons you deliver, where you work and your business costs all make a difference.

It’s also important not to confuse turnover with take-home income. If pupils pay you £40 for a lesson, that doesn’t mean the full £40 ends up in your pocket after running costs and tax.

We’ve used current industry data and realistic turnover examples in our Driving Instructor Earnings guide if the financial side of the career is important to your decision.

Is Becoming a Driving Instructor Right for You?

Meeting the requirements tells you whether you can become a driving instructor. There’s still another question: is it a career you’d actually enjoy?

If you like working with people, want more independence and enjoy seeing someone progress because of the help you’ve given them, there can be a lot to like about the job.

There are challenges too. You’ll be responsible for managing safety, dealing with nervous pupils, running lessons on busy roads and, depending on how you work, managing the business side of being self-employed.

It’s worth looking at both sides before committing.

Our Is Becoming a Driving Instructor Worth It? guide goes into the benefits, drawbacks, flexibility and day-to-day reality in more detail.

Think You Meet the Requirements? Here’s What Comes Next

If you’re 21 or over, have held your full licence for at least three years and meet the other eligibility requirements, you can start looking seriously at the qualification itself.

With Pass N Go, you won’t simply be left to figure out Parts 1, 2 and 3 on your own.

Our Driving Instructor Training programme includes:

10 hours of ADI Part 1 training
10 hours of ADI Part 2 training
40 hours of ADI Part 3 training
Part 1 learning sessions
Part 3 workshops
Part 2 Investment Matching
Part 3 Rescue Training
PECODO online learning

If you’d rather see how the entire journey fits together first, visit our Instructor Training Command Centre.

Driving Instructor Requirements FAQs

How old do you have to be to be a driving instructor?

You need to be at least 21 years old to become an Approved Driving Instructor in Great Britain. You’ll also need to have held a full driving licence for at least three years and meet the other eligibility requirements.

What is the minimum age for a driving instructor?

The minimum age is 21. However, age isn’t the only requirement, so you’ll also need to check your driving experience, driving record and suitability.

How long do you need to have been driving to become an instructor?

You need to have held your full driving licence for at least three years.

Do driving instructors need a DBS check?

Yes. You’ll need a new criminal record check as part of your application to become an ADI, even if you’ve previously had a DBS check for another job.

Can you become a driving instructor with points on your licence?

Potentially. Your driving record is considered when your suitability is assessed, so points don’t necessarily give you a simple yes-or-no answer. If you’re concerned about your record, check your individual circumstances with the DVSA before paying for training.

Can you become a driving instructor after a driving ban?

You must not have been disqualified from driving during the previous four years when applying to become an ADI.

Do you need a degree to become a driving instructor?

No. A university degree isn’t required. You’ll need to meet the entry requirements and complete the three-part ADI qualification process.

Do you need teaching experience?

No. You don’t need to have worked as a teacher before becoming a driving instructor. Learning how to plan lessons, coach pupils and manage risk forms part of your instructor training.

Can you become a driving instructor with an automatic licence?

Yes, provided you meet the relevant eligibility requirements. However, an automatic-only licence restricts the type of vehicle you’re qualified to drive and teach in.

What tests do you take to become a driving instructor?

You’ll need to pass ADI Part 1 for theory and hazard perception, ADI Part 2 for driving ability and ADI Part 3 for instructional ability.

Can you teach pupils before passing Part 3?

Potentially. Once you’ve passed Part 2 and completed the required instructional training, you may be eligible for an optional six-month trainee driving instructor licence while you prepare for Part 3.

Continue Your Driving Instructor Research

Ready to See Where Instructor Training Could Take You?

If you’ve checked the requirements and becoming a driving instructor sounds like the career change you’re looking for, the next step is finding out how the training works.

Pass N Go can support you from your first steps towards Part 1 through to developing the teaching skills you’ll need for Part 3 and life as a qualified instructor.

Explore Driving Instructor Training