The Driving & Vehicle Standards Agency

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is an executive agency of the Department of Transport. In respect to driver training the agency is responsible for conducting all theory and practical driving tests in Great Britain and has the responsibility for maintaining the Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and the Official Register of Driving Instructor Trainers (ORDIT).

It is illegal for anyone to charge for driving tuition unless their name is on the Register of ADIs or they are licenced as part of the Trainee Licence scheme. To become an ADI you need to pass the DVSA ADI qualifying examination and meet certain minimum legal requirements. You must:

1. Hold a full UK or EEA unrestricted car driving licence;

2. Be aged 21. You can start the qualifying process 6 months before your 21st birthday. You must have had your full licence for at least 3 years to supervise a learner driver.

3. Have held your licence for at least 2.5 years prior to entering the Register after qualifying;

4. Not have been disqualified from driving at any time in the 4 years prior to being entered in the Register;

5. Be a ‘fit and proper’ person to have your name entered in the Register. All convictions, motoring or non-motoring still in force will be taken into account by the DVSA before allowing you on the Register and from experience we know that anyone with 6 or more points on their licence within the last 4 years prior to entry on the Register is likely to be rejected. You will need to apply for a DBS check as part of this process.

Remember the DVSA are the sole decision maker on who can and who can't train to become a driving instructor.

You should also ensure you can read a number plate in good daylight at a distance of 27.5 metres or 26.5 metres depending on the width of the lettering (with glasses if normally worn for driving) as this will be checked on Part 2 of the qualifying examination. On the normal driving test you need only read a number plate at 20.5 metres or 20 metres depending on the width of the lettering.

Please also note that on the Part 2 driving test you must be able to take rear observations by looking round when reversing without heavy dependency on the mirrors. So if you have minimal neck movement this will need to be checked before you start, since you are not allowed additional mirrors as on the ordinary driving test.