16 January 2025
Supportive friends and family supervised an estimated 5million hours of private practice for learner drivers in 2024 – prompting many to consider becoming a professional driving instructor.
One in twenty (6%) drivers said they had supervised a learner in 2024, according to a poll by the AA Driving School*. The average number of hours they each supervised was 25, making a combined grand total of 5,062,500 hours throughout 2024.**
Half of these drivers (52%) were parents supervising their own child; one in ten (11%) were supervising their spouse or partner and a fifth (20%) were people supervising another relative. One in ten (12%) were supervising a friend and 4% were kindly helping a friend’s child.
“It’s no wonder so many people start to think about driving instruction as a career once they have experienced the satisfaction that comes from helping someone fulfil their driving dream.”
For most it was a positive experience with nearly a quarter (23%) saying they would consider becoming a driving instructor. Overall, half (53%) said they enjoyed the experience and two-fifths (44%) said they thought being a driving instructor would be a rewarding career.
Only a fifth (21%) said they would not do it again.
The average number of hours of private practice given per driver varied significantly across the regions. Supervising drivers in Wales delivered an average of 35 hours of private practice each and those in Northern Ireland a whopping 47 hours. This fell to just 19 hours in London and 20 hours in the North West. This higher number of average hours given may not have been a positive though as drivers in Wales and Norther Ireland who gave private practice were the most likely to say they wouldn’t do it again (31% Wales; 33% Northern Ireland).
To supervise a learner driver you must be more than 21 years old, have had your driving licence for at least three years and not be under a driving ban. It is illegal for anyone other than a professional driving instructor to accept payment, including fuel money, for supervising a learner on private practice.
Mark Born, head of instructor training at the AA Driving School, said: “Passing your driving test is a real milestone and helping someone achieve that is a great feeling.
"It's no wonder so many people start to think about driving instruction as a career once they have experienced the satisfaction that comes from helping someone fulfil their driving dream.
"Private practice is really important for learner drivers to help consolidate the learning from their lessons with a professional instructor.
"There is a lot of demand for driving lessons at the moment, making 2025 a great time to become a driving instructor."
Case studies: “Teaching our children to drive inspired us to become driving instructors.”
AA Driving School franchisee Peter Brooks, from West Oxfordshire, has been a qualified driving instructor for 3 years.
Peter waited 10 years to train as an instructor, after being bitten by the teaching bug when he supervised his daughter as a learner.
Peter said: “I taught my daughter to drive in 2012, and having been a driver for over 35 years I promised myself at the time that if the time was right to change career to become a full-time professional driving instructor then I would. That time was in 2021 and I haven’t looked back since. It’s a very rewarding role with over a hundred new drivers successfully gaining their driving licence following tuition with me.”
AA Driving School franchisee Nick Carter, from Weymouth, first tested his instruction abilities supervising his son as a learner seven years ago. When Covid hit, Nick decided the time was right to make a change and train as an instructor.
He said: “I taught my son to drive seven years ago and we’re still talking! When the time came to change career it seemed an obvious choice. I’d been a teacher previously so a lot of those skills came back in play such as being patient, and having a rapport with pupils. My work-life balance is much better now and I have a lot more job satisfaction.”
Becoming a driving instructor
AA Driving School saw new pupil registrations increase by 5.1%*** in 2024, with regional peaks of up to 127% (Salisbury). The 10 places most in need of new AA Driving School franchised instructors are:
- 1. Liverpool
- 2. Oldham
- 3. Bristol
- 4. West London
- 5. Blackburn
- 6. Edinburgh
- 7. Harrow
- 8. Medway
- 9. Salisbury
- 10. Motherwell
To become a fully qualified Approved Driving Instructor you must train and take three exams, set by the DVSA.
Both AA Driving School and BSM offer this training, including PDI training which means you can teach and earn, while you learn.
Once qualified, full franchise instructors are self-employed with all the benefits that brings including uncapped earning potential and flexibility. On average, full franchisees outside of London with AA Driving School and BSM earn around £45k and inside London around £51k.
* Yonder received 14,443 responses from AA members to its online poll between the 10th to the 17th December 2024. Yonder is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
**Calculation based on 6% of 33.75m licence holders giving an average of 25 hours of private practice. Licence data taken from NTS0201 (Driving licence holding and vehicle availability - GOV.UK) and based on those aged over 21 as you have to be 21 years old to supervise a learner driver.
*** AA Driving School and BSM data showing new pupil registrations from January 1st 2024 to September 11th 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
**** Working as a driving instructor survey: 2024 results - GOV.UK