UK Driving Instructors' Salary

How much do driving instructors earn?

The vast majority of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are self-employed. What this means in practice is that, as an ADI, you can earn as much as you’re able to work.

There are, of course, a lot of variables when it comes to how much you can earn as a driving instructor. These include where you are in the country, how many hours you’re able to work, availability of pupils and so on. But here we’ll look at some ballpark figures of what you may be able to earn as an ADI.

Is being a driving instructor a full-time job?

While it’s possible to get a permanent, salaried role as a driving instructor, these positions are very much in the minority. Most driving instructors run their own business, so the hours are likely to vary.

The national hourly average price of driving lessons is roughly £28 an hour. So a 35-hour week will bring in £980, although you’ll have to take tax and overheads into account.

What’s the average yearly income for a driving instructor?

Obviously it varies depending on a range of factors. As a rough figure, it’s possible to earn between £30-£40,000 working full-time. You might even be able to exceed that. Although there are several considerations, and you’ll have to do your sums.

As a guide, let’s say you consistently work a 35-hour week, and work all but four weeks of the year. Assuming you charge the national hourly average of £28 an hour, then you’ll have a gross income of £47,040. Although then you’ll have to deduct your outgoings to get a more realistic figure.

Because hours between ADIs vary, any average earnings can be a bit misleading. All income comes from the lessons you give. But you can make good money being a driving instructor if you put in the hours and the effort.

What overheads do driving instructors need to consider?

ADIs main overheads are fuel, car-running costs, marketing costs and fees if you’re part of a franchise. We’ll look at each in turn.

Do driving instructors pay for fuel?

The short answer is yes, driving instructors need to pay for their own fuel.

Another thing to consider here is whether it may be more cost-effective to teach in an electric vehicle (EV). You can find out more about the cost of charging an EV here.

To make life a bit easier, you might consider getting a fuel card. These allow you to fill up at participating petrol stations, and put it on the card. But you’re quoted a monthly price for fuel by the card issuer, meaning you don’t pay the price advertised at the pump – which can often work out cheaper. This is because the card issuer buys in bulk, meaning savings can be passed on to card holders.

The other advantage is that you pay monthly, which means you hold onto your money for longer, and it makes your accounting significantly easier.

Have a reliable vehicle

As your primary business asset, it’s really important to keep your car in tip-top working order. This means regular servicing and maintenance.

What are the running costs of a vehicle? Be more detailed around servicing and breakdowns etc. Make mention of the franchises and the additional services that help with managing this particular aspect.

It’s worth noting that, if you’re part of an AA franchise, all servicing, maintenance and repairs are included within your weekly fee. This not only makes your life easier, but has an obvious benefit in terms of book-keeping.

Insurance for driving instructors

Car insurance is another monthly or annual outgoing, depending on how you choose to pay. The good news here is that – despite being a business and spending a lot of time in the car – it may not be as expensive as you might think. Insurers’ data tends to show that instructors don’t make many claims, which could be because the two people in the car are focused entirely on the task of driving.

All the same, it’s hard to predict how much you’ll have to pay for insurance. This is dependent on numerous factors, such as where you are in the country, your driving history and so on. You can find out more about the factors which affect car insurance here.

Again, if you’re an AA franchisee, insurance is included in your weekly fee. And as the fee is the same week-on-week, it makes budgeting significantly easier.

Marketing costs

As a small business, you’ll need to sell yourself to attract pupils. Marketing costs are variable, depending on how much or how little you do, and the channels you choose. But some of the costs to think about include:

• Livery (in other words, the branding on the car)
• Business cards
• Online channels, such as PPC and business listings

You may also gain some experience of marketing yourself as a trainee instructor before becoming fully qualified.

If you’re a franchisee, this is another cost which may be effectively absorbed by the fee. That said, there’s nothing to stop you advertising your services beyond what the franchise provides.

Franchise fees

You get your first opportunity to join a franchise while still training in advance of the ADI Part 3 test. For a weekly fee, most of your driving school costs are covered. These include:

• A high-spec branded vehicle
• Servicing, maintenance and repairs
• Insurance
• Breakdown cover
• Marketing, with a steady supply of pupils included
• Business support

Joining a franchise can make life a lot easier, especially when you’re first starting out. In fact, many experienced ADIs choose to remain with a franchise long into their career. This is because one of the main benefits is being under the umbrella of a well-known, respected brand.

Plus having everything (except fuel) bundled into a weekly payment makes budgeting and accounting much easier than taking on everything yourself.

You can become part of The AA franchise from £179 a week for an all-inclusive package, or £149 for a solo package.

Other factors that can affect my earnings as a driving instructor

Where you live in the country can have an effect on your earnings. For example, if you live in London, while your overheads are likely to be higher, you’ll be able to command a higher price for lessons. There’s also likely to be a steady supply of pupils if you live in a higher-populated area.

Conversely, if you live somewhere remote, you may not be able to charge as much for lessons, and supply may be more limited.

Other expenses to consider include your accounting. You may choose to pay for an accountant, or accountancy software, for instance. Although you may consider this a worthwhile expense if it saves you time… Which you could spend cramming more lessons in!

Discover the right training option for you

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How can I earn more as a driving instructor?

Here are a few tips for maximising your income as an ADI.

Be professional

Taking pride in your work goes a long way in most professions, and this is certainly the case with driving instruction. And if you’re good at your job, word of mouth will help you gain and retain pupils. Referrals are the best kind of marketing you can get, so it’s important to give your pupils the care and respect they deserve.

On this point, it’s worth mentioning that you should avoid cancelling lessons unless absolutely necessary. If you do need to cancel, do so in a timely fashion, and make new arrangements with your pupil.

Stay on top of your diary

Managing your diary well means you’ll be able to fit the most amount of lessons in the least amount of time. Whether you choose a paper diary or to go digital is up to you, but it’s worth knowing there are lots of useful driving instructor diary apps available. In addition, being part of an AA franchise means you’ll be provided with a pupil booking and diary system.

Opt for longer lessons

It’s best to keep lessons long and time between them short. You might choose to give two-hour lessons as opposed to one, with a 20 or 30-minute break between. Giving longer lessons will mean less time spent travelling between one pupil and the next. It’s also more beneficial to the pupil to have longer lessons, as they’ll be exposed to a greater variety of driving conditions and situations.

Research your hourly rate

Setting your hourly rate should strike a balance between being properly paid for your skill, while also being competitive. It’s a good idea to look into how much other ADIs in your area charge, and price yourself accordingly – adjusting for experience.

As part of The AA franchise, you’ll have access to pricing data for your area, and can be kept abreast of the latest pricing trends.

Other ways to increase earnings as an approved driving instructor

Diversifying is a great way to provide different sources of income. Here are some other options for increasing your revenue as an ADI.

Teach with Motability

Teaching pupils with disabilities is a worthwhile and rewarding specialism, and can also open you up to more pupils. As such, teaching with the Motability scheme is an option well worth considering.

Become a driving instructor trainer

Becoming an advanced driving instructor and teaching other ADIs is obviously more of a specialised area, which means you can charge more for lessons.

What is an advanced driving instructor? How do you become one? Is it a more reliable income? Can you still teach your regular pupils? Are there any basic requirements? Keep this brief. There will be a future article to link to here.

Why is there so much variation between driving instructor earnings?

There are a variety of factors that influence a driving instructor’s income. Where you are in the country will affect how much you can charge for lessons, and not everybody will work the same number of hours. But managing your time well and diversifying your business should hopefully raise your earnings above the average level.

What is the difference between independent and franchisee driving instructors?

All driving instructors are their own boss, and dictate their own hours and how much they charge.

Being independent means you’re solely responsible for your marketing and administering your business. But many people like being able to build their own brand, and retaining full control of all aspects of the business.

On the other hand, many choose to join a franchise, and operate under the banner of a certain brand. This costs money, but has real advantages. For example, you may be able to get a steady supply of students through a franchise, without having to do your own marketing.

To work out whether it’s right for you, find out more about joining a franchise here.

Is becoming a driving instructor worth it in the UK?

Being a driving instructor can be lucrative. That’s not the only reason we encourage people to do it, but it’s certainly possible to earn a good living. Especially if you’re dedicated and put the hours in.

If you have transferable skills – such as if you’re a HGV, bus or taxi driver – you may find the jump of career well suited to you. After all, we think that teaching a valuable skill for life is as rewarding a career as it’s possible to get.