Compiled by DrivingLessonDocs from the sources listed below, checked on 5 November 2026. We sell the templates linked on this page.
How much does driving instructor training cost in the UK? (2026)
Qualifying as a driving instructor in Great Britain costs £608.40 in official fees if you pass each test first time: £5.40 for the DBS check, £81 for ADI part 1, £111 each for parts 2 and 3, and £300 to register. An optional trainee licence adds £140. Training courses are extra and are reported at roughly £1,500 to £3,000.
What are the official DVSA fees?
The fees paid to DVSA and for the DBS check are the same whoever trains you. These are the amounts on GOV.UK at the time of writing, for the route in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own process on nidirect.
| Step | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DBS check through CBS | £5.40 | Plus £12 if you verify your identity at a Post Office. A new check is needed even if you already have one |
| ADI part 1, theory test | £81 | Per attempt. Starts a 2 year clock to pass parts 2 and 3 |
| ADI part 2, driving ability test | £111 | Per attempt |
| Trainee driving instructor licence | £140 | Optional, lasts 6 months, lets you charge for lessons while you prepare for part 3 |
| ADI part 3, instructional ability test | £111 | Per attempt |
| First ADI registration | £300 | Register within 12 months of passing. Renewed every 4 years, also £300 |
What does a training course cost?
Training is the biggest single cost, and it is not set by DVSA. You do not have to use a national school: GOV.UK has a search for registered trainers, and many independent ADI trainers charge by the hour. These are prices published or reported for well known providers.
| Provider | Course | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Plant | Intensive course | £1,495 paid in full | 60 hours, part 2 and part 3 training over set days |
| Bill Plant | Flexible course | £2,495 | 60 hours at times agreed with your trainer |
| RED | Full refund option | £2,999 | Fee refunded over your first 24 months as a RED franchisee, subject to its terms |
| RED | Half refund option | £2,299 | Up to £1,150 back over 24 months as a RED franchisee |
| Pay as you go trainer | Hourly training | £40 to £50 an hour, reported | Reported by an insurer's guide. Total depends on how many hours you need |
What is the total cost of qualifying?
Add the official fees to your training. Passing everything first time with a trainee licence comes to £748.40 in fees, so a £1,495 course puts you at about £2,243 and a £2,999 course at about £3,747.
Each failed attempt adds another test fee. You get three attempts at part 3. GOV.UK says that if you fail it a third time you must stop paid lessons straight away, any trainee licence becomes invalid, and you must pass parts 1 and 2 again.
Is the trainee licence worth £140?
The trainee licence is optional. It lets you teach real pupils for 6 months after passing part 2, and GOV.UK says you can charge for lessons to cover costs such as your insurance and vehicle. To get one you need at least 40 hours of training from a qualified ADI, with at least 10 in a car, recorded on form ADI 21T.
Many trainees use it to earn while preparing for part 3, often through a school, which is why some course prices are tied to joining that school afterwards. Read those terms before you sign, and see our trainee pupil information sheet guide for what pupils should be told.
The costs that come after you qualify
Qualifying is not the end of the spending. Registration is renewed every 4 years for £300, you need a new DBS check every 4 years, and you must take a standards check, usually every 4 years.
You also need a dual-controlled car and instructor insurance, either through a franchise or on your own. Our guide to franchise or independent compares those running costs, and the step by step guide to becoming an ADI covers the full route.
How to keep the cost down
- Book part 2 and part 3 only when your trainer agrees you are ready, because each retake is another £111
- Compare the price per training hour, not only the headline price
- Check whether a cheaper course is tied to joining that school, and for how long
- Ask what happens to your money if you stop training part way through
- Keep every receipt: once trading, your accountant can tell you what counts as a business cost
Get the free ADI Qualifying Cost Planner: 17 questions and a signed declaration, emailed to you as a print-ready form.
Free template
Get the print-ready ADI Qualifying Cost Planner
A print-ready planner for budgeting your route to ADI: every DVSA fee, your training quote, retake allowance and dates. Free, and yours to keep.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to become a driving instructor in the UK?
The official fees are £608.40 if you pass each test first time, or £748.40 with the optional trainee licence. Training courses are extra and are commonly priced between about £1,500 and £3,000.
Do training course prices include DVSA test fees?
Usually not. RED, for example, says its course fees do not include costs payable to others, such as DVSA test fees. Check what each quote includes in writing.
How long do I have to qualify?
GOV.UK says you must pass parts 2 and 3 within 2 years of passing the part 1 theory test, or start the whole process again. You then have 12 months to register.
Can I earn money while training?
Yes, with a trainee driving instructor licence after passing part 2. It costs £140, lasts 6 months, and GOV.UK says you can charge for lessons to cover costs such as insurance and the vehicle.
What does it cost to stay registered?
Registration is renewed every 4 years for £300, and you need a new DBS check every 4 years. You must also take a standards check, usually every 4 years.
Sources
- Become a driving instructor: step by step, GOV.UK
- Criminal record check to become a driving instructor, GOV.UK
- Apply for your first ADI registration, GOV.UK
- Trainee driving instructor licence: the rules, GOV.UK
- ADI part 3 test: test result, GOV.UK
- ADI standards check, GOV.UK
- Find driving instructor training, GOV.UK
- Driving instructor course options, Bill Plant Driving School
- How much does driving instructor training cost?, RED Driving School
- Driving instructor business startup costs in 2026, BG Insurance
Stop chasing no-shows
Lesson terms your pupils sign at lesson one, so the 8am cancel is paid for and not argued about.
The instructor pupils turn up for.
These articles are general guidance for UK driving instructors, not legal advice, and they are not DVSA guidance. Our forms are editable templates: adapt them to your own business, your insurer's terms and the current DVSA rules for your registration.