Why You Should Become a Driving Instructor
Many people don’t consider jobs like driving instructors, even though they have the skills to excel in this career. If you think you’re a good driver, a good conversationalist and are patient, you might be a great fit. This article outlines the traits that you may not have realised you had that would make you a great driving instructor, the structure of the job and whether it’s worth it for you to get driving instructor training.
Traits of the job
Personal traits
The number one trait you need is to be a good and safe driver. If you have no points on your license and are well-versed with road rules, you have a great foundation to work from.
There are also some regulations in place about age and how long you have been driving, for example:
- You must be 21 years old or over
- You must have had a driving license for at least three years
- You must have good enough vision
- You must have approved background checks
Being an instructor is an art, and you have to be patient and sensitive when people are very nervous.
You also need a great attention span and quick reaction time so you can perform at your best and keep yourself and the person in the car safe.
Hours and pay
Whilst the hours can be flexible, this becomes more likely with time. You do first have to establish a client base and build your image. You should work during peak business hours at the beginning to build that client base.
The average pay in the UK is £28 an hour. However, this can depend on where in the country you are from, and you will have to pay for your own fuel and appropriate car insurance.
Client base
There is a huge backlog of people learning to drive following COVID, so demand is high. Some articles online may claim that it is easier to get pupils in a city, and whilst this can be true (especially since most driving test centres are in cities), many people living in the countryside learn to drive earlier. This is because they have less access to public transport, fewer cycle lanes and need a car to travel for fun or work. If you can promote yourself well enough, you will find a client base regardless of where you are based.
Contrary to popular belief, demand for driving lessons does not decrease during term time – in part because of the Covid backlog and people learning to drive later in life, with 44% of learners over 25.
Learning to be an instructor
If you have to learn to be a driving instructor, you need to find a reliable teacher. Many companies that provide driving instructor training will also have the option to represent you once you are trained. For many, this is a great option as they can provide clients to you and set you up with a more established structure of work and pay. This route essentially allows you to skip the extra legwork that would have been needed if you were completely self-employed.
However, if you would rather be self-employed and work independently of a company, you still want a reliable teacher to provide you with the skills and information to move your career forward.
Become a driving instructor
If you have the skills and knowledge to become a driving instructor, why not take a course?
Consider whether you would rather do it independently or with a wider company and consider what type of car you would like to teach in (automatic, manual). Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to learn and then to teach.
Give it a go and feel the benefit of helping people in this big milestone in their lives.
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