Coronavirus: driver and rider trainer guidance
Updated 11 January 2021
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Stay up to date
This page tells you about driver and rider training and tests during coronavirus (COVID-19).
It will be updated if anything changes.
Introduction
This guide is for approved driving instructors (ADIs), motorcycle trainers, and lorry and bus (vocational) trainers. It explains:
- how local restrictions are affecting driving lessons and motorcycle training
- how you should work safely during coronavirus
- what support is available for businesses and the self-employed
- how driving tests are affected by coronavirus
There’s different information for Northern Ireland.
1. Driving lessons and motorcycle training: local restrictions
England
You must not provide driving lessons or motorcycle training in England because of the national lockdown.
You can supervise someone from your household or support bubble during an essential journey during the national lockdown.
Other pages on GOV.UK will be updated with this information as soon as possible.
Scotland
You must not provide driving lessons or motorcycle training in mainland Scotland because of the temporary lockdown.
You can supervise someone from your household or support bubble during an essential journey during the temporary lockdown.
Driving lessons and motorcycle training can take place in areas in protection level 3.
Wales
You must not provide driving lessons or motorcycle training in Wales it’s in alert level 4.
You can supervise someone from your household or support bubble during an essential journey in alert level 4 areas.
2. Working safely during coronavirus
The government has published guidance about working safely during coronavirus. It includes:
- guidance for people who work in vehicles
- cleaning your workplace safely
- keeping records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace
Wear a face covering in Scotland
You and your pupil must wear face coverings during driving lessons and practice sessions.
If you do not wear a face covering, you must have a good reason, for example:
- you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability
- wearing it would cause you severe distress
- you and the person you’re teaching live in the same household
Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.
You can be fined £60 if you do not wear a face covering during a driving lesson in Scotland. This will be reduced to £30 if you pay within 28 days.
Read detailed information from the Scottish Government about driving lessons.
Detailed guidance about working safely
Representative organisations have published detailed guidance about working safely during coronavirus.
Check the guidance for:
- car driving instructors - from the National Associations Strategic Partnership (NASP)
- motorcycle trainers - from MCIA Ride and the Driving Instructors Association
- vocational trainers (PDF, 165KB) - from the National Vocational Driving Instructors Register
3. Business support
Coronavirus support is available to businesses and self-employed people.
You can read more information about business support from the Scottish Government and Welsh Government.
4. How theory tests and driving tests are affected
There’s separate guidance about how theory tests and driving tests are affected by coronavirus. It explains:
- how local restrictions are affecting tests
- what changes your pupils can expect when they take their test
Check the guidance about:
Driving test centre waiting rooms
Not all driving test centre waiting rooms are open because of coronavirus.
There are temporary rules for using waiting rooms which are open.
Check which driving test centre waiting rooms are open and the rules for using them.
Sending information to the NHS Test and Trace service
DVSA will share your details and your pupil’s details with the relevant NHS service if a DVSA member of staff you had close contact with both:
- develops coronavirus symptoms within 48 hours of your driving test
- tests positive for coronavirus after their symptoms developed
There’s more information in the privacy notices for: