Guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): driver and rider trainer guidance

Updated 6 May 2021

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This page tells you about driver and rider training and tests during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

It will be updated if anything changes.

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Introduction

This guide is for approved driving instructors (ADIs), motorcycle trainers, and lorry and bus (vocational) trainers. It explains:

• how you should work safely during the COVID-19 pandemic
• how driving tests are affected by COVID-19
• how ADI qualification and registration is affected by COVID-19
• what financial support is available for businesses and the self-employed

There’s different information for Northern Ireland.

1. Working safely during the COVID-19 pandemic

The government has published guidance about working safely during COVID-19. 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 in Scotland.

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.

Get rapid lateral flow tests

You can get rapid lateral flow tests if do not have symptoms.

They’re free and you get a result 30 minutes after taking the test.

Getting tested regularly is the only way to know if you have the virus. If people test positive and self-isolate, it helps stop the virus spreading. You should take a rapid lateral flow test twice a week (every 3 or 4 days).

About 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms but can still infect others.

Find out how to get rapid lateral flow tests in:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales

There’s separate guidance about your pupils getting a rapid lateral flow test before their driving test in England, Scotland and Wales.

Detailed guidance about working safely

Representative organisations have published detailed guidance about working safely during COVID-19.

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

2. Theory tests and driving tests

There’s separate guidance about how theory tests and driving tests are affected by COVID-19. It explains:

• how restrictions are affecting tests
• what changes your pupils can expect when they take their test

Check the guidance about:

• theory tests
• driving tests

Booking tests

You can still book and manage tests for your pupils.

Driving test centre waiting rooms

Not all driving test centre waiting rooms are open because of COVID-19.

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 NHS Test and Trace

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 COVID-19 symptoms within 48 hours of your driving test
• tests positive for COVID-19 after their symptoms developed

There’s more information in the privacy notices for:

• booking and managing a driving test
• ADI registration and services

3. ADI qualification and registration

If you’re qualifying to become an ADI

If your trainee licence expires soon

Contact DVSA for advice about the options available in your personal circumstances if your trainee licence expires soon.

DVSA ADI team
padi@dvsa.gov.uk

You need to include your:

• personal reference number or driving licence number
• date of birth
• postcode

Taking the ADI part 3 test

The law says you must book the ADI part 3 (instructional ability) test within 2 years of passing the ADI part 1 (theory) test.

You can take the ADI part 3 test more than 2 years after you passed your ADI part 1 test, as long as you book it within the 2-year limit.

Book your ADI part 3 test.

If no appointments are available when you book, you can book an ‘on hold’ test. This means:

• you have to pay for the test
• DVSA arrange the test date when appointments become available

This meets the legal requirement for you to book your test within 2 years.

DVSA does not have any legal powers to extend your ADI part 1 theory test pass certificate.

If you’re already an ADI

If your ADI registration expires soon

You can choose to not renew your ADI registration if it expires soon.

You then have up to 12 months from the date it expires to re-register as an ADI without having to take the qualifying tests again. It costs the same to re-register (£300) as it does to renew your ADI registration.

You cannot charge money (or monies worth) for instruction while your registration has lapsed.

Extending ADI registrations

The law sets out how long ADI registrations last and what they cost. DVSA does not have any legal powers to:

• extend your ADI registration
• waive or reduce the ADI registration fee

4. Financial support

Financial support is available to businesses and self-employed people.

1. Check what to do if you’re self-employed and getting less work or no work.

2. Find financial support for your business.

3. Sign up for email alerts about new or updated business and self-employed support.

Scotland

You can read more information about business support from the Scottish Government

Wales

You can read more information about business support from the Welsh Government.