Guidance

Driving instructor code of practice (effective date to be confirmed)

Updated 23 September 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Changes to the driving instructor code of practice

This new mandatory code of practice will be introduced sometime between late 2026 and early 2027. It will replace the approved driving instructor (ADI) register guide and voluntary code of practice.

About the code

You must declare that you have read and agreed to the code of practice when you:

• apply to become an instructor
• renew your registration
• apply for a trainee licence

The code sets out:

• what it means to be a ‘fit and proper’ person
• the core values, expected professional behaviours and standards

1. What happens if you do not comply with the code

As an instructor, you are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and public responsibility. Your conduct must maintain public confidence in both the driving instructor profession and road safety standards.

If you do not comply with this code of practice, the ADI Registrar may:

• issue a formal warning
• carry out a standards check or investigation
• suspend and remove you from the ADI register

2. Your responsibilities as an instructor

As an instructor you are approved by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), and represent the instructor profession, including when you are not working.

When teaching and in your personal life, DVSA expects you to:

• be honest
• act with integrity
• behave professionally
• follow the law

How you behave outside work may be taken into account if it affects public confidence in the register, road safety or the instructor profession.

3. Being a ‘fit and proper’ person 

You must be a ‘fit and proper’ person to apply for and remain on the ADI register or hold a trainee licence.

The ADI Registrar assesses whether your conduct, behaviour or professional standards would be considered unacceptable by the public or other ADIs.

Each case is considered individually. The ADI Registrar will assess the risk you may pose to the public, taking into account factors including:

• the nature and seriousness of any offence
• how long ago it occurred
• any pattern of behaviour
• evidence of rehabilitation
• how relevant the conduct is to the role of a driving instructor, for example in relation to safeguarding, financial trust or road safety

3.1. When you’re unlikely to be considered fit and proper 

You’re unlikely to be ‘fit and proper’ if you’ve been cautioned for or convicted of offenses including: 

• sexual assault - particularly offences involving pupils or children under 18 years 
• making, possessing or distributing indecent or pornographic images 
• perverting the course of justice 
• assault 
• possession or supply of drugs 
• fraud - particularly offences involving illegal driving instruction or how you run your business
• theft - particularly offences involving the theft of tuition fees 
• any that led to you being barred from working with children by the Disclosure and Barring Service or being added to the National Sex Offenders Register
• receiving 5 or more penalty points on your driving licence from either motoring convictions or fixed penalty notices
• being disqualified from driving within the last 4 years

 4. Reporting allegations and offences 

You must tell DVSA within 7 days if you are:

• the subject of any allegation
• cautioned or convicted of an offence (including motoring offences)
• barred from working with children by the Disclosure and Barring Service

Email the DVSA criminal records team.

DVSA criminal records team
crt@dvsa.gov.uk

If you do not report within 7 days, this may also be treated as misconduct.

4.1. Co-operating with investigations

You must co-operate fully with any investigation by DVSA or the ADI Registrar. This includes providing information, documents and explanations when asked.

Failure to co-operate may itself be treated as misconduct and taken into account when assessing whether you are fit and proper to remain on the register

5. Safeguarding and how you must behave with pupils

You must:

• protect all pupils from harm, especially children under 18 and vulnerable adults
• create and maintain a safe learning environment
• understand safeguarding principles
• maintain professional boundaries at all times

You must not: 

• discriminate against anyone because of a protected characteristic 
• use inappropriate language
• behave in an aggressive or intimidating way 
• make unnecessary physical contact with pupils 
• have inappropriate contact with pupils outside lessons, including through personal social media accounts 

You should: 

• treat pupils with respect and consideration at all times
• consider completing a safeguarding course
• know how to recognise safeguarding concerns and who to report them to
• respond to safeguarding concerns quickly and appropriately 

You should not:

• discuss you or your pupil’s personal relationships
• involve yourself in your pupil’s private life

5.1. Relationships with pupils 

You must not enter into a sexual or romantic relationship with someone you are instructing. 

The ADI Registrar could remove you from the register if a pupil or one of their relatives makes a complaint of this nature. DVSA could also ask local safeguarding teams, including the police and local authority officers to investigate. 

6. Your responsibilities for instruction and road safety 

You must: 

• provide instruction in line with the national standard for driver and rider training 
• make sure lessons cover road safety and are at the right level for the pupil 
• check your pupil is entitled to drive the vehicle they are learning in 
• keep your vehicle insured, roadworthy and legal 
• fit your car with an extra interior rear-view mirror and correctly positioned L or optionally D plates in Wales
• make sure any learning materials you develop using AI are technically correct, accurate and in line with the national standards

You should also: 

• demonstrate a high standard of driving even when you are not working 
• keep your skills and knowledge up to date 
• keep your vehicle clean and free from loose objects 

6.1. Preparing your pupils for a driving test 

Before your pupils take a test, you should: 

• make sure they can read a number plate at the required distance 
• consider whether they are ready for their test and advise them to book a later test if not 
• encourage them to take a mock test with another instructor if possible

On the day of the test, you should: 

• make sure your pupil knows how to find the test centre 
• make sure they arrive in good time with the correct documentation in a suitable vehicle 
• agree with your pupil beforehand whether to accompany them on the test
• use the debrief to identify areas to focus on in future lessons

You must not interfere with or distract your pupil during the test. If you do, the examiner will stop the test immediately.

6.2. How you must behave at driving test centres 

You must behave professionally when accompanying your pupil on their test. If you do not, you may be reported to the ADI Registrar and removed from the register.

If you have concerns about a pupil’s attitude, behaviour or intentions before they attend for their test, you should raise these with the examiner or the test centre manager. 

7. Booking and managing tests for your pupils

You cannot book, change, swap or cancel car driving tests for your pupils.

Learners must book their own appointment for car driving tests. 

You can set times when you are available to take your pupils to their driving tests.

If you misuse the system to book and manage driving and riding tests for your pupils, you will be reported to the ADI Registrar and could be removed from the register.

8. Using mobile phones and hand-held devices

As the accompanying driver, you must: 

• always be in control of the vehicle 
• not use a mobile phone or hand-held device (including tablets) while instructing
• not receive calls while you are instructing – this includes using a device in hands-free mode
• park safely and switch the engine off before using a tablet to record a pupil’s progress or show them a diagram or video 

You should store your phone in the glove compartment to avoid distraction and the temptation to pick it up.

You can get 6 penalty points if you use a mobile phone or hand-held device while providing instruction in a moving vehicle. DVSA could also remove you from the register.

9. Displaying your instructor badge 

You must display your ADI badge or trainee driving instructor certificate in the car windscreen when you are providing paid instruction. This lets pupils know you are registered with DVSA.

You should display your badge when your pupil takes their driving test, whether in your car or their own. This will help improve the accuracy of your approved driving instructor (ADI) driving test data report is accurate. 

10. Your terms of business and financial responsibilities 

You must make sure your pupil understands your terms of business. These must include: 

• your business contact details 
• the price and duration of lessons 
• your cancellation policy 
• your refund policy 
• how you will handle their personal data
• how pupils can make a complaint 

You should give these to the pupil in writing before they start lessons. 

You must also: 

• keep accurate records of lessons completed and hours delivered 
• clearly tell pupils their current progress and what further training they need 
• account for and protect all money paid to you, particularly when lessons are paid for in advance
• provide the instruction you have been paid for 
• not accept gifts or hospitality that could compromise your judgement 

The ADI Registrar can remove you from the register if you: 

• give lessons that are shorter than agreed 
• give instruction that is not at the expected standard 
• repeatedly arrive late 
• repeatedly cancel lessons 

11. Keeping your details up to date 

You must update your approved driving instructor (ADI) registration with any changes in your circumstances within 7 calendar days. This includes changes to your: 

• name 
• permanent home address 
• business address 
• email address

12. Data protection 

You must: 

• follow data protection regulations - this includes the correct handling, storage and destruction of data 
• protect all information acquired in during your official duties and any information that has been told to you in confidence 
• protect your pupil’s personal information 

13. Marketing and social media 

You must: 

• follow the standards set out in the advertising codes of practice 
• make sure any use of social media is lawful, responsible and professional 
• make sure any promotional materials you develop using AI are technically correct, accurate and in line with the national standards
• comply with privacy and data protection legislation 
• explain how your pass rate has been calculated if you advertise it 
• not share client information, images or videos without explicit written consent 
• not distribute, circulate or publish footage from in-car cameras without consent - read the rules about filming or recording a driving test 
• not send messages, images or emojis to pupils that could be seen as offensive or unprofessional 

14. Handling complaints 

You must : 

• deal with complaints promptly and try to resolve them quickly 
• make sure the pupil is aware of how to make a complaint about a driving instructor 
• keep a record of any complaints and how they were resolved 

If a pupil tells you they have experienced inappropriate conduct from another instructor, you should encourage them to report it to DVSA. 

15. Dealing with emergencies 

You should know how to deal with incidents, including how to: 

• get help 
• assist those involved 
• provide basic emergency care 

You should consider training in basic first aid and CPR. 

16. Trainee driving instructors

The trainee licence scheme lets you gain practical experience while you complete your training and prepare for the part 3 qualifying test. It is not an alternative to full registration. You should aim to complete the qualification process.

Your trainee licence may be refused or revoked if you do not follow these rules.

As a trainee you must:

• complete and document the required training hours and supervision
• only work from your sponsoring school or ADI
• apply for a part 3 test

You must not:

• work independently
• mislead pupils or suggest you are a qualified ADI

Read the guidance for getting a trainee driving instructor licence.

16.1.1 Sponsoring a trainee driving instructor

If you are an ADI sponsoring a trainee driving instructor you must:

• make sure the trainee completes the required training hours and supervision
• only support a trainee licence application when you are satisfied the trainee has reached a safe and suitable standard of instruction
• provide adequate support, training and pupils for each trainee you sponsor

If you want to withdraw your sponsorship of a trainee driving instructor you must email padi@dvsa.gov.uk.