Research and analysis

Working as a driving instructor survey: 2025 results

Published 25 February 2026

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Introduction

This report summarises research carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) about working as an approved driving instructor (ADI).

It aims to:

• find out how important things are changing over time
• get views on topical issues

This research is done regularly. It was done twice a year between 2021 and 2022, and it’s been done annually since 2023.

We sent the survey to ADIs on 1 October 2025. The survey closed on 31 October 2025.

Where the same question was asked in previous surveys, this report compares the changes over time.

You can read the results of previous surveys about working as an ADI.

How representative the data is of all ADIs

There were 3,448 responses to this survey. At the end of September 2025 there were 43,334 ADIs. This means that about 8.0% of all ADIs completed the survey.

The data in the report has a confidence level of 99% within +/- 2.2 percentage points.

This means that if we repeated the survey with different samples of all ADIs, 99 times out of 100, the results would be within +/- 2.2 percentage points of the figures shown in this report.

Summary of findings

Weekly working hours

56.6% of ADIs spend at least 25 hours working as an ADI each week

This is 3.2 percentage points lower than in September 2024.

Read more about working time.

Driving lesson prices

£36 to £40 is the most common price charged for a one-hour lesson - 50.3% of ADIs charge this

This was also the most common price charged for a one-hour lesson in September 2024, when 47.7% of ADIs charged it.

Read more about lesson prices.

Availability for driving lessons

45.4% of ADIs currently have availability to take on new pupils

This is 8.8 percentage points higher than in September 2024.

Read more about lesson availability and waiting lists.

Job satisfaction

91.4% of ADIs agree the role gives them a sense of personal accomplishment

This is 0.3 percentage points lower than in September 2024.

Read more about attitudes to the job.

Future plans

85.8% of ADIs intend to continue in the role for at least the next year

This is 1.9 percentage points lower than in September 2024.

Read more about attitudes to the job.

Professional development

62.2% of ADIs have done some form of continuing professional development (CPD) in the last 12 months

This is 0.6 percentage points higher than in September 2024.

Read more about professional development.

Health

60.8% of ADIs have experienced musculoskeletal problems in the last 12 months

This is 1.0 percentage points lower than in September 2024.

Read more about health and wellbeing.

About your business

In this section:

Type of instructor

What type of instructor are you?

3,496 people answered this question in 2025.

Survey	Independent	Local driving school franchise	National driving school	Other	Total
June 2021	69.4%	17.4%	11.4%	1.8%	100%
January 2022	70.8%	16.9%	11.1%	1.3%	100%
October 2022	69.2%	17.4%	11.7%	1.8%	100%
June 2023	69.6%	16.9%	11.1%	2.4%	100%
September 2024	69.2%	17.6%	11.1%	2.0%	100%
October 2025	68.2%	18.2%	11.5%	2.1%	100%

What types of customers do you train?

3,408 people answered this question in 2025.

ADIs were asked to select all options that applied to them. This means the totals do not add up to 100%.

Response	June 2023	September 2024	October 2025
Learner drivers	98.4%	98.6%	98.2%
Fully qualified drivers of fleets of cars and vans	11.0%	10.3%	10.2%
Trainee driving instructors and other ADIs	9.7%	11.1%	11.3%

Experience as an instructor

How long have you been an approved driving instructor (ADI)?

3,445 people answered this question in 2025.

Response	June 2023	September 2024	October 2025
Less than a year	7.7%	7.8%	8.7%
Between 1 to 4 years	19.3%	20.8%	22.1%
Between 5 to 8 years	15.8%	15.6%	14.4%
Between 9 to 12 years	8.2%	7.9%	9.1%
More than 12 years	49.0%	47.8%	45.7%

Working time

On average, how many hours do you spend working as an ADI each week?

3,448 people answered this question in 2025.

Response	June 2023	September 2024	October 2025
15 hours or fewer	10.2%	11.2%	13.1%
16 hours to 24 hours	26.0%	27.5%	29.1%
25 hours to 34 hours	38.8%	38.5%	37.3%
35 hours or more	23.4%	21.3%	19.3%
Not currently working as an ADI	1.6%	1.5%	1.2%

Average working hours by ADI gender

This chart shows a breakdown of October 2025 average weekly working hours for those currently working as an ADI by the ADI’s gender.

Gender	15 hours or fewer	16 to 24 hours	25 to 34 hours	35 hours or more	Total
Male	12.1%	26.5%	39.3%	22.1%	100%
Female	16.0%	37.7%	34.2%	12.1%	100%

Due to the low number of respondents who identified as non-binary or had another way of describing their gender, they are not included in this chart.

Do you have any other jobs in addition to your work as an ADI?

3,396 people answered this question in 2025.

Survey	Yes	No	Total
June 2023	12.4%	87.6%	100%
September 2024	12.5%	87.5%	100%
October 2025	11.7%	88.3%	100%

I achieve a good balance between my work life and my private life

3,402 people answered this question in 2025.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	23.1%
Agree	44.1%
Neither agree nor disagree	16.5%
Disagree	12.6%
Strongly disagree	3.6%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	62.5%	17.5%	20.0%	100%
September 2024	66.2%	16.8%	17.1%	100%
October 2025	67.2%	16.5%	16.2%	100%

Lesson prices

What is the average price that you charge for a standard one-hour lesson?

3,342 people answered this question.

Average one-hour lesson price	Response rate
£25 or less	0.4%
£26 to £30	2.0%
£31 to £35	18.2%
£36 to £40	50.3%
£41 to £45	22.5%
£46 to £50	5.0%
£51 or more	1.6%

Average one-hour lesson price over time

This chart shows how the average one-hour prices compare over time when put into 3 main price ranges.

Year	£35 or less	£36 to £40	£41 or more	Total
October 2022	74.3%	21.4%	4.3%	100%
June 2023	61.5%	31.1%	7.4%	100%
September 2024	31.5%	47.7%	20.8%	100%
October 2025	20.6%	50.3%	29.1%	100%

Average one-hour lesson price by region

This chart shows a breakdown of October 2025 one-hour lesson prices by region put into 3 main price ranges. The chart is ordered from highest to lowest region charging £41 or more.

Region	£35 or less	£36 to £40	£41 or more	Total
South-west	7.6%	37.8%	54.6%	100%
South-east	13.4%	47.3%	39.3%	100%
Scotland	10.4%	53.7%	36.0%	100%
London	34.2%	40.5%	25.2%	100%
East of England	17.2%	58.4%	24.3%	100%
North-west	27.1%	51.4%	21.5%	100%
East Midlands	20.1%	58.8%	21.1%	100%
Wales	27.8%	52.8%	19.4%	100%
Yorkshire and the Humber	30.4%	51.9%	17.8%	100%
West Midlands	37.0%	48.9%	14.1%	100%
North-east	27.7%	64.2%	8.1%	100%

Average one-hour lesson price by ADI gender

This chart shows a breakdown of October 2025 one-hour lesson prices by the ADI’s gender, put into 3 main price ranges.

Gender	£35 or less	£36 to £40	£41 or more	Total
Male	22.3%	49.8%	27.9%	100%
Female	16.4%	51.7%	31.9%	100%

Due to the low number of respondents who identified as non-binary or had another way of describing their gender, they are not included in this chart.

Average one-hour lesson price by time qualified as an ADI

This chart shows a breakdown of October 2025 one-hour lesson prices by how long ADIs have been qualified, put into 3 main price ranges.

Time qualified as an ADI	£35 or less	£36 to £40	£41 or more	Total
Less than a year as an ADI	24.5%	54.7%	20.8%	100%
1 to 4 years as an ADI	20.7%	53.6%	25.7%	100%
5 to 8 years as an ADI	16.2%	54.6%	29.2%	100%
9 to 12 years as an ADI	19.5%	54.5%	26.1%	100%
More than 12 years as an ADI	21.5%	45.6%	32.9%	100%

Average one-hour lesson price by average weekly hours worked by ADIs

This chart shows a breakdown of October 2025 one-hour lesson prices by the average weekly hours ADIs work, put into 3 main price ranges.

Average weekly hours worked	£35 or less	£36 to £40	£41 or more	Total
15 hours or fewer	34.1%	44.1%	21.8%	100%
16 hours to 24 hours	22.9%	50.2%	26.9%	100%
25 hours to 34 hours	17.4%	52.8%	29.8%	100%
35 hours or more	14.5%	49.8%	35.6%	100%

Has the average price that you charge for a one-hour lesson changed over the last year?^{[footnote 1]}

3,330 people answered this question in October 2025.

Survey	The price has decreased	The price has remained the same	The price has increased	Not sure[footnote 2]	Total
October 2022	1.0%	8.6%	90.5%	0.0%	100%
June 2023	0.8%	29.6%	68.5%	1.0%	100%
September 2024	1.0%	32.6%	64.50%	2.0%	100%
October 2025	1.9%	47.7%	48.0%	2.4%	100%

Managing your business

In this section:

Challenges affecting the business

Have any of the following affected your business in the last few months?

5,471 people answered this question.

ADIs were asked to select all options that applied to them. This means the totals do not add up to 100%.

Response	October 2022	June 2023	September 2024	October 2025
Increased lesson prices	43.5%	22.3%	57.9%	42.2%
Increased my hours working as an ADI	28.3%	19.4%	22.0%	18.6%
Pupils wanting less frequent lessons	45.8%	39.8%	44.5%	56.2%
Pupils taking extended breaks from lessons (3 or more weeks)	50.4%	46.0%	51.7%	60.7%
Requests from pupils I have not trained asking to be taken to a test	81.1%	75.1%	81.8%	83.4%
None of these	5.9%	10.7%	3.8%	3.3%

What are the reasons your pupils are taking extended breaks from lessons?

2,030 people answered this question.

ADIs were asked to select all options that applied to them. This means the totals do not add up to 100%.

Response	October 2022	June 2023	September 2024	October 2025
Financial constraints	64.6%	59.3%	64.9%	58.9%
High waiting times for a driving test	89.6%	90.4%	89.2%	94.1%
Caring responsibilities	3.0%	2.6%	2.9%	2.2%
Increased educational or work commitments	22.6%	23.3%	24.5%	18.2%
Health reasons	7.4%	6.6%	7.6%	6.2%
Holiday	13.3%	12.6%	19.7%	10.8%
Personal commitments (for example, house move)	6.3%	7.4%	8.9%	6.7%
No longer wanting to learn to drive	6.3%	6.2%	6.7%	7.4%
Other	5.4%	4.5%	4.9%	5.3%

Approximately how many requests do you receive per week from pupils you have not trained asking to be taken to a test?

2,788 people answered this question in October 2025.

Response	0 to 1	2 to 3	4 to 5	6 or more	Total
October 2022	35.2%	42.9%	10.6%	11.2%	100%
June 2023	33.7%	44.1%	12.9%	9.2%	100%
September 2024	42.1%	41.7%	9.9%	6.4%	100%
October 2025	46.3%	39.0%	9.7%	5.0%	100%

How do you typically respond to requests from pupils you have not trained asking to be taken to a test?

2,788 people answered this question in October 2025.

Response	Response rate
I never accept them	63.1%
I rarely accept them	26.0%
I sometimes accept them	9.9%
I often accept them	0.8%
I always accept them	0.3%

We did not ask this question in previous surveys, so we cannot compare the results.

What are the key challenges you are currently facing within your role as an approved driving instructor?

There were 3,240 comments for this question.

The comments have been analysed using AI to categorise them into themes. Individual comments may relate to more than one theme, so the percentages do not add up to 100%.

Theme	Percentage of comments related to this theme
Driving test availability and waiting times	90%
DVSA management and policy issues	50%
Test booking system exploitation (bots and resellers)	40%
Pupil retention and scheduling difficulties	35%
Managing pupil expectations and readiness	30%
Heightened student anxiety and test pressure	25%
Aggressive or impatient other road users	20%
Financial pressures (fuel and cost of living)	15%
Inconsistent or harsh examiner practices	12%
Industry competition and low-quality instructors	10%

The table shows a summary of what each category covered.

Theme	Description
Driving test availability and waiting times	Severe shortage of practical test slots and extraordinarily long wait times (often 5 to 6 months or more) for learners’ driving tests. Instructors find it impossible to plan lessons or progress because pupils cannot secure timely tests. Many noted this is the single biggest challenge impacting their work.
DVSA management and policy issues	Criticism of DVSA’s handling of the situation and policies. Instructors feel the DVSA has failed to address the backlog and resent rules like the 10 day cancellation policy and the standards check trigger system. Many commented that DVSA surveys are conducted but nothing is being done with the feedback.
Test booking system exploitation (bots and resellers)	Frustration with external interference in test bookings. Many ADIs reported that third-party apps, bots and individuals take test appointments and sell them at high prices. This practice makes it even harder for genuine candidates to find tests through the official system.
Pupil retention and scheduling difficulties	The test backlog is causing learners to put lessons on hold for months, leading to gaps in training and income loss for instructors. Many instructors struggle to manage their diary as they take on new students to fill the gap, only to have former students return last-minute when they finally get a test date. This stop-start cycle makes running a stable business challenging.
Managing pupil expectations and readiness	Instructors frequently have to convince students to delay or cancel tests because they are not truly ready. Many learners and their parents push to just have a go since tests are so hard to get, creating conflict when instructors refuse to take unprepared pupils to the test. Several ADIs mentioned the awkward task of explaining that passing the theory test or completing a certain number of hours does not mean a student is test-ready.
Heightened student anxiety and test pressure	The long waits have dramatically raised the stakes of each test. Instructors observed that pupils are far more nervous and stressed, knowing that failing means waiting many months for another chance. Some ADIs also noted more students with anxiety or neurodiverse conditions, who require additional support and can be disadvantaged by the high-pressure test conditions.
Aggressive or impatient other road users	A significant number of instructors complained about the poor behaviour of other drivers toward learners, including tailgating, horn honking, unsafe overtaking and general impatience. Such road aggression adds difficulty to lessons, as ADIs must keep students calm and safe.
Financial pressures (fuel and cost of living)	Economic challenges of operating as an ADI. Many mentioned rising fuel prices, insurance and vehicle maintenance costs, which cut into their earnings. At the same time, instructors feel unable to raise lesson prices too much without losing students.
Inconsistent or harsh examiner practices	Some instructors noted variability in driving examiners’ assessments. Comments included reports of certain examiners being overly strict or unfriendly, which can unsettle learners. Inconsistency between examiners or centres causes frustration as instructors feel results can depend on who conducts the test.
Industry competition and low-quality instructors	Respondents in some areas face an influx of new or unqualified instructors undercutting the market. Others complained of illegal instructors teaching without a licence or insurance, sometimes attracting students by offering bargain rates. This undermines legitimate ADIs and can tarnish the profession’s reputation.

Number of pupils and their progress

Approximately how many learners are you actively training at this time?

3,333 people answered this question in October 2025.

Survey	Number of learners
June 2021	22.3
January 2022	19.9
October 2022	20.4
June 2023	19.6
September 2024	18.6
October 2025	18.1

Thinking about the learners that you are actively training, approximately how many have passed their theory test?

3,319 people answered this question in October 2025.

Survey	Number of learners
June 2021	13.0
January 2022	12.3
October 2022	13.4
June 2023	13.0
September 2024	11.8
October 2025	12.1

Thinking about the learners that you are actively training, approximately how many have a practical test booked?

3,313 people answered this question in October 2025.

Survey	Number of learners
June 2021	8.0
January 2022	7.9
October 2022	9.0
June 2023	8.3
September 2024	7.6
October 2025	8.1

Can you estimate how many of your candidates you think are likely to be ready for their driving test in the next 6 months?

3,339 people answered this question in October 2025.

Number of candidates	1 to 5	6 to 10	11 to 20	21 to 30	31 or more	Total
June 2021	12.4%	30.2%	38.3%	14.4%	4.6%	100%
January 2022	17.4%	33.6%	37.2%	9.7%	2.0%	100%
October 2022	15.6%	32.3%	37.1%	11.9%	3.2%	100%
June 2023	17.2%	34.9%	36.1%	9.3%	2.4%	100%
September 2024	16.8%	35.7%	36.4%	8.8%	2.4%	100%
October 2025	17.0%	33.4%	37.4%	10.1%	2.1%	100%

Lesson availability and waiting lists

Do you currently have availability to take on new pupils?

3,345 people answered this question in October 2025.

Response	Yes	No	Total
October 2022	32.0%	68.0%	100%
June 2023	29.8%	70.2%	100%
September 2024	36.6%	63.4%	100%
October 2025	45.4%	54.6%	100%

Availability to take on new pupils by region

This chart shows a breakdown of the October 2025 results by region. It’s ordered by the region with most to least availability to take on new pupils.

Region	Has availability to take on new pupils	Does not have availability to take on new pupils	Total
London	65.2%	34.8%	100%
East of England	52.5%	47.5%	100%
Scotland	49.3%	50.3%	100%
East Midlands	49.1%	50.9%	100%
West Midlands	47.9%	52.1%	100%
Wales	44.4%	55.6%	100%
South-east	42.2%	57.8%	100%
North-west	40.7%	59.3%	100%
Yorkshire and the Humber	38.4%	61.6%	100%
South-west	37.0%	63.0%	100%
North-east	33.8%	66.2%	100%

Availability to take on new pupils by ADI gender

This chart shows a breakdown of the October 2025 results by the ADI’s gender.

ADI gender	Has availability to take on new pupils	Does not have availability to take on new pupils	Total
Male	48.6%	51.4%	100%
Female	36.5%	63.5%	100%

Due to the low number of respondents who identified as non-binary or had another way of describing their gender, they are not included in this chart.

Availability to take on new pupils by average one-hour lesson price

This chart shows a breakdown of the October 2025 results by the average one-hour lesson price ADIs charge.

One-hour lesson price	Has availability to take on new pupils	Does not have availability to take on new pupils	Total
£25 or less	46.7%	53.3%	100%
£26 to £30	62.7%	37.3%	100%
£31 to £35	51.1%	48.9%	100%
£36 to £40	44.9%	55.1%	100%
£41 to £45	43.1%	56.9%	100%
£46 to £50	37.3%	62.7%	100%
£51 or more	31.5%	68.5%	100%

Do you currently have a waiting list for learners?

3,348 people answered this question in October 2025.

Survey	Has a waiting list	Does not have a waiting list	Total
June 2021	81.9%	18.1%	100%
January 2022	72.1%	27.9%	100%
October 2022	65.1%	34.9%	100%
June 2023	63.3%	36.7%	100%
September 2024	56.4%	43.6%	100%
October 2025	47.3%	52.7%	100%

Waiting list by region

This chart shows a breakdown of the October 2025 results by region. It’s ordered by the region with most to least ADIs having a waiting list.

Region	Has a waiting list	Does not have a waiting list	Total
North-east	54.1%	45.9%	100%
South-west	53.4%	46.6%	100%
Yorkshire and the Humber	52.8%	47.2%	100%
North-west	49.8%	50.2%	100%
South-east	49.6%	50.4%	100%
Scotland	48.0%	52.0%	100%
West Midlands	45.0%	55.0%	100%
East Midlands	44.2%	55.8%	100%
Wales	43.8%	56.3%	100%
East of England	41.2%	58.8%	100%
London	33.0%	67.0%	100%

Waiting list by ADI gender

This chart shows a breakdown of the October 2024 results by the ADI’s gender.

Gender	Has a waiting list	Does not have a waiting list	Total
Male	43.7%	56.3%	100%
Female	56.9%	43.1%	100%

Due to the low number of respondents who identified as non-binary or had another way of describing their gender, they are not included in this chart.

Waiting list by average one-hour lesson price

This chart shows a breakdown of the October 2024 results by the average one-hour lesson price ADIs charge.

One-hour lesson price	Has a waiting list	Does not have a waiting list	Total
£25 or less	33.3%	66.7%	100%
£26 to £30	35.8%	64.2%	100%
£31 to £35	39.7%	60.3%	100%
£36 to £40	47.3%	52.7%	100%
£41 to £45	51.4%	48.6%	100%
£46 to £50	57.2%	42.8%	100%
£51 or more	57.4%	42.6%	100%

How many learners do you have waiting to start lessons?

1,579 people answered this question in October 2025.

Survey	1 to 5	6 to 10	11 to 20	More than 20	Total
June 2021	27.7%	30.7%	20.9%	20.8%	100%
January 2022	33.9%	34.5%	20.2%	11.4%	100%
October 2022	33.7%	34.8%	20.3%	11.2%	100%
June 2023	43.1%	30.8%	15.4%	10.7%	100%
September 2024	47.7%	30.1%	14.3%	7.9%	100%
October 2025	52.5%	30.7%	11.1%	5.8%	100%

How long do you expect to have a waiting list of learners?

1,580 people answered this question in October 2025.

Survey	Up to 3 months	Up to 6 months	Up to 9 months	Up to a year	Over a year	Not sure	Total
June 2021	27.4%	30.0%	12.2%	10.6%	10.3%	9.4%	100%
January 2022	37.9%	26.7%	6.9%	7.5%	9.1%	11.9%	100%
October 2022	36.7%	28.8%	6.6%	7.0%	9.8%	11.0%	100%
June 2023	32.8%	25.6%	6.6%	7.4%	15.0%	12.6%	100%
September 2024	36.4%	25.3%	6.1%	6.9%	12.7%	12.4%	100%
October 2025	36.8%	26.6%	5.9%	6.5%	13.0%	11.3%	100%

Your work

In this section:

Attitudes towards the job

I am interested in my work as an ADI

3,401 people answered the question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	56.5%
Agree	34.0%
Neither agree nor disagree	6.9%
Disagree	1.7%
Strongly disagree	0.9%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	90.4%	6.7%	2.9%	100%
September 2024	91.5%	5.9%	2.7%	100%
October 2025	90.5%	6.9%	2.6%	100%

My work as an ADI gives me a sense of personal accomplishment

3,405 people answered the question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	56.3%
Agree	35.1%
Neither agree nor disagree	5.8%
Disagree	1.7%
Strongly disagree	1.0%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	90.8%	6.3%	2.8%	100%
September 2024	91.7%	5.6%	2.8%	100%
October 2025	91.4%	5.8%	2.7%	100%

I understand how my work as an ADI contributes to making road transport safer, cleaner and healthier

3,398 people answered the question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	62.7%
Agree	29.0%
Neither agree nor disagree	5.9%
Disagree	1.6%
Strongly disagree	0.9%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	90.5%	6.9%	2.7%	100%
September 2024	91.2%	6.2%	2.6%	100%
October 2025	91.7%	5.9%	2.5%	100%

I understand the voluntary ADI code of practice and what it means for my conduct and standards

The ADI code of practice sets out how ADIs should behave in their personal conduct and business dealings, including advertising their services and settling disputes.

3,398 people answered the question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	65.3%
Agree	29.1%
Neither agree nor disagree	4.6%
Disagree	0.6%
Strongly disagree	0.4%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	93.2%	5.3%	1.5%	100%
September 2024	93.3%	5.5%	1.1%	100%
October 2025	94.4%	4.6%	1.0%	100%

I have the opportunity to contribute my views to DVSA before decisions are made that affect me

3,406 people answered the question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	12.2%
Agree	25.9%
Neither agree nor disagree	31.0%
Disagree	16.9%
Strongly disagree	14.0%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	35.3%	29.1%	35.6%	100%
September 2024	30.0%	31.3%	38.7%	100%
October 2025	38.1%	31.0%	30.9%	100%

Your future as an ADI

Which of the following statements most reflects your current thoughts about working as an ADI?

3,399 people answered this question.

Survey	I want to leave my role as an ADI as soon as possible	I want to leave my role as an ADI within the next 12 months	I want to stay working as an ADI for at least the next year	I want to stay working as an ADI for at least the next 3 years	Total
October 2022	3.8%	8.1%	16.3%	71.8%	100%
June 2023	5.3%	9.5%	16.9%	68.3%	100%
September 2024	4.6%	7.6%	17.0%	70.8%	100%
October 2025	5.2%	9.0%	17.6%	68.2%	100%

Future as an ADI by age

This chart shows ADIs’ current thoughts about working as an ADI, split by age. To simplify the data, it is shown in 3 groups:

• those who want to leave their role as an ADI within the next 12 months (including as soon as possible)
• those who want to stay working as an ADI for at least the next year
• those who want to stay working as an ADI for at least the next 3 years

Age group	Want to leave their role as an ADI within the next 12 months (including as soon as possible)	Want to stay working as an ADI for at least the next year	Want to stay working as an ADI for at least the next 3 years	Total
21 to 24	20.0%	30.0%	50.0%	100%
25 to 29	4.3%	16.7%	79.0%	100%
30 to 34	12.3%	17.8%	69.9%	100%
35 to 39	15.0%	14.4%	70.6%	100%
40 to 44	11.4%	13.7%	74.9%	100%
45 to 49	12.0%	15.2%	72.8%	100%
50 to 54	11.2%	14.3%	74.5%	100%
55 to 59	12.7%	14.4%	72.9%	100%
60 to 64	15.9%	19.4%	64.7%	100%
65 to 69	25.9%	27.6%	46.5%	100%
70 to 74	18.9%	37.6%	43.5%	100%
75 and over	16.6%	40.5%	42.9%	100%

Skills and resources

In this section:

Tools to do the job

I have the tools I need to do my job effectively

3,408 people answered the question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	40.4%
Agree	43.4%
Neither agree nor disagree	8.2%
Disagree	5.2%
Strongly disagree	2.8%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	84.9%	9.1%	6.0%	100%
September 2024	85.3%	8.7%	5.9%	100%
October 2025	83.8%	8.2%	8.0%	100%

You stated that you do not have the tools needed to do your job effectively. Why is this?

There were 263 comments for this question.

The comments have been analysed using AI to categorise them into themes. Individual comments may relate to more than one theme, so the percentages do not add up to 100%.

Theme	Percentage of comments related to this theme
Driving test availability	74%
Test booking system	23%
ADI training and development	12%
DVSA communication and support	8%
Physical resources (vehicle and infrastructure)	3%

The table shows a summary of what each category covered.

Theme	Description
Driving test availability	Instructors see the ready availability of driving test slots as a fundamental tool needed to do their job. Comments describe extremely long waiting times for practical driving tests, lack of test slots (sometimes none available for months), and delays in getting learners a test when they are ready. Many ADIs expressed that without a test at the end of training, they cannot do their job effectively as it undermines lesson planning and frustrates pupils.
Test booking system	Problems with DVSA’s test booking system and processes, which instructors described as broken or not fit for purpose. Issues include difficulty finding or securing test appointments, lack of a fair or efficient system to match test dates to when pupils will be ready, and third-party booking bots or resellers snapping up test slots unfairly. Instructors also mentioned inflexible booking policies, such as the rule limiting short-notice test date changes and the limit of 6 changes.
ADI training and development	A lack of training, professional development and guidance resources. Comments include calls for better continuing professional development (CPD) and official training from DVSA, more accessible reference materials like the national standard for driver and rider training, and organised training to help teach learners with special educational needs.
DVSA communication and support	A lack of support, communication or responsiveness from DVSA and its staff. ADIs felt left completely alone without support, with no direct helpline or point of contact when they have a problem. Some described poor communication from local test centres and perceived that DVSA does not listen to ADI feedback or involve them in solutions.
Physical resources (vehicle and infrastructure)	Issues with physical or environmental resources that affect the job. Comments mentioned the high cost and upkeep of cars, and problems with road infrastructure including poor quality roads, numerous potholes, and obscured or missing signs. Without clear road markings or a safe area to practice, it is harder to teach learners effectively.

Support from DVSA

DVSA keeps me informed about matters that affect me

3,408 people answered the question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	18.2%
Agree	43.0%
Neither agree nor disagree	25.1%
Disagree	8.4%
Strongly disagree	5.3%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	63.0%	23.6%	13.3%	100%
September 2024	55.1%	27.1%	17.7%	100%
October 2025	61.%	25.1%	13.7%	100%

What more can DVSA do to support you?

There were 264 suggestions for this question.

The comments have been analysed using AI to categorise them into themes. Individual comments may relate to more than one theme, so the percentages do not add up to 100%.

Theme	Percentage of comments related to this theme
Increase test availability and reduce waiting times	68%
Improve the booking system and prevent exploitation	60%
Hire and retain more examiners	62%
Improve communication and engagement with ADIs	20%
Provide training and support for ADIs	15%
Reform DVSA management and policy	15%
Raise ADI performance and standards	10%
Ensure consistent driving test standards	8%
Other	5%

The table shows a summary of what each category covered.

Theme	Description
Increase test availability and reduce waiting times	Instructors urging DVSA to offer more driving test appointments and shorten the long waiting lists for tests. Many suggested opening more test slots, including opening new test centres or extending operating hours, so learners do not have to wait several months for a test.
Improve the booking system and prevent exploitation	Comments about fixing the online booking system and cracking down on its abuse. Instructors want a fairer system that stops automated bots, third-party apps and individuals from bulk-booking or selling test slots for profit. Some suggested limiting who can book tests (for example, only ADIs or only the candidate themselves) and implementing better technology or rules to protect the system.
Hire and retain more examiners	Suggestions focused on addressing the examiner shortage. Many ADIs feel DVSA should recruit more driving examiners and improve examiner pay and working conditions to keep them on the job. The aim is to increase testing capacity, thereby reducing the backlog of learners waiting for tests.
Improve communication and engagement with ADIs	Calls for a more collaborative and communicative approach from DVSA toward instructors. This includes restoring regular meetings between DVSA and local ADIs, providing direct updates about policies and backlogs, genuinely listening to ADI feedback, and not placing blame on instructors for systemic issues. Some want a dedicated support line or better channels to get information or help directly from DVSA.
Provide training and support for ADIs	Comments highlighting the need to support driving instructors in improving their teaching. Instructors suggested more continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities, training workshops and guidance materials from DVSA to help them stay up-to-date (for example, resources for teaching learners with conditions like ADHD or autism).
Reform DVSA management and policy	Responses voicing frustration with DVSA’s leadership or bureaucratic processes. Instructors questioned the effectiveness of current management, with some calling for leadership change. Others urged DVSA to act more decisively and cut through red tape and slow consultations.
Raise ADI performance and standards	Suggestions aimed at raising the overall standard of driving instruction. ADIs in this category felt that DVSA should more strictly monitor or regulate instructors, including cracking down on bad or unprofessional instructors, ensuring trainee instructors get a minimum number of in-car training hours, and shutting down illegal, unlicensed instructors.
Ensure consistent driving test standards	Concerns about how the driving test is conducted and graded. Instructors felt that some examiners are too strict or inflexible in their assessments, and suggested that examiners use more discretion and that DVSA ensure examiners apply test criteria consistently.
Other	A small number of responses that did not fit into the main themes. These included answers like ‘not sure’ or claims that DVSA can do nothing. This category also covers any remarks that were off-topic or ambiguous.

‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign

The ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign provides tools and resources to help your pupils prepare for their driving test and check if they are ready.

How familiar are you with DVSA’s ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign and its objectives?

3,348 people answered this question.

Response	Response rate
Very familiar - I understand the campaign’s goals and actively support them	44.6%
Somewhat familiar - I know about it but have not engaged with it deeply	42.7%
Heard of it - but know little about what it involves	9.6%
Not aware of it at all	3.1%

Which of the following ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign resources have you used with your pupils?

3,290 people answered the question.

ADIs were asked to select all options that applied to them. This means the totals do not add up to 100%.

Response	Response rate
‘Ready to Pass?’ checklist for learners	49.0%
Campaign website (directed pupils to visit)	34.4%
Campaign images and animations on my website or social media	9.9%
Driver’s record to track skills progress	47.8%
Mock test resources and marking sheets	60.2%
Referred pupils and their supervising driver to guidance for supervising private practice	26.1%
None of the above	18.9%

Which additional resources would most help you support your pupils to be ready to pass?

3,109 people answered this question.

ADIs were asked to select up to 3 options that were most important to them. This means the totals do not add up to 100%.

Response	Response rate
Structured lesson plans for driving scenarios	33.3%
Coaching-style question templates for different driving situations	38.4%
Resources to help pupils manage test anxiety and nerves	62.5%
Materials to better engage parents/supervising drivers	33.2%
Guidance on objectively assessing pupil readiness	22.3%
Videos demonstrating common test failures to show pupils	46.3%
Other (please specify)	7.8%

There were 242 comments left in the ‘Other’ category.

The comments have been analysed using AI to categorise them into themes. Individual comments may relate to more than one theme, so the percentages do not add up to 100%.

Theme	Percentage of comments related to this theme
Improve test availability and booking system	27%
No additional resources needed	20%
Criticise DVSA and the ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign	7%
Support anxious and neurodiverse pupils	7%
Provide guidance for parents and supervisors	6%
Emphasise safe driving over test passing	4%
Introduce mandatory training, mock tests or sign-off	3%
Improve examiner consistency and interaction	2%
Improve ADI training and standards	2%
Provide additional learning resources	2%

The table shows a summary of what each category covered.

Theme	Description
Improve test availability and booking system	ADIs report that long test waiting times and booking difficulties undermine pupil readiness. More test slots would reduce anxiety and improve training continuity.
No additional resources needed	Many ADIs feel confident in their existing methods and materials. They believe professional experience is sufficient to prepare pupils without additional tools.
Criticise DVSA and the ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign	Some respondents question the campaign’s effectiveness and relevance. Concerns include perceived disconnect between DVSA messaging and practical realities.
Support anxious and neurodiverse pupils	ADIs request resources tailored to pupils with anxiety, ADHD or autism. Better guidance on adaptive teaching approaches would be welcomed.
Provide guidance for parents and supervisors	Materials helping parents understand their role in supervised practice are needed. Clear expectations about lesson progression would reduce unhelpful interference.
Emphasise safe driving over test passing	ADIs want resources focused on lifelong driving skills rather than test technique. A shift toward road safety messaging would benefit new drivers.
Introduce mandatory training, mock tests or sign-off	Suggestions include requiring minimum lesson hours or ADI sign-off before test booking. Structured readiness checks could improve pass rates.
Improve examiner consistency and interaction	Concerns about inconsistent marking standards and examiner communication. Clearer feedback would help ADIs address pupil weaknesses.
Improve ADI training and standards	Requests for enhanced professional development opportunities. Better initial training and ongoing support would raise industry standards.
Provide additional learning resources	Some ADIs would value supplementary videos, apps or visual aids. These could reinforce in-car teaching between lessons.

What would make the ‘Ready to Pass?’ campaign and toolkit more useful for driving instructors?

1,539 people answered this question.

The comments have been analysed using AI to categorise them into themes. Individual comments may relate to more than one theme, so the percentages do not add up to 100%.

Theme	Percentage of comments related to this theme
Increase driving test availability and reduce waiting times	30%
Enhance toolkit content and resources	25%
Promote and raise awareness of the campaign	20%
Develop digital tools such as an app or online access	18%
Improve parental involvement and education	15%
Reduce test anxiety and use positive messaging	15%
Provide physical printed materials	12%
Ensure test readiness through sign-off or minimum hours	10%
No additional suggestions or already satisfied	10%
Improve communication with ADIs	8%
Critical of the campaign or calls to scrap it	8%
Focus on safe driving rather than just passing the test	7%
Provide training and support for instructors	5%
Improve accessibility for diverse learners	4%

The table shows a summary of what each category covered.

Theme	Description
Increase driving test availability and reduce waiting times	Instructors pointed out that the campaign’s impact is limited by the lack of practical driving test slots and long waiting times. Many comments urged DVSA to focus on increasing test availability instead of or alongside the campaign. ADIs feel that when pupils face a 5 to 6 month wait for a test, the toolkit becomes less effective.
Enhance toolkit content and resources	Suggestions about improving the content of the campaign toolkit itself. Instructors want more engaging, comprehensive resources such as videos demonstrating common mistakes, mock tests and examples of good driving standards. They would prefer higher-quality, more varied learning materials including structured lesson plans, progress tracking sheets and scenario-based guidance.
Promote and raise awareness of the campaign	Instructors noted that too few learners and parents know about the campaign, which limits its usefulness. Suggestions included a stronger social media presence on platforms popular with young people, and introducing the campaign in schools or at the theory test stage. ADIs want learners and families to encounter the messages before they book their driving test.
Develop digital tools such as an app or online access	A frequent suggestion was to develop a ‘Ready to Pass?’ mobile app or similar digital tool. Instructors believe an app would make the toolkit more accessible and interactive for young learners, with features like progress tracking, quizzes and push notifications. ADIs feel that digitising the toolkit would engage tech-savvy learners and allow more convenient use during lessons.
Improve parental involvement and education	A significant number of responses highlighted the role of parents and other supervising drivers in a learner’s journey. Instructors suggested creating materials aimed at parents to help them understand modern standards and the importance of not rushing the test. Greater parent outreach through schools, emails or leaflets with provisional licences was seen as a key improvement.
Reduce test anxiety and use positive messaging	Many ADIs discussed how the campaign’s current approach can affect learner psychology, especially those prone to anxiety. A common complaint was that reminder emails sent to candidates often increase nerves rather than help. Instructors suggested the messaging should be more positive and encouraging, with practical tips for dealing with nerves.
Provide physical printed materials	Despite the push for digital, many instructors also requested physical resources to complement the campaign. They suggested having hard-copy materials such as printed booklets or pamphlets that ADIs could give to learners and parents. A tangible handout can be useful for learners to read at home, rather than relying solely on emails or websites.
Ensure test readiness through sign-off or minimum hours	A recurring theme was the idea of putting in checks or requirements to ensure learners do not attempt the test before they are ready. Suggestions included making an ADI’s sign-off mandatory before a practical test can be taken, or requiring a minimum number of lessons before booking. ADIs want stronger measures to discourage candidates who book tests against their instructor’s advice.
No additional suggestions or already satisfied	A subset of ADIs indicated they had no particular issues with the campaign as it stands or did not feel the need for additional tools. Some admitted they had not used or seen the toolkit enough to comment. This category covers neutral or non-responsive answers from instructors who feel the campaign is adequate in its current form.
Improve communication with ADIs	Instructors want to be kept in the loop about the campaign and better supported in using it. Many noted that DVSA communicates directly with learners without informing the ADIs, which can leave instructors unaware of what their students have been told. ADIs requested early or regular updates from DVSA about any new campaign materials or changes.
Critical of the campaign or calls to scrap it	A proportion of instructors were negative about the campaign, saying it does not help or is misdirected. Some feel the campaign undermines their expertise or adds pressure rather than value. These responses assert that good instructors already make sure pupils are ready without a campaign, and that DVSA should invest resources elsewhere.
Focus on safe driving rather than just passing the test	Some ADIs took issue with the emphasis on passing the test rather than lifelong safe driving. They stressed that passing the test is only a minimum standard, and the campaign should place more weight on encouraging learners to be safe after the test. The key suggestion was to reframe materials to highlight post-test driving skills and attitudes.
Provide training and support for instructors	Suggestions about how DVSA could help ADIs implement the campaign and generally improve instructor resources. Instructors proposed DVSA-run workshops, training days or webinars specifically about the campaign to explain how to use the toolkit effectively. ADIs are asking for more professional development and collaboration opportunities around the campaign.
Improve accessibility for diverse learners	Instructors pointed out that the toolkit should be made more accessible and inclusive for learners with different needs. Suggestions included translations for learners whose first language is not English, simplified Easy Read versions, and content on supporting learners with special educational needs. The campaign would be more useful if its resources could be tailored to individuals.

Continuing professional development

Continuing professional development (CPD) is voluntary training you can take to keep your skills up to date. It can include things like updating your training skills, going on formal courses, carrying out online research, developing your business skills, or going to local or national meetings and events.

Taking CPD

I am able to access the right continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities when I need to

3,406 people answered this question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	24.2%
Agree	39.5%
Neither agree nor disagree	27.9%
Disagree	4.4%
Strongly disagree	3.9%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	61.8%	29.9%	8.2%	100%
September 2024	67.0%	26.8%	6.1%	100%
October 2025	63.7%	27.9%	8.3%	100%

Have you completed any continuing professional development (CPD) activities in the past 12 months?

3,408 people answered this question in October 2025.

Response	Yes	No	Not sure	Total
June 2023	53.6%	40.2%	6.3%	100%
September 2024	61.6%	32.8%	5.6%	100%
October 2025	62.2%	32.5%	5.3%	100%

CPD completed by region

This chart shows a breakdown of the October 2025 results by region. It’s ordered by the region with most to least ADIs completing CPD.

Region	CPD done in last 12 months	No CPD done in last 12 months	Not sure if they’ve done CPD in the last 12 months	Total
South-west	69.8%	26.5%	3.7%	100%
East Midlands	68.1%	25.7%	6.2%	100%
Scotland	64.2%	29.4%	6.4%	100%
East of England	62.9%	32.8%	4.3%	100%
North-east	62.9%	34.4%	2.7%	100%
Yorkshire and the Humber	62.5%	34.2%	3.3%	100%
North-west	61.6%	33.7%	4.7%	100%
South-east	61.0%	33.8%	5.2%	100%
Wales	59.5%	35.1%	5.4%	100%
London	55.4%	37.7%	6.9%	100%
West Midlands	54.6%	37.9%	7.5%	100%

CPD completed by ADI gender

This chart shows a breakdown of the October 2025 results by the ADI’s gender.

Region	CPD done in last 12 months	No CPD done in last 12 months	Not sure if they’ve done CPD in the last 12 months	Total
Male	60.1%	34.3%	5.6%	100%
Female	68.5%	27.3%	4.2%	100%

Due to the low number of respondents who identified as non-binary or had another way of describing their gender, they are not included in this chart.

CPD completed by average one-hour lesson price

This chart shows whether or not ADIs have done any CPD in the last 12 months, split by the average hourly lesson price they charge.

One-hour lesson price charged	CPD done in last 12 months	No CPD done in last 12 months	Not sure if they’ve done CPD in the last 12 months	Total
£25 or less	60.0%	40.0%	0%	100%
£26 to £30	37.3%	49.3%	13.4%	100%
£31 to £35	51.9%	42.8%	5.3%	100%
£36 to £40	60.9%	33.2%	5.9%	100%
£41 to £45	69.5%	26.5%	4.0%	100%
£46 to £50	74.7%	21.7%	3.6%	100%
£51 or more	83.3%	16.7%	0%	100%

CPD completed by time qualified as an ADI

This chart shows whether or not ADIs have done any CPD in the last 12 months, split by the length of time they’ve been qualified as an ADI.

Length of time as an ADI	CPD done in last 12 months	No CPD done in last 12 months	Not sure if they’ve done CPD in the last 12 months	Total
Less than one year as an ADI	64.0%	28.7%	7.3%	100%
1 to 4 years as an ADI	71.0%	24.7%	4.2%	100%
5 to 8 years as an ADI	65.3%	29.1%	5.7%	100%
9 to 12 years as an ADI	59.5%	28.7%	7.3%	100%
More than 12 years as an ADI	57.1%	37.5%	5.4%	100%

CPD completed by average weekly working hours

This chart shows whether or not ADIs have done any CPD in the last 12 months, split by the average weekly hours they spend working as an ADI.

Length of time as an ADI	CPD done in last 12 months	No CPD done in last 12 months	Not sure if they’ve done CPD in the last 12 months	Total
15 hours or fewer	57.3%	36.3%	6.4%	100%
16 hours to 24 hours	60.7%	35.0%	4.4%	100%
25 hours to 34 hours	65.0%	29.8%	5.2%	100%
35 hours or more	62.7%	31.4%	5.9%	100%

CPD completed by future plans as an ADI

This chart shows whether or not ADIs have done any CPD in the last 12 months, split by their future plans as an ADI.

Future plans as an ADI	CPD done in last 12 months	No CPD done in last 12 months	Not sure if they’ve done CPD in the last 12 months	Total
Want to leave their role as soon as possible	58.5%	38.6%	2.8%	100%
Want to leave their role within the next 12 months	55.4%	40.7%	3.9%	100%
Want to stay as an ADI for at least the next year	62.7%	31.6%	5.7%	100%
Want to stay as an ADI for at least the next 3 years	63.2%	31.2%	5.5%	100%

CPD completed by interest in their role as an ADI

This chart shows whether or not ADIs have done any CPD in the last 12 months, split by how interested they are in their role as an ADI.

Interest in their role	CPD done in last 12 months	No CPD done in last 12 months	Not sure if they’ve done any CPD in the last 12 months	Total
Strongly agree they are interested	66.4%	28.6%	5.0%	100%
Agree they are interested	58.7%	35.4%	5.9%	100%
Neither agree nor disagree they are interested	49.8%	45.5%	4.7%	100%
Disagree they are interested	51.7%	43.1%	5.2%	100%
Strongly disagree they are interested	50.0%	50.0%	0%	100%

Impact of taking CPD

Continuing professional development (CPD) activities I have completed in the past 12 months have helped to improve my performance as an ADI

This question was only asked to those who said they had done CPD in the last 12 months.

2,115 people answered this question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	30.2%
Agree	44.9%
Neither agree nor disagree	21.7%
Disagree	2.5%
Strongly disagree	0.8%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	76.9%	20.2%	2.8%	100%
September 2024	78.2%	19.4%	2.4%	100%
October 2025	75.1%	21.7%	3.3%	100%

Health and wellbeing

In this section:

Physical health

In general, how would you rate your overall physical health now?

3,404 people answered this question in October 2025.

Response	June 2023	September 2024	October 2025
Very good	23.2%	22.3%	24.0%
Good	42.6%	43.5%	42.6%
Fair	25.7%	26.1%	25.3%
Poor	7.2%	7.1%	7.1%
Very poor	1.3%	1.0%	1.1%

In the last 12 months I have experienced musculoskeletal problems

Musculoskeletal conditions include conditions that affect joints, bones, muscles, or areas of the body (for example, back pain or neck pain).

3,396 people answered this question about how much they agreed with this statement.

Response	Response rate
Strongly agree	24.9%
Agree	36.0%
Neither agree nor disagree	12.5%
Disagree	14.1%
Strongly disagree	12.5%

This chart compares how this has changed over time. To simplify the chart, it shows total agreement and total disagreement grouped together.

Survey	Agreement	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagreement	Total
June 2023	59.3%	13.5%	27.2%	100%
September 2024	61.8%	13.0%	25.1%	100%
October 2025	60.9%	12.5%	26.6%	100%

Experienced musculoskeletal problems by time qualified as an ADI

This chart shows whether ADIs agreed or disagreed that they had experienced musculoskeletal problems the last 12 months, split by how long they’ve been qualified as an ADI.

Time qualified as an ADI	Agree they have experienced musculoskeletal problems in the last 12 months	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree they have experienced musculoskeletal problems in the last 12 months	Total
Less than a year	49.7%	14.3%	36.0%	100%
Between 1 to 4 years	58.9%	14.7%	26.4%	100%
Between 5 to 8 years	61.9%	11.9%	26.1%	100%
Between 9 to 12 years	67.8%	10.1%	22.0%	100%
More than 12 years	62.1%	11.7%	26.2%	100%

Mental health

In general, how would you rate your overall mental health at the moment?

3,401 people answered this question.

Response	June 2023	September 2024	October 2025
Very good	26.7%	28.6%	28.6%
Good	38.4%	40.7%	38.6%
Fair	23.7%	22.1%	22.1%
Poor	9.1%	6.9%	8.7%
Very poor	2.0%	1.7%	2.1%

Caring responsibilities

Do you currently have any caring responsibilities that impact your work as an approved driving instructor?

This includes any time spent providing unpaid care to a family member, friend or child.

3,395 people answered this question.

Response	June 2023	September 2024	October 2025
Yes	26.7%	27.2%	27.8%
No	67.6%	68.6%	68.2%
Prefer not to say	5.7%	4.2%	4.0%

Caring responsibilities by ADI gender

This chart shows a breakdown of October 2025 caring responsibilities by the ADI’s gender.

Gender	Has caring responsibilities	Does not have caring responsibilities	Prefer not to say	Total
Male	24.1%	72.1%	3.8%	100%
Female	36.7%	59.5%	3.8%	100%

1. In the October 2022 survey, ADIs were asked if they had changed the price over the last 2 years. ↩

2. The ‘Not sure’ option was added to this question from the June 2023 survey onwards ↩