What does a driving instructor have to display and tell pupils?
Driving tuition is a long purchase, often paid in blocks, sometimes by parents. That is why the rules focus on two things: that the person teaching is qualified, and that the pupil knows what they are paying for and how to get out of a bad deal.
This guide summarises what GOV.UK, the ADI register guide and the ADI code of practice say for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own process. To attract pupils once all this is in place, see our guide on getting more driving school students.
Before you charge: the ADI certificate
GOV.UK sets out the route in steps: a new Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to start the application, the theory test (ADI part 1), the driving ability test (part 2), optional practice teaching on a 6-month trainee licence, the instructional ability test (part 3), then registration within 12 months of passing. GOV.UK lists the first ADI certificate at £300 and states: “When you have your certificate you can start charging for lessons.”
| What | How often (GOV.UK) |
|---|---|
| ADI standards check | At least once every 4 years |
| Registration renewal | Every 4 years (listed at £300) |
| New DBS check | Every 4 years, with the renewal |
| Theory pass validity | Pass the other parts within 2 years, or start again |
Put the renewal date, standards check window and DBS date in one shared calendar with a reminder three months ahead. An expired registration means lessons you cannot legally charge for.
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Quiz: is your driving school easy to find?
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Displaying your ADI badge
The ADI register guide is direct: “You must display your ADI registration certificate (commonly known as an ‘ADI badge’) or trainee licence while giving paid instruction.” In practice, that means on the windscreen of the tuition car, every lesson, including test day.
The code of practice adds that, when presenting a pupil for the practical test, the vehicle must comply with motoring law, display the instructor’s certificate or licence correctly, have an extra interior rear-view mirror and correctly positioned L plates (or optionally D plates in Wales).
- Badge or trainee licence displayed on every paid lesson
- Extra interior mirror fitted
- L plates (or D plates in Wales) in the right place
- Car roadworthy, taxed, insured for tuition and for the test
- Pupil’s entitlement to drive and eyesight (number plate check) verified on the first lesson
Terms of business: what pupils should get in writing
Under the code of practice, instructors who follow it agree to make pupils aware of the code and of their terms of business, which should include the items below. Most complaints about instructors come from one of them being vague.
[School or instructor name] — Terms of business (updated [date])
Who we are: [legal name], [full postal address], [phone number]. ADI no. [number].
Lessons: [length] minutes, £[price] per lesson. Block of [X] lessons: £[price], valid for [period].
Test day: use of the school car for the practical test £[price], including [warm-up lesson of X minutes]. The school car may be withheld if [conditions]; you will be told at least [X] days before so that you do not lose your DVSA test fee.
Cancellations: you can cancel or move a lesson free of charge up to [X] hours before. Later cancellations are charged [£X / in full]. If we cancel, the lesson is rearranged at no cost.
Money paid in advance: we keep a record of all prepaid lessons and fees, available to you on request.
Refunds: unused prepaid lessons are refunded [conditions and timescale].
Complaints: speak to us first at [email/phone]; we reply within [X] days. If you are still unhappy, you can contact Citizens Advice, or the ADI Registrar at instructorconduct@dvsa.gov.uk about professional conduct.
The code also asks instructors to record each pupil’s progress (including the number of lessons), to advise them when to book their test, and never to cancel or rearrange a test without the pupil’s knowledge and agreement.
Adverts, prices and pass rates
The advertising part of the code is short and worth reading in full. Instructors agree that:
- advertising of driving tuition is clear, fair and not misleading;
- any claims can be verified and comply with the CAP advertising codes;
- advertising that refers to pass rates should not be open to misinterpretation, and the basis on which the calculation is prepared should be made clear.
A pass rate people can trust
- State the period (for example “1 January to 31 December 2025”)
- Say whether it counts first-time passes or all attempts
- Give the number of pupils presented, so 100% on 4 tests is not read like 100% on 200
- Keep the test results that back it up
Prices and offers
Show the price a pupil will actually pay, including the test-day car if it is extra. An introductory offer works well when it is real: show the usual price you genuinely charge, the offer price, and the end date.
Social media and dashcam footage
The code asks instructors to use social media responsibly, to respect data protection and spam rules when marketing, and not to publish footage of driving tests from in-car cameras without permission from DVSA and the pupil. For the classic “just passed” photo, get the pupil’s agreement (and a parent’s for under-18s) and keep a record of it.
The DVSA “find driving instructors” listing
GOV.UK runs a service where learners can find DVSA-approved instructors and check their grade “if they declare it”. ADIs choose whether to be listed, so not every instructor appears. Being listed costs nothing extra and puts your name where careful parents look.
If you agree to follow the voluntary code of practice, you can also update your ADI registration to show it. Combined with recent reviews on your Google Business Profile, it answers the two questions every new pupil has: are you qualified, and are your pupils happy? Our guide on getting more Google reviews shows how to ask at the right moment.
Lesson prices, blocks and money paid in advance
Most disputes between pupils and instructors are about money paid upfront: a block of ten lessons, a test-day fee, a pupil who moves away halfway through. The code of practice asks instructors to safeguard and account for any money paid in advance (for lessons, test fees or anything else) and to make those details available to the pupil on request, on or before the first lesson.
A simple way to do it is a running statement per pupil. The amounts below are an example only:
| Date | Item | Paid | Used | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 March | Block of 10 x 1 h lessons | £[block price] | 10 lessons | |
| 5 March | Lesson 1 | 1 | 9 lessons | |
| 12 March | Lesson 2 (cancelled by pupil 2 h before, charged per terms) | 1 | 8 lessons | |
| 20 March | Test-day car deposit | £[amount] | 8 lessons + test car |
- Say how long a block stays valid, and what happens to unused lessons
- Say how a refund is calculated (for example at the single-lesson price for the lessons used)
- Send the statement by email after each payment: it prevents most arguments
- Keep the records with your accounts
On VAT: GOV.UK says you must register if your taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or you expect it to go over that in the next 30 days. Many sole-trader instructors stay below it; if you run a school with several instructors, check your figures every month, because your advertised prices must stay correct once VAT is added.
The new mandatory code of practice
GOV.UK states that the ADI register guide and the voluntary code of practice will be replaced by a new mandatory code of practice sometime between late 2026 and early 2027. After that, you must declare that you have read and agreed to the new code when you apply to become an instructor, renew your registration or apply for a trainee licence.
Practical advice: read the new code on GOV.UK now, compare it with your current terms of business, and update your website and paperwork before your next renewal rather than on the day.
Running a driving school in France?
The French system is different: a driving school (auto-école) needs a prefectural approval for each establishment, must display that approval in its premises, show its approval number on commercial and advertising documents, display its prices including VAT, and use a standard written contract for the category B licence. The French version of this page covers it point by point, with the official French sources (use the language switch at the top of the page).
Your checklist
- ADI certificate (or trainee licence) valid, renewal and DBS dates in your calendar
- Badge displayed on every paid lesson
- Written terms of business given before the first lesson
- Prepaid money recorded and available to the pupil
- Prices on your website match what pupils pay
- Pass rate shown with period, method and number of pupils
- Consent kept for every pupil photo you post
The steps at a glance
Five checks so your qualification, paperwork and adverts match GOV.UK and the ADI code of practice.
- Check your registration. ADI certificate or trainee licence valid; renewal, standards check and DBS dates noted.
- Display your badge. ADI badge or trainee licence on display during every paid lesson.
- Write your terms. Prices, lesson length, test-day car, cancellations, refunds and complaints in writing.
- Review your adverts. Clear prices, real offers, pass rates with the basis of calculation.
- Prepare for the new code. Read the new mandatory code on GOV.UK and update your paperwork before renewal.
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Sources
The rules quoted in this guide come from these official pages, checked on October 28, 2026.