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How to Choose a Driving Instructor in the UK

The right instructor makes the difference between passing in 40 hours and needing 70. Here's how to find them.

5 min read

Your driving instructor has more impact on how quickly and how well you learn than almost any other factor. A bad instructor can cost you hundreds of extra hours and one or more failed tests.

The Full Guide

An ADI (Approved Driving Instructor) has passed all three DVSA qualifying tests and is fully registered. A PDI (Potential Driving Instructor) is training — they can teach under a trainee licence but haven't qualified yet. PDIs can be good value, but you're taking on more risk. Check the green ADI badge on the windscreen — fully qualified ADIs must display it.

Common Faults

    What the Examiner Looks For

      Quick Tips

      • 1Ask for a trial lesson before committing to a block
      • 2Get recommendations from friends who recently passed
      • 3Check for the green ADI badge — it's a legal requirement for fully qualified instructors
      • 4A structured instructor with clear lesson goals is worth more than a cheap hourly rate

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