Becoming a Driving Instructor for free in UK

Someone asked me today if it was possible to become a qualified driving instructor for free here in the UK.

Well the simple answer is no, the person asking was unemployed, on benefit, and thought that there might be a government funded scheme that would allow him to untake the 3 test ADI training course for free as a kind of incentive to getting off the unemployment statistics list and back to work.

The only way you can train to become a driving instructor without putting up the money yourself is by using what is called a career development loan, which while no free, allows you to pay for the course upfront and not have to make any repayments within the first year it is taken out.

Career development loans can be very expensive to pay back and should not be used for ADI training since there is no guarantee you will qualify!. Even if you do qualify within the one year interest free period, there is virtually no possibility of you earning enough to cover entire loan, your franchise fee and have money left to live on and pay the bills. I can tell you this as an instructor who knows how long it took to build up a business from scratch.

My honest advice to you is find another career to get involved with if you are looking for a good source of reliable income, nobody is going to train you free to become a driving instructor, they will take your money to do so, and once qualified, they would ask you for more, offer you a franchise and continue to bleed you even if they don't supply you with enough learner driver pupils (it is all in the multi-page contract you will sign).