health | January 20, 2026

Are driving instructors self-employed?

Most driving instructors are self-employed and as such are normally sole traders. Driving instructors can earn a good living, the more hours you do the more money you can earn.

What can I claim as a driving instructor?

The following list is not exhaustive but gives an indication of the general expenses that can be claimed by a driving instructor:

  • Motor fuel.
  • Parking and tolls.
  • Car cleaning.
  • Franchise fee.
  • Postage & stationary.
  • Computer consumables.
  • Continuing professional education (not initial training costs*).

Is a driving instructor a sole trader?

You will be paid by the means of net profit, not gross profit. If you are a limited company and you have paid yourself by dividends then this may be an issue which you may want to clarify, but for most self-employed driving instructors they are sole traders and not a limited company.

How much can you earn being a driving instructor?

A typical income for a driving instructor is around £2,400 per month after paying your expenses. It depends on so many things that it’s impossible to give an exact figure and it will vary each year. If you work for a driving school you’re likely to earn around £20,000 to £30,000 a year.

Can you make a lot of money as a driving instructor?

Well it depends on the instructor. A good instructor with excellent retention, repeat business, referrals and business acumen could quite easily make £30,000 per year without any issues. Being a driving instructor is a rewarding career because you’re teaching pupils a life changing skill.

Is being a driving instructor a good career?

Being a driving instructor is a brilliant job. You can earn good money but don’t expect it to be easy. There are people who invest time, effort and money into becoming the best instructor they can. They go on to grow successful businesses and do make good money from this job.

How much do driving instructors earn in UK?

How much does a driving instructor make per hour? On average, an ADI in the UK makes between £24 and £25 an hour. Obviously this varies depending on a few factors. For example, many instructors offer introductory lessons at a reduced rate.

Is being a driving instructor hard?

The reality of this: it is really hard to become a driving instructor. To become a driving instructor, there are three exams. A theory exam, a practical exam and a teaching exam. All three exams need to be passed within two years of passing the theory exam.

How do I become a freelance driving instructor?

How to Become a Freelance Driving Instructor

  1. Good quality driving.
  2. High standard of instructional ability.
  3. Good knowledge of what is included in teaching others to drive.
  4. Great communication skills.
  5. Ability to adapt to different types of people.
  6. Good sense of humour.
  7. Good geographical knowledge.

Is it difficult to become a driving instructor?

Do you have to be self employed to be a driving instructor?

You need an equivalent figure for being self-employed to make the comparison. Driving instructors are self-employed, and everything they do is concerned with sales (i.e. taking money from customers in return for lessons) and expenses (i.e. spending money in order to keep providing those lessons).

How does a driving instructor make a living?

Driving instructors are self-employed, and everything they do is concerned with obtaining money (turnover) from customers by selling lessons, and paying out money (expenses) in order to deliver those lessons, and their “wage” is totally dependent on these.

How many hours a week do you have to work as a driving instructor?

If a full 40 plus hour weeks work is essential to you, you will have to fir driving lessons around your learners and as many of these may have full time jobs, working late into the evening may be required. Weekend driving lessons are also frequently requested from learner drivers.

How long do driving instructors have to keep tax records?

There are varying lengths that a Driving Instructor should keep its documents for, for different areas of tax. However, six years is the longest of them all, so it would be best practice to stick to this time frame. HMRC is not very precise about the format of records a business should keep.