Are all driving instructors the same?

Certainly not! Read on...

At the bottom of the heap are 'PDIs'. That stands for Potential Driving Instructors. These are people that have responded to the many adverts on TV and radio and are paying large sums of money to try to qualify as driving instructors, believing that they will make a fortune - how wrong they are! Although they are not qualified and have probably never taught anyone to drive before, they are allowed to charge learner drivers for driving lessons. A lot of multi-car driving schools use these PDIs as there are plenty of them available. You will be charged the same for your lesson and probably won't even be told that the person 'teaching you to drive' isn't qualified.

After qualifying a grade system applies, which the DSA regularly monitors.

Grades 1 - 3 range from dangerous to substandard, these instructors have a set time to improve or they will be removed from the register.

Grade 4 is adequate - these instructors have managed to pass the qualifying examinations and are just above the substandard level. Most driving instructors in the UK are grade 4 instructors.

Grade 5 is good. These instructors are more dedicated and have reached a higher level.

Grade 6 is excellent. Only 7% of instructors achieve this grade, it is considered an accolade within the industry.

Beyond these grades some very dedicated instructors gain further qualifications. A few will have the Diploma in Driving Instruction (accredited by Middlesex University) or a City and Guilds Teaching certificate. Some might even have both and perhaps additional qualifications.

So driving instructors certainly aren't all the same.