Guidance reviewed: 25 September 2026
A good instructor should help you become a safe, confident and independent driver, not simply teach you how to get through the test. Before committing to regular lessons, check that the instructor is legally entitled to charge for tuition and that their teaching arrangements suit you.
Check the windscreen badge
Anyone paid to teach you to drive a car in Great Britain must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) as either a qualified approved driving instructor or a licensed trainee driving instructor.
- A green badge means the instructor is fully qualified.
- A pink badge means the instructor is a licensed trainee.
The badge must be displayed in the windscreen while paid instruction is being given. A trainee can legally charge for lessons, but should tell you that they are a trainee. Northern Ireland has a separate instructor system.
Check an instructor with DVSA
DVSA provides an official service for finding approved driving instructors and checking a named instructor. Inclusion in that search is voluntary, so an instructor who is absent is not necessarily unqualified. DVSA can check an instructor who is not listed if you provide their name and, if available, their ADI number.
Questions to ask before booking
- Are you fully qualified or a trainee instructor?
- Do you teach in a manual or automatic car?
- How long is each lesson, and does the quoted price cover that full lesson length?
- Where will lessons normally start and finish?
- How will you adapt lessons to the way I learn and keep me informed about my progress?
- What notice is required to cancel or rearrange a lesson?
- What are the payment and refund terms, particularly for lessons paid for in advance?
- Will the same instructor and car normally be available for my lessons and test?
There is no official minimum or maximum lesson price, and there is no fixed number of lessons that every learner needs. Compare the complete service rather than choosing solely by the hourly price.
After lessons begin
Your instructor should be reliable, professional and clear about your progress. Keep written details of payments, lesson bookings and agreed terms. Raise concerns with the instructor or school first. Serious concerns about an instructor’s service or conduct can be reported to DVSA.
Find an instructor
Search the Driving Schools Directory to compare local listings, or send one enquiry to matching instructors in your town. A directory listing is an introduction rather than an endorsement, so make the checks above before paying or booking.