Being a driving instructor.

[Gazwag]

when i went to the induction the other day, this is the breakdown i was given

based on 45 hours:

45 x 23 (brighton rate) = 1035
fee = 185
that leaves 850
fuel = 90
leaves 760
tax = 115
net wages including car 645
that is 33,540 py

Hold on, surely its impossible to have 45 one hour lessons in a 45 hour week unless you pick up and drop off in the same place each time.

Tax isnt high enough either I would say, plus there would be NI

 

[Captain Haddock]

I'm doing the course at the moment, progressing on Part 3. First part is the theory, same as the normal except you have twice as many questions to answer 100 in 90 minutes followed by the hazard perception. If you pass, you then have two years in which to complete parts 2 and 3. Part 2 is a driving test. Same as the normal one except it lasts for one hour and, whereas on the normal one you can make 15 minor errors, on the driving instructor one you can only make 6. Last part is where they test your teaching ability. There are 10 set lessons you have to be able to teach. In your part 3 test you do one half hour being tested on how you would teach a novice driver (the examiner role plays a novice) one of the 10 lessons and in the second half the examiner acts as more experienced learner driver approaching test level.

Would suggest you shop around as RED and LDC are expensive ways of learning. I paid less than £2k for my course with a small local instructor school. They will also sting you when you become one of their franchises. LDC were looking to take half of whatever I earned so I kicked them into touch. As for working 7days a week for 12 hours a day, I doubt you will find any instructor works those hours.

Get on the DSA website and get a list of 'ORDIT' approved instructors in the area you are going to live. They give good advice about chosing one. Also, you will probably have to do about 40 hours or more to get through part 3.

Good luck and stay out of my patch!!

I am a fully qualified instructor and the advice above is spot on! Don't go with Reds etc (£3,600 is a rip-off). I wish I'd researched the possibility of getting through cheaper when I did it in 2004/5

You can teach on a pink licence (trainee) while you work towards passing your Part 3. This means you can be teaching within a few short months (weeks even if you are a sharp theory reviser and excellent driver).

DSA say pink badge is valid only 6 months but if you are shrewd you can get this extended to 12 months (use excuse of lack of Part 3 test dates to apply for the extra 6 months) if necessary.

If you do work on a pink badge, you have to be with an approved school until fully qualified, but when you get the green badge you can set up on your own (just make sure your diary is as full as poss at the time).

I've been solo for a couple of years now and haven't needed to advertise at all, so the money saved on the £850 franchise per month I was paying is about £450pm (the other £400 saved goes to my car repayments).

I would recommend it if you are relatively laid back and patient.

You don't have to do more than 30 lessons per week to survive on average but I tend to average 35-40ish.

 

[Captain Haddock]

....and I only have three more car payments to go!!! :yahoo:

 

[pornomagboy]

Hold on, surely its impossible to have 45 one hour lessons in a 45 hour week unless you pick up and drop off in the same place each time.

Tax isnt high enough either I would say, plus there would be NI

sorry it was based on 2 hour lessons.

 

[Stoo82]

I am a fully qualified instructor and the advice above is spot on! Don't go with Reds etc (£3,600 is a rip-off). I wish I'd researched the possibility of getting through cheaper when I did it in 2004/5

You can teach on a pink licence (trainee) while you work towards passing your Part 3. This means you can be teaching within a few short months (weeks even if you are a sharp theory reviser and excellent driver).

DSA say pink badge is valid only 6 months but if you are shrewd you can get this extended to 12 months (use excuse of lack of Part 3 test dates to apply for the extra 6 months) if necessary.

If you do work on a pink badge, you have to be with an approved school until fully qualified, but when you get the green badge you can set up on your own (just make sure your diary is as full as poss at the time).

I've been solo for a couple of years now and haven't needed to advertise at all, so the money saved on the £850 franchise per month I was paying is about £450pm (the other £400 saved goes to my car repayments).

I would recommend it if you are relatively laid back and patient.

You don't have to do more than 30 lessons per week to survive on average but I tend to average 35-40ish.

Thanks for your advise.
You talk about your car repayments and you work for yourself. Clearly if you work for yourself you need your own car, BUT, if you work for say 'red' does the franchise payment pay for the car 'hire' aswell?

Also as you work for yourself and dont advertise, how do you get customers?

 

[Lush]

Don't forget too that most people DON'T want lessons between 9-5 Mon - Fri. So you will be working evenings, weekends and lunchtimes. Difficult to see how you could get 45 hours work a week on that basis.

 

[Gazwag]

sorry it was based on 2 hour lessons.

so you would have to do 45 two hours lessons a week or 22½ two hour lessons at £23 per hour

Sorry I still dont follow the maths

 

[Stoo82]

Don't forget too that most people DON'T want lessons between 9-5 Mon - Fri. So you will be working evenings, weekends and lunchtimes. Difficult to see how you could get 45 hours work a week on that basis.

Yeah I have thought about this. Good thing I have never had a job which allows me the weekend off!

 

[Garage_Doors]

Are any of you instructors teaching in Brighton ?

 

[Stoo82]

Another question...

It may sound stupid, but do you get supplyed with a car?
AS i have just spoken to my Bro who said he had a mate who had to spend 20K in buying a car plus making it duel controls??

 

[drew]

Another question...

It may sound stupid, but do you get supplyed with a car?
AS i have just spoken to my Bro who said he had a mate who had to spend 20K in buying a car plus making it duel controls??

Depends whether you want to drive a top of the range brand new focus or something more down to earth. You should be able to get away with a good small second hand car and conversion shouldn't be anywhere near that amount. I am budgeting about £6/7K in total.

 

[Garage_Doors]

Are any of you instructors teaching in Brighton ?

Anyone ?
need someone to teach my son.

 

[Captain Haddock]

Thanks for your advise.
You talk about your car repayments and you work for yourself. Clearly if you work for yourself you need your own car, BUT, if you work for say 'red' does the franchise payment pay for the car 'hire' aswell?

Also as you work for yourself and dont advertise, how do you get customers?

Yes will (should) include car hire costs factored in.

Customers by recommendation....you won't have to be a master at your trade to get some referrals (down to what people think of you as a reliable individual as much as anything, though if you happen to be dynamite at it all the better)!

 

[Captain Haddock]

Are any of you instructors teaching in Brighton ?

Unfortunately not.....although I could be available some Saturday (matchday) mornings!

 

[Captain Haddock]

Depends whether you want to drive a top of the range brand new focus or something more down to earth. You should be able to get away with a good small second hand car and conversion shouldn't be anywhere near that amount. I am budgeting about £6/7K in total.

£6/7k sounds about right. I paid £10k for a brand new Yaris, but the plan with me is to make the purchase last longer (+ no MOT costs first 3 yrs etc).

Duals shouldn't cost more than £450 (£500 tops) all in (supply and fitting).

I paid £427 inclusive for my mechanic up here in Enfield to sort....and he ordered it in too.