Frequently asked questions
Driving instructor Training - FAQ's
With so many companies offering training to become a driving instructor, it can be difficult deciding who to train with. To help dispel some of the misinformation that is around, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions that we hear.
Is ORDIT a guarantee that I get the best training?
The simple answer is No. ORDIT sets minimum standards for driving instructor training providers. Results vary considerably between ORDIT registered companies in the same way that driving instructor's pass rates vary despite them all having the same basic qualification. At LDC we are proud to have some of the highest pass rates in the business as well as being a founder member of ORDIT.
How long does it take to qualify?
You may come across a great deal of confusing information regarding this question, mainly from driving instructor training companies trying to sign you up quickly and take your money. The DSA is responsible for organising and carrying out the qualifying exam to become a driving instructor. The application and administrative process means that it is almost impossible to qualify in less than six months. Intensive driving instructor training or fast track driving instructor training simply provides a quick return for the driving instructor training provider at the expense of the student. Clearly, if we were able to train you and have you up and running and working with us in two or three months as some companies claim, we would. Quite simply this is impossible.
Why doesn't LDC deliver in-car training in intensive chunks?
We know from experience that in-car training in intensive chunks of 6 hours or more per day over 2 or more days at a time is very ineffective (particularly for Part 3 and too a lesser degree for Part 2). The real reason most instructor training companies prefer this method of training is simply because it is cheap to deliver and easy to organise. The main aim is to deliver the training quickly and cheaply irrespective of the damage caused to the student's prospects of passing the exam. Indeed the fact that most will fail after such training is an added benefit to those companies who make career promises they cannot keep. Out of the many thousands of people per year who suffer an intensive course for Part 3 you could probably count on one hand the number who felt they were ready for the test after such training. Intensive training particularly for Part 3 usually only serves to overwhelm and confuse the student, underminding any confidence they may have had. The fact that over 90% of the training in the UK is delivered in intensive chunks goes some way to explaining the appalling national failure rate of 77%.
Is my income guaranteed?
The honest answer to this question is no and with all driving schools it is possible to be out of pocket at the end of the week if you haven't earned sufficient money to cover the cost of the car and any fees due to the driving school. However, the way LDC operates makes this highly unlikely to occur but with other driving schools who charge a high weekly or monthly fixed fee it is not so uncommon.
To get you to buy a driving instructor training course some schools will almost promise anything in the future, including a so-called guarantee of income or pupils, to get you to part with your money in the present. Some will falsely claim they are turning work away in your area or that they have a pupil/income guarantee scheme. Any such guarantee schemes are always cleverly worded or operate in such away that you will never be able to make a successful claim against them and are therefore worthless.
The only way you can determine if the school will be able to deliver the career prospects you expect is to make sure you fully understand how the school operates and what unique features it has to offer to the public that will in turn help you to be successful in a competitive marketplace.
Is there a national driving instructor shortage?
There has never been a national shortage of driving instructors certainly not over the last 10 years. Demand for driving tuition has never outstripped supply. This false claim is made by unscrupulous driving instructor training companies who would like you to believe that becoming a driving instructor is a license to print money and that driving schools are queuing up to give you work. Naturally driving schools who charge high weekly fixed franchise fees and who are little more than a car rental firm will be happy for you to join them but this is no guarantee that you will earn a decent living. The only way to be sure is to find a driving school you can trust to be honest, who operate the business in a mutually beneficial way, who provide you with a real competitive advantage and who clearly have your interests at heart - a driving school like LDC.
Is the job recession proof?
Unfortunately, few if any jobs are recession proof. While driving tuition has not been effected to the same degree as some it would be false to suggest our market hasn't been affected. In 2008 according to the DSA Annual Report the market for driving tests and therefore driving lessons dropped by 6.2%. However, despite this down turn enquiries for LDC lessons increased by 9.5% in the 2009 compared to 2008. People are undoubtedly being more careful before they decide, checking out precisely what is being offered and whether it represents good value for money. You only have to see what LDC driving instructors have to offer to fully appreciate why they would prosper in the current economic climate where others might fail.
Do many instructors have waiting lists?
Well all instructors have waiting lists in so far as it would be unusual to give someone a driving lesson on the day they first enquired but it doesn't mean they are fully booked. In our experience LDC driving instructors, once established, do get fully booked and do have waiting lists which grow over time in accordance with their reputation. To be successful you need to be liked by your customers, have a good pass rate, offer some unique selling points, use the best tools for the job, display the right corporate image to get you and your car noticed and have a sound company backing you up. LDC is not only a sound company it is uniquely placed to help you achieve this success - if you have the will we have the means.
Can I work part time with LDC?
Yes. Unlike most driving schools that have high fixed franchise fees, LDC operates a more flexible low cost franchise that allows you to structure your business in the way that suits you whilst at the same time providing a fair income for the driving lessons carried out. The LDC franchise is not only ideal for those who want to work part time, starting on a part time basis (while keeping any existing job) allows you to check the job out before fully committing to it.
Do I get a choice of car?
Yes. Most major driving schools dictate the car you will drive. However, with LDC you have several options. You can drive a car of your own, you can purchase a new car through LDC at a significant discount, or rent one of our driving school cars at a highly competitive rate. The choice of car is yours. We have access to most popular makes and model. This is another example of the flexibility driving instructors enjoy with LDC.
What happens if I fail?
At LDC we are confident that following your individually structured driving instructor training programme you will have the very best chance of passing the qualifying exam. However, should you fail any part of the exam we will provide additional free driving instructor training to ensure that you pass. Also see the point below about time limit.
Am I tied into the driving school?
No. Whilst most people who train with us go on to join LDC, you are under no obligation. Once qualified, if you wish to go your own way you are free to do so. This is not the case with all training providers. With some driving schools you are committed to remain with them and pay their fees for up to two or three years whether they provide you with sufficient work or not!
Is there a time limit on the training?
No. LDC will honour its commitment to train you indefinitely. Consequently, should you take over a year to complete your driving instructor training this does not matter. Beware some organisations, particularly those who use high interest buy-now-pay-later agreements, are only obliged to provide driving instructor training for 12 months under the agreement you sign with them. Therefore, if you do not complete the driving instructor training within the first 12 months you can lose everything and if you haven't paid the loan back you can incur a massive interest charge. This is why it is important to study any contract you are asked to sign and not to be fooled by the sales person's comments that you will easily be able to pay for the course in a years time.
Is there a cooling-off period?
Unlike many other companies LDC insist you take sufficient time, away from the company, to make absolutely certain it is what you want to do before you sign any agreements or pay any money. Consequently, a cooling-off period is not usually needed.
However, those companies who try to get you to sign an agreement on the spot, on impulse following some sort of "never to be repeated" incentive or indeed over the internet are required by law to give a cooling-off period. Ironically the salesmen often use the cooling-off period to close the deal by suggesting you are not really committing to anything but are ensuring you get the "never to be repeated" special deal. The salesman may also use the cooling-off period to suggest you don’t need to bother reading the agreement before you sign it. Unfortunately before you know it the cooling-off period is up and you will not have had chance to properly study the agreement, seek any professional advice or find out what is truly involved.
Similarly if you have signed a buy-now-pay-later agreement you have no way of avoiding the debt and if you don’t pay within the time allotted the debt will automatically be massively increased so you will be forced to pay or suffer horrendous interest charges. Sadly many people have been caught out who thought they had cancelled the agreement within the cooling-off period only to find out that if they haven’t got written proof from the training company of such cancellation being accepted by them the debt to the finance company still remains even though they never took any training whatsoever.
Can I meet with someone from LDC before joining?
Yes. We at LDC always prefer to meet with applicants prior to commencing training to get to know more about you and ensure that you are fully informed about what is involved before any commitment is made.