Driving Instructor Training Ipswich | Hallwood Training Services

Career Change

A career change, taught honestly

Becoming a driving instructor can genuinely change your working life. At Hallwood Training Services it's taught openly and honestly, with no hard sell and no false promises. If you'd like to see whether the teaching style suits you before committing, you're welcome to sit in on a lesson first.

Ian has trained over nine instructors over the years, and other driving schools ask for his advice on training their own potential driving instructors (PDIs). HTS is now scaling up its instructor training to give more people the chance to qualify, with the option of working for HTS afterwards or going independent.

Training for all three parts of the ADI qualification, with mock tests before every exam
Support for the trainee licence, so you can teach paying pupils while you qualify
A career discussion after Part 2 to plan your route into professional instructing
Honest advice throughout, whether you join HTS or set up on your own

Rob Hubert from Woodbridge with his ADI Part 3 pass after training with Hallwood Training Services

Rob Hubert from Woodbridge, after passing his ADI Part 3 with HTS

“

When I decided to become an approved ADI I could think of no one better to help me through the process. Ian fully disclosed the process and costs, and supported me training around a full-time job. He offered a flexible, varied environment and went beyond the set criteria. When I lost confidence, Ian never let me down. "Don't break down, breakthrough" were his words, which I still use today. I now follow in his footsteps as a Police Driver Trainer.

Rob Hubert, WoodbridgeTrained as an ADI with HTS, now a Police Driver Trainer

Is It for You?

Who retrains as a driving instructor?

There's no typical trainee. The people who have qualified with Ian have come from very different working lives, and what they had in common was a good driving record and a genuine wish to do something more rewarding with it. Everything else can be taught.

If you'd like to see how it works before committing to anything, you're welcome to sit in on a lesson first.

To start, you'll need a full UK licence held for at least three years, and to be over 21.

Ex-militaryUsed to structure, discipline and teaching others
Police officersAdvanced driving and a calm head under pressure
Cooks and chefsSwapping unsociable hours for a flexible diary
Bank clerksOrganised, patient and good with people
LGV driversYears behind the wheel, now passing it on
Estate agentsConfident communicators who enjoy variety
Stay-at-home parentsA career that fits around family life

The Course

How the Training Works

Everything you need to know about the three parts, the trainee licence and what it costs.

Properly Licensed Training

Hallwood Training Services is DVSA-registered, with full ADI status. Trainees work toward their own qualification under official DVSA supervision.

Approved Driving Instructor

The full ADI qualification, and what you'll work toward.

DVSA Licensed Trainee Driving Instructor badge

Licensed Trainee Instructor

Issued during training so you can teach while qualifying.

What You'll Need to Commit

A full UK licence held for 3+ years, and you must be over 21 to start training.
A genuine commitment of time, effort and determination.
A financial commitment, which can usually be classed as a business expense.
The Trainee Licence option can ease the financial strain during the course (more below).

The Three Training Parts

Knowledge

Theory and hazard perception. A 90-minute test with an 85% pass mark (85/100 across 4 categories, minimum 20 in each). Can be retaken until passed. Once passed, the other two exams must be completed within two years. Supported with an app and books.

Driving Ability

A 1-hour test with a DVSA examiner: "show & tell" safety questions, two manoeuvres, a possible controlled stop and a 20-minute independent drive. Max 6 driver faults, no serious or dangerous faults. Limited to 3 attempts. The IPSGA advanced system is taught, with at least 3 mock tests beforehand.

Client Tutoring

Delivering a real driving lesson with an examiner observing, lasting around 1 hour. Marked on lesson planning, risk management and teaching & learning strategies. Minimum 31/51 to pass, with at least 7 in risk management. Limited to 3 attempts.

The Trainee Licence (Pink Licence)

This allows you to instruct for 6 months before completing the third exam. You'll need 40 hours completed first (achieved across Parts 1 & 2). Full-price lessons can be charged, framed as gaining real experience rather than earning money. An additional 20 hours, or 25% of lessons supervised, is required in the first 3 months or before your first Part 3 attempt, whichever comes first.

Instructor Training Pricing

Training Part	What's Included	Price
Part 1: ADI Theory Test	Tutor support + training materials	£150
Part 2: Driving Ability	Classroom + in-car + mock tests	£1,250
Part 3: Instructor Ability	Classroom + 30 hrs in-car + materials	£1,600

Total Course Cost (as at 1 May 2026)£3,000

Exam / registration fees are payable separately, on top of the above.
Additional hours beyond those included are charged at £60/hour. Hours saved on Part 2 are transferable to Part 3.
Refund terms apply on a pro-rata sliding scale if HTS cancels the course.
There's no guarantee of passing. After a successful Part 2, a counselling and career discussion takes place to plan your route to becoming a professional ADI.

Ask About Instructor Training

After You Qualify

Work for HTS, or Go Independent

Hallwood Training Services is growing its instructor training to create real opportunities, and you decide which path suits you.

Join Hallwood Training Services

Qualify and there may be the chance to work alongside Ian, teaching learners across Ipswich, Felixstowe and Woodbridge under an established name with a 4.9 star Google rating and an extremely high first-time pass rate.

Ask about joining HTS →

Set up on your own

Prefer to be your own boss? Ian gives honest advice throughout the course and at the career discussion after Part 2, so you can go independent with a clear idea of what running your own driving school actually involves.

Talk it through with Ian →

Good to Know

Driving Instructor Training Questions

Straight answers about qualifying as an ADI with Hallwood Training Services.

How do I become a driving instructor?

There are three parts to qualify as an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI): Part 1 Knowledge (theory and hazard perception), Part 2 Driving Ability, and Part 3 Client Tutoring. Hallwood Training Services provides full training and mock tests for all three, and you can sit in on a lesson first to see if it's right for you.

What does driving instructor training cost?

The total course cost is £3,000 as at 1 May 2026 (Part 1 £150, Part 2 £1,250, Part 3 £1,600). Exam and registration fees are payable separately, and additional hours beyond those included are £60 per hour.

Can I train to be a driving instructor around a full-time job?

Yes. Training is flexible and planned around you. Rob Hubert, who trained with Ian and is now a Police Driver Trainer, qualified while working full time.

How long does it take to qualify?

It depends on how much time you can commit. Once you pass Part 1, you have two years to complete Parts 2 and 3. Many trainees use the trainee licence to teach real lessons for up to six months before their Part 3 test.

Do I need to be a good driver already?

You need a full UK licence held for at least three years and to be over 21. Part 2 is a demanding driving test, with a maximum of six driver faults and no serious or dangerous faults, so Ian teaches the IPSGA advanced driving system and runs at least three mock tests before you sit it.

Will I have a job at the end of the training?

Once you qualify you can work for Hallwood Training Services or go independent. The choice is yours, and Ian gives honest advice throughout. There's no guarantee of passing, but after a successful Part 2 you'll have a counselling and career discussion to plan your route to becoming a professional ADI.

Can I sit in on a lesson before I commit?

Yes. If you'd like to see whether the teaching style suits you before committing to the course, you're welcome to sit in on a lesson first.

Become a Driving Instructor in Ipswich, Felixstowe or Woodbridge