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Do driving instructors need special insurance?

Teaching others how to drive isn’t as simple as offering your services and jumping into a car with L-plates. Not only do you need to qualify as an approved driving instructor (ADI), but you’ll also need suitable insurance – here’s what you’ll need to consider.

15.08.24

By Alan Boswell Group

Do driving instructors need special insurance

What is driving instructor insurance?

Driving instructor insurance is a specialist policy that reflects the risks you face when teaching others to drive. 

Policies consist of several different types of insurance products, protecting against a range of events and scenarios.

What does driving instructor insurance cover?

Individual plans can vary by provider but features to be aware of and consider, include:

Tuition use

Cover for when your vehicle is being using for driving tuition or a driving test.

Personal use

If you plan on using the same car for work and personal use, ensure your policy covers this. As well as covering you for lessons, our policies cover social, domestic and pleasure use for qualified drivers aged 25 and over who have held a full UK driving licence for over two years (as long as they have the owner’s permission).

Driving activities

Your policy should reflect the type of driving tuition you provide, for example off-road driving or driving with a trailer. Similarly, if you carry out lessons on private land to younger drivers aged 14+, make sure you’re covered for this too.

Modified car insurance

If you’ve got dual control pedals, this will count as a modification, and you’ll need to let your insurer know. You should also tell your provider if your car’s been adapted to accommodate drivers with disabilities. This will ensure that your policy reflects the increased cost of repairs.

Cover for examiners and all instructors

Cover is extended to include driving examiners, and all PDIs (potential driving instructors), and ADIs (approved driving instructors).

Are there any policy add-ons I should consider?

Any policy should be tailored to your business needs, so if you’re not sure about something, ask if it’s included as standard or see if it can be added on.  

If your policy doesn’t cover the activities you carry out or support how your business is run, your entire policy can be voided. If that happens, your policy will be cancelled, and your insurer may reject your claim.  

Popular add-ons to consider:

Dual-control replacement car

This feature provides you with a replacement dual-control car if yours is being repaired after an accident.  

Bear in mind that some policies will limit the number of days you can have a replacement (usually up to 28 days). The benefit of an Alan Boswell Group policy is that we offer dual-control replacement cars for an unlimited amount of time, regardless of whose fault the accident was.

Public liability insurance

Public liability insurance covers legal fees and compensation if a member of the public takes you to court because they blame you for an accident. For example, if a pupil trips over cones you’ve left out for parking manoeuvres or if you accidentally trap their hand in the car door.

Breakdown cover

Our breakdown cover includes roadside assistance and local and nationwide recovery, home start, and cover for misfuelling. Particularly important for driving instructors, our cover will also provide a replacement dual-control car for five days if there is a mechanical breakdown.

Personal accident insurance

This pays out if you cause an accident and are injured because of it. Insurers usually specify what type of injuries they cover and how severe they need to be to trigger a payout.

What isn’t covered by driving instructor insurance?

Your policy only covers you for the risks set out in your policy document. It’s up to you to double-check that anything you’ve added on is included. This is especially important if what you offer is slightly outside the scope of standard activities (such as off-road driving).  

Policies may also specify certain behaviours that could result in a rejected claim. For instance, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be covered if you were found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs or were on your mobile phone at the time of an accident.  

Also remember that you generally can’t add on features after something’s happened. For example, you can’t add on public liability after someone makes a claim against you for injury.

If you’re a driving instructor, you must have appropriate insurance and standard private car insurance won’t cover you for driving instruction. Your policy must cover you to carry out lessons in your car and reflect the type of driving instruction you offer.

Is there a difference between ADI and PDI insurance?

Approved driving instructors (ADIs) have completed their training, while PDIs (potential driving instructors) are still in training.  

When it comes to insurance, there’s very little difference between ADIs and PDIs in terms of what’s covered, but it can affect premium prices. This is because PDIs (or trainee instructors) are working towards their final exams and are not fully qualified. From an insurance perspective, this means they’re considered riskier to insure compared to an ADI.

How much does driving instructor insurance cost?

Premiums depend on your circumstances and insurers will consider a number of points: 

  • The car you use, its insurance group number, and the modifications made.  

  • The type of learners you instruct, for example, previously banned drivers.  

  • Your locations and the area you teach in. 

  • Your age and claims history (or those of your instructors if you run a driving school).  

Here are two examples of the cost for driving instructor insurance to give you an idea of how age, car, and location can affect premiums:

Quote one: 

  • A 60-year-old ADI using a Toyota Aygo valued at £10,000 

  • Five years protected no claims bonus and claim-free 

  • Teaching in postcode PE32 

  • Premium £415.68 

Quote two: 

  • A 45-year-old ADI using a Mini Cooper D valued at £10,000 

  • Five years protected no claims bonus, one fault claim and one non-fault claim 

  • Teaching in postcode NR1 

  • Premium £787.51

Driving instructor insurance to suit your business

Any policy you choose should give you peace of mind that you’re covered should the unexpected happen. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your driving instructor insurance accurately reflects the nature of your business.  

Don’t forget that policies are flexible, and insurers will work with you to tailor a policy that suits you. For more advice about driving instructor insurance or how we can help with commercial motor insurance and fleet insurance for your driving school, speak to our team.

Speak to us:  01603 301770

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