If you're an approved driving instructor (ADI), a trainee, or a driving school, the chances are you've felt the impact of waiting times. Whether it's a Part 2 or Part 3 test that's taken longer to book than it should, or a standards check that hasn't happened at all, I want to start by being straightforward with you – we know we've got work to do to improve our service.
As the director responsible for DVSA's Enforcement Directorate, part of my role involves overseeing ADI and potential driving instructor (PDI) standards. This means making sure the checks that protect the public and the reputation of this industry are working as they should. Over the past few months, we’ve talked to instructors, trainers and representative bodies about this. Now, I want to set out what we're seeing and what we're doing to improve.
The scale of the pressureIn recent years, we’ve seen demand for ADI qualifications grow enormously. Applications have increased by 152% since 2018/19 and they're still rising. At the same time, Part 3 pass rates have fallen from 33.8% in 2023/24 to 27.7% in 2025/26, meaning more people are retaking their tests. Together, this has put pressure on a testing system that doesn’t yet have the resource it needs to meet demand.
It’s also affected standards checks. In 2024/25, most ADIs did not receive a standards check, which isn't enough to give you confidence that standards are being maintained consistently. I know many of you have raised concerns about this and we’re listening.
Boosting testing capacityBoth problems stem from the same underlying cause. Our examiners who conduct Part 2 and Part 3 tests and standards checks are recruited from our wider driving examiner pool, but they require additional training. Although they are not interchangeable with those conducting car driving tests, resourcing pressures affecting learner driving tests and those affecting ADI and PDI testing are closely linked. I recognise that this has meant ADI and PDI testing hasn't always had the resource it needs.
We're taking steps to change this. We’ll be recruiting new ADI examiners and increasing our training capacity for more ADI examiners to deliver Part 2 and Part 3 tests. If you’re interested in making the move to become an examiner, you can sign up for DVSA email alerts to be notified when the roles go live. Alongside this, we're developing alternative recruitment and training routes into ADI examiner roles which will help increase capacity while having less impact on driving examiner resource.
The qualification processAs well as increasing capacity, we want to look at the qualification process itself to make sure the system is working as well as it can for those going through it.
You'll know that once you've passed the theory test (Part 1), you must pass your Part 2 and book your Part 3 within 2 years, or you'll need to start the whole process again. I want to remind you that if you're waiting to take a Part 2 or Part 3 test and there's no suitable date available, you can use our book to hold service and nominate your preferred test date and test centre location. This helps inform us where there is demand for ADI practical tests, so we can use our examiner resource to meet that demand.
Too many people are reaching their Part 3 test without the communication and teaching skills the role demands, so we're focusing on how we can support PDIs to start practising these skills earlier. We want to work with the driver training industry to support people being better prepared for their Part 2 tests and beyond. This would help ease pressure on the system.
We've also been working with the industry on a campaign to help people prepare for becoming an instructor, with a particular focus on Part 2. We're reviewing the wider qualification journey with the industry too, to find ways to better support candidates and make sure they're ready when their test comes around.
As part of this wider work with the industry, Darren Russell, ADI Registrar, has written about updates to the driver trainer code of practice and our review of the ORDIT scheme which is well worth a read.
Increasing standards checksGetting the qualification process right matters, but so does maintaining standards. That's why we've been increasing the number of standards checks we carry out. When we select ADIs for a check, we take a varied approach and performance indicators are just one part of the picture, not the only thing we look at.
There's no fixed time for when you might be called for a standards check, so it could happen at any point. When it does, you'll be asked to demonstrate your teaching in line with the national standard for driver and rider training, the same standard you'll already be familiar with from your day-to-day work with pupils.
Being open about our progressI know that data and transparency matter to this profession and rightly so. You've told us, and continue to tell us, that you want to see regular reporting on how we’re doing. Last month our Chief Executive, Beverley Warmington, published a blog post about her time at DVSA, which sets out the wider context for the changes ahead.
I won't pretend that these changes will fix things immediately. Some of what we're doing will take months to show results and some of the pressure on the system is likely to continue. But I want you to know that we see this issue clearly, we understand the impact it's had on your businesses and your professional standing and we are working to make changes.
We'll continue to update you as these changes progress and I'd welcome your continued feedback on what's working and where you're still seeing problems.
seen at 14:41, 15 September in Despatch for driver and rider trainers.