The outcomes from the most recent Working as a Driving Teacher survey, carried out in October 2025, affords a useful snapshot of the state of the occupation, from lesson costs and dealing hours to pupil demand and the challenges dealing with particular person instructors. Though solely about 8% of all ADIs responded to the survey, a stark distinction to 2024 when it acquired nearly double the quantity of responders, the outcomes nonetheless present helpful pattern information given the excessive confidence degree utilized to the outcomes.
A Delicate Shift in Lesson Costs
For a number of years, we have now seen regular will increase within the typical value vary for one-hour driving classes. Within the 2025 survey, over half (50.3%) of instructors reported charging between £36 and £40 per hour, and a notable 22.5% have been charging £41 to £45.
Apparently, whereas the headline determine hovers in the same vary to latest years, there is a sign costs are starting to settle or plateau in contrast with the speedy rises seen earlier within the decade. The place beforehand massive value will increase have been the norm, the distribution now exhibits a higher share of ADIs settled within the £36-£45 bracket, and relatively fewer outdoors that vary.
For members, this may occasionally sign a shift in pupil expectations and affordability thresholds., one thing more and more expressed anecdotally with learner concern about the price of classes alongside different test-related bills. It additionally raises strategic questions on pricing fashions, pupil retention, block reserving incentives, and the way ADIs stability competitiveness with sustainable earnings.
Extra Instructors Looking for Pupils
One other notable pattern is that 45.4% of instructors at present have availability for brand new pupils, which is 8.8 proportion factors greater than in 2024.
At first look this would possibly seem optimistic, extra alternative for enterprise development. Nevertheless, it doubtless displays a refined softening of demand on the particular person teacher degree. This dovetails with stories that many pupils are much less keen to just accept prolonged lesson frequency or intensive blocks, probably on account of price or scheduling conflicts. It’s a reminder that whereas learner demand stays robust total, the market just isn’t uniformly aggressive and instructors might now have to be extra proactive in advertising and marketing, scheduling flexibility, and pupil engagement to keep up full diaries.
Perhaps one thing in regards to the present inflow of PDIs, there are extra ADIs than there have been so there’s extra market share for learners.
Working Hours: A Slight Decline
On common, weekly hours labored as ADIs have edged down barely. The proportion working 25 hours or extra per week dropped to 56.6 % in 2025, in contrast with greater figures in earlier years.
This refined discount might replicate adjustments in work-life stability preferences, dissatisfaction with pupil reserving patterns, or just the executive overheads that more and more eat into instructing time. Regardless of the trigger, it’s a reminder that ADIs should be alert to their very own enterprise efficiencies, from diary administration to service choices, in the event that they need to keep earnings with out over-extending themselves.
Solely 8% Took Half, and What That Means
The survey acquired responses from 3,448 ADIs out of greater than 43000 registered instructors, equating to about 8% participation. In 2024, 14% of registered instructors took half within the survey, managing to offer a greater sense of the occupation as a complete.
Whereas this pattern measurement is statistically strong sufficient to establish tendencies, it additionally highlights a problem: the group’s voice just isn’t heard as loudly or as extensively because it may very well be. Broader participation would strengthen the information and provides policymakers and trade our bodies extra confidence that findings replicate the front-line actuality. As a group, higher engagement in these surveys will help guarantee your expertise and priorities are included in future decision-making.
Pupils Switching Instructors: Service and Provide Points
In line with earlier surveys, respondents famous a excessive incidence of pupils registering with different instructors particularly for take a look at preparation after an authentic teacher couldn’t accommodate the take a look at date. This pattern underlines ongoing frustration with take a look at availability, diary administration complexities, and the cascade impact that take a look at delays create throughout the market.
For ADIs, this continues to be a sign in regards to the realities of pupil behaviour: many learners will store round for faster take a look at slots or higher scheduling flexibility. Somewhat than purely representing a lack of loyalty, this additionally emphasises the significance of strong communication, diary transparency, and structured block supply that builds belief, even when take a look at entry stays outdoors our management.
Wanting Forward
Taken collectively, these tendencies paint an image of a occupation that’s adapting to evolving market forces. Pricing seems to be stabilising, availability is turning into extra assorted, and teacher working patterns are shifting. Whereas the 8 % participation charge means we should always interpret outcomes with a level of warning, the image rising is one which displays incremental change quite than dramatic upheaval.
