Approved driving instructor (ADI) part 3 test

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1. Booking your test

You can book your approved driving instructor (ADI) part 3 test when you鈥檝e passed your ADI part 2 test.

It鈥檚 the last of 3 tests you have to pass to qualify as an ADI. It鈥檚 a test of your ability to teach pupils.

The ADI part 3 test works differently in .

The national standard for driver and rider training tells you everything you must be able to do to pass the test.

You can find driving instructor training if you need help to prepare for the test.

Change or check your test details

You can change the date of your test after you鈥檝e booked.

You can check the details if you鈥檝e lost the email confirmation you were sent when you booked your test.

2. What to take to your test

You must bring:

You should also bring a log of the training you鈥檝e been doing to qualify as an approved driving instructor (ADI).

Your test will be cancelled and you will not get your money back if you do not take the right things with you.

Your pupil

Your pupil can be a:

  • partly trained learner
  • fully trained learner
  • full licence holder

If you bring a partly trained learner, they should be able to drive for 40 minutes without frequently stopping.

Your pupil cannot be an ADI or someone who is preparing to take the ADI part 3 test.

Your driving licence

You need to apply for a replacement driving licence if you lose yours before your test. This could take up to 15 days to arrive.

If you do not have a photocard licence

Bring a valid passport and your paper licence, or your trainee driving instructor licence (if you have one).

If you have a licence from Northern Ireland

Bring the Northern Ireland photocard and paper counterpart.

3. Rules for the car you use

When you take your test, your car must:

  • have no warning lights showing, for example, the airbag warning light
  • have no tyre damage and meet the legal tread depth on each tyre - you must not have a space-saver spare tyre
  • be roadworthy
  • be fitted with an extra interior rear-view mirror for the examiner
  • be fitted with a passenger seatbelt and a passenger head restraint for the examiner (slip-on types are not allowed)
  • be able to reach at least 62mph and have an mph speedometer
  • have 4 wheels and meet the maximum authorised mass (MAM) limit

Your test will be cancelled and you鈥檒l have to pay again if your car does not meet the rules.

Tax and insurance

Your car must:

  • be taxed

  • have a current MOT (if it鈥檚 over 3 years old)

  • be insured for an ADI part 3 test (check with your insurance company)

Cleaning your car

You should tidy your car before your test. This includes removing any rubbish or unnecessary items from the dashboard, footwells, door pockets, cup holders and seats.

Your car must be smoke-free - this means you cannot smoke in it just before or during the test.

Dashcams and other cameras

You can use a camera fitted for insurance purposes, as long as it:

  • faces outside of the car and does not film the inside
  • does not record audio from inside the car

Vehicle features

You can use a car with:

  • an electronic parking brake
  • hill-start assist

Hire cars

You can take your test in a hire car if it鈥檚 fitted with dual controls and meets all the other rules.

Manual and automatic cars

If you have a manual licence, you can take the test in either a manual or automatic car. You鈥檒l be able to train people in both types of car when you鈥檝e qualified.

If you have an automatic licence, you must take the test in an automatic car. You鈥檒l only be able to train people in an automatic car when you鈥檝e qualified.

4. What happens during the test

A Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) examiner will watch you giving a to one of your pupils for about 45 minutes.

At the start of the lesson, discuss the goals for the lesson and risk management with your pupil. This should take no more than 3 minutes.

Your pupil must drive for about 40 minutes of the lesson.

You cannot spend the whole lesson teaching a manoeuvre, but you can include a short recap of one you鈥檝e taught in a previous lesson.

If you need to give your pupil immediate feedback, you are allowed to stop safely during the lesson.

At the end of the lesson, give your pupil no more than 3 minutes to reflect on their performance.

The examiner will look for evidence that you meet the national standard for driver and rider training.

What you鈥檒l be marked on

You鈥檒l be marked on 17 areas of competence that are grouped into 3 categories:

  • lesson planning
  • risk management
  • teaching and learning strategies

The 17 areas of competence are listed in the ADI part 3 test report form, which the examiner will fill in at the end of your test.

You鈥檒l get a score from 0 to 3 for each of the 17 competencies, which are added up to work out if you鈥檝e passed the test, and what your grade will be.

5. Your test result

After you give the lesson, the examiner will discuss your performance and give you your result.

You鈥檒l get your grade and completed ADI part 3 test report by email at the end of the test.

Total score Grade Description
0-30 Fail Your performance is unsatisfactory, and you will not join the ADI register
31-42 Grade B You鈥檒l be allowed to join the ADI register
43-51 Grade A You have shown a high standard of instruction and you鈥檒l be allowed to join the ADI register

You鈥檒l automatically fail if:

  • you get a score of 7 or less in the 鈥榬isk management鈥� category
  • the examiner stops the lesson because you鈥檝e put yourself or someone else in danger

If you pass

You can apply for your first ADI badge if you pass the ADI part 3 test.

You must apply within 12 months of passing the test, or you鈥檒l have to pass all 3 qualifying tests again.

If you do not pass

You can take the test again if you fail the first or second attempt. You must book the next attempt within 2 years of passing your ADI part 1 test.

If you chose the extra training option (option 2) when you applied for your trainee licence, you must do 5 hours of extra training before you retake the test.

Failing the third attempt

You have to retake and pass the ADI part 1 test and ADI part 2 test again if you fail the ADI part 3 test at your third attempt.

You must wait 2 years from when you originally passed the ADI part 1 test before you can take it again.

Appeal your ADI part 3 test

You can appeal your test if you can prove that your examiner did not follow the law.

Read the guidance on appealing your test to check if your examiner followed the law.

If you have proof they did not follow the law you can complain to the Driver and Vehicle and Standards Agency (DVSA)

If DVSA agrees with your complaint, your test result cannot be changed but you might get a refund or a free retest.

If DVSA does not agree with your complaint you may be able to appeal to a court instead.

Appeal your test to a court

You can appeal if you can prove that your examiner did not follow the law when they carried out your test.

Your test result cannot be changed, but you might get a refund or a free retest if your appeal is successful.

You might have to pay significant legal costs if your appeal is unsuccessful.

You鈥檒l need to appeal within:

  • 6 months of your test in England and Wales
  • 21 days of your test in Scotland

Check if you can appeal.

6. If your test is cancelled or there's bad weather

Your approved driving instructor (ADI) part 3 test can be cancelled or stopped because of bad weather, problems with your car, or for other reasons.

Bad weather

Tests are not carried out in dangerous weather conditions, such as when the roads are icy or if there鈥檚 flooding, thick fog or high winds.

Call your test centre if there are any of these conditions on the day of your test.

The phone number for the test centre is on your booking confirmation email.

If your test cannot go ahead

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will:

  • automatically book the next available date for your test
  • send you the details within 3 working days - it can take up to 7 days if there鈥檚 a long period of bad weather

You can change the date you鈥檙e given if it鈥檚 not suitable.

You cannot claim for any out-of-pocket expenses if your test is cancelled because of bad weather.

Problems with you or your car

You鈥檒l have to book another test and pay again if your test cannot be completed because of a problem with:

  • you, for example, if you feel unwell while taking your test
  • your car, for example, if it breaks down during the test or does not meet the rules to be used

If your test is cancelled for another reason

Sometimes DVSA has to cancel tests for other reasons, for example, if the examiner is unwell.

You鈥檒l be sent a new date for your test if this happens. You can change the date if it鈥檚 not suitable.

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.