Manage your approved driving instructor (ADI) registration

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1. Renew or update your registration

You鈥檙e responsible for keeping your approved driving instructor (ADI) registration up to date.

You must renew your registration every 4 years.

You can renew your registration in the month it expires. If your registration has already run out, you can re-register within 12 months of the expiry date.

If your ADI registration ran out more than 12 months ago, you need to reapply to become a driving instructor.

You must display your registration in the passenger-side edge of the front windscreen of your car when you give driving lessons.

You can be prosecuted for using an invalid ADI badge or one that鈥檚 not yours.

Renew your registration

  1. Get a criminal records check. You must do this before you renew your registration - it normally takes around 3 months but can sometimes take longer.

  2. Renew your ADI registration.

Change of name or contact details

You must update your ADI registration within 7 days if you change your name or address.

2. Lost or stolen ADI badge

You must contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) straight away to:

  • tell them that your approved driving instructor (ADI) badge has been lost or stolen
  • request a replacement badge

You cannot give driving lessons until you have a replacement.

When you contact DVSA, you鈥檒l need to give them:

  • your crime reference number if your badge was stolen - you can get this by contacting the police
  • permission to use the photo from your photocard driving licence (otherwise you鈥檒l need to post them a passport-style photograph)

It costs 拢3 to replace a lost or stolen badge.

DVSA ADI registration
[email protected]
Telephone: 0300 200 1122 (press the 2-digit fast track code)
WhatsApp (message only, no calls):

Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
Find out about call charges

You must send your old badge to DVSA if you find it later.

3. Change when you're available for driving tests

You can manage when you鈥檙e available for driving tests online.

You can tell the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA):

  • when you鈥檙e never available, for example, between 9am and 11am on Mondays
  • when you鈥檙e temporarily away, for example, you鈥檙e on holiday

You must be registered as a business to use the service.

4. If you stop giving driving lessons

You must tell the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if you stop giving driving lessons because you want to leave the ADI register.

To do this, email DVSA and include these details:

  • your full name
  • your ADI personal reference number
  • your date of birth

Approved Driving Instructor Registrar
[email protected]

DVSA will contact you to tell you what to do with your ADI badge.

You will not get a refund if you have any time left on your registration, unless you鈥檙e leaving the register for health reasons. You鈥檒l need to give medical proof to be considered for a refund.

There鈥檚 a different process to .

5. Report cautions or convictions

You must tell the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in writing within 7 days if you get any caution or conviction. This includes:

  • any motoring offences, including penalty points
  • being 鈥榖ound over鈥�
  • having your name entered in the sex offenders鈥� register
  • being banned from working with children

DVSA approved driving instructor team
[email protected]