Why Choose Us?

Alert School of Motoring only use Grade 6 instructors!

Are all driving instructors the same?
Certainly not! Read on…

We start with ‘PDI`s’. That stands for Potential Driving Instructors. PDI’s have pink DVSA badge. A PDI can be someone starting out in the industry with a good and honest intent to become a fine driving instructor, whilst giving tuition on a temporary licence until qualified. Unfortunately though great many have responded to the many adverts on TV and radio believing that becoming a driving instructor is a get rich quick scheme. How wrong they are! Although PDI`s are not qualified and have probably never taught anyone to drive before, they are allowed to charge learner drivers for driving lessons. A lot of multi-car driving schools use these PDI`s as there are plenty of them available. You will be charged the same for your lesson and probably won’t even be told that the person ‘teaching you to drive’ isn’t qualified. I support initiatives to require PDI`s to inform their pupils of their status. I have no problem with PDI`s giving tuition should someone require it as long as their status has been disclosed.

After qualifying a grade system applies, which the DVSA regularly monitors.
This makes you an ADI with a GREEN DVSA badge.
Grades 1 – 3 range from dangerous to substandard, these instructors have a set time to improve or they will be removed from the register.
Grade 4 is adequate – these instructors are just above the substandard level. Most driving instructors in the UK are grade 4 instructors.
Grade 5 is good. These instructors are more dedicated and have reached a higher level. There a quite a few good Grade 5 instructors around.
Grade 6 is excellent. Only 7% of instructors achieve this grade, it is considered an accolade within the industry.

The DVSA grading system has now changed to A and B. Grade 5 and 6 instructors are now put in the A category and Grade 4 instructors are put in the B category. At the present time there are no statistics to say what percentage of instructors are in which category.

Beyond these grades some very dedicated instructors gain further qualifications. A few will have the Diploma in Driving Instruction (accredited by Middlesex University) or a City and Guilds Teaching certificate. Some might even have both and perhaps additional qualifications.

So driving instructors certainly are not all the same.

BEWARE 5 STAR INSTRUCTORS *****

One way of fooling the public into thinking that they are getting the best instructors is to advertise them as ‘5 Star Instructors’. There is no such thing as a ‘5 Star Instructor’ and it is not uncommon for driving schools to use this gimmick, when in reality the majority of ‘5 Star Instructors’ are in fact Grade 4.

Alert School of Motoring provide Driving Lessons in the Kent area by a professional driving instructor.