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

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

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’ve booked.

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

You must bring:

• a pupil
• your UK driving licence
• a suitable car

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

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 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.

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

Tax and insurance

Your car must:

• be taxed

• have a current MOT (if it’s 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’s 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’ll be able to train people in both types of car when you’ve qualified.

If you have an automatic licence, you must take the test in an automatic car. You’ll only be able to train people in an automatic car when you’ve qualified.

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’ve 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’ll be marked on

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

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

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

You’ll automatically fail if:

• you get a score of 7 or less in the ‘risk management’ category
• the examiner stops the lesson because you’ve 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.

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.

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’ll 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.

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’s 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’s a long period of bad weather

You can change the date you’re given if it’s not suitable.

Problems with you or your car

You’ll 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’ll be sent a new date for your test if this happens. You can change the date if it’s not suitable.

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