17/04/2026
Important that you check your driving instructor is fully qualified (ADI - displaying a green badge) or a licenced trainee (PDI - displaying a pink badge).
Joint operation targets unlicensed driving instructors 🚗
On Tuesday (14 April), our Road Safety Team and Roads Policing, working in partnership with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) held a joint enforcement operation targeting unlicensed and illegal driving instructors.
To operate legally as a qualified Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), individuals must complete a formal, official qualification process set by the DVSA. This involves multiple stages of testing, including theory, advanced driving assessments, and practical instructional examinations.
Only those who successfully complete this process and are correctly licensed and insured are permitted to charge for driving lessons.
During the day of action, North Yorkshire Police and the DVSA stopped more than 45 learner driver vehicles across York and Knaresborough and carried out visits to driving test centres.
Officers and DVSA examiners checked instructor credentials, vehicle insurance, and compliance with licensing requirements.
Thankfully, the majority of vehicles stopped were compliant, with instructors correctly qualified, licensed, and insured to the required standards. This demonstrates that most driving instructors operate professionally and within the law, helping learners develop safe and responsible driving skills.
However, a small proportion of vehicles were found to be operating without the required ADI licence and/or appropriate insurance. Enforcement action was taken immediately, and those involved were prosecuted for the relevant offences.
TC Matt Harvey from our Road Safety Team said:“This operation was about protecting learner drivers and the wider public. Becoming a qualified ADI is not optional - it requires formal training, testing, licensing and proper insurance.
“Anyone attempting to bypass that process is putting learners at risk and undermining the system. We will continue to work with the DVSA to identify illegal instructors, enforce the law, and take action where standards are not met.”
We remain committed to working with the DVSA on robust enforcement and will continue joint operations to ensure only properly qualified, licensed, and insured instructors are teaching learner drivers.
Members of the public are encouraged to check that their driving instructor is registered and authorised by visiting the official DVSA ADI Register before starting lessons.
