Driving instruction regulations
New laws have been drawn up under the Road Traffic Act 1968 which, for the first time, regulate driving instructors in Ireland.
On 1 May 2009, it became an offence for a professional instructor to teach someone to drive unless the instructor is on the RSA’s Register of Approved Driving Instructors.
Instructors who are not registered with the RSA as ADIs face a fine of up to €2,000 or six months’ imprisonment, or both, if convicted in a court of providing lessons for reward.
Until you receive your ADI full permit, you may not advertise yourself as a Driving Instructor.
These regulations guarantee and standardise the quality and skills of instructors across the country. It is a crucial part of our efforts to make the roads safer. The quality of driving instruction in Ireland directly affects road safety so it’s vital that every instructor meets a minimum standard.
The regulatory system has three elements:
- A three-part ADI exam consisting of driver theory, driving practice and an ‘ability-to-instruct’ test
- Tax clearance (tax clearance certificate must be produced as proof of tax compliance)
- Garda vetting (to safeguard younger learner-drivers)
The regulation process applies to individual instructors and not to driving schools.