driving instructor insurance

Essential Insurance For A Driving Instructor

It’s impossible to overstress the importance of adequate insurance for a UK driving instructor. Whether you work independently, with a franchise, or own your own driving school, you must have several types of insurance covers. It’s up to you as an instructor to protect yourself, your vehicle, and your students as best as you can. Moreover, since you are most likely self-employed, you need to protect your business and your family as well.

Numerous insurance companies provide specific insurance plans for ADI (approved driving instructors) and PDI (Potential Driving Instructors). These insurance plans are usually similar to your personal car insurance, but provide much more coverage. Although added covers mean more cost, the likelihood of accidents is also higher due to teaching inexperienced learners.

Due to teaching student drivers, you may also want to consider getting extra life and health insurance covers. You may end up being injured or killed during one of your lessons. In addition, since you’ll be self-employed, you may want to consider a loss of income insurance plan. You may become unable to work for a long period if you’re injured or ill.

Types of insurance to consider

Just like your personal car, you’ll want to have insurance covers for public liability, accidents, and theft. The various insurers have basically the same types of plans, but have different names for them. However, no matter what name they call the plan, this is what you need to consider for covers:

• Covering yourself: You can be sued for several reasons, so you’ll want abundant public liability insurance. You’ll probably want the ADI check test cover. You’ll also want the DSA Part 2, Part 3 Test Cover
• Covering your students: You’re responsible for anything happening to or because of your students during a driving lesson.
• Covering your vehicle: Dual control cars are very expensive, and require extra insurance covers against theft, accidental damage, and loss. You will want some type of coverage that permits you to replace the car or have use of a temporary vehicle so your business is not interrupted by the loss of your own car. You’ll also want to consider Motor Breakdown coverage, since it’s not a good idea to leave yourself and your student stranded somewhere alongside the road in case your vehicle breaks down. You may also want to consider Gap insurance as well, in case it costs more to replace or repair the vehicle than your insurer is willing to pay.
• Covering your business: As with any business, it’s a good idea to have protection against being sued and to have the legal fees and court costs covered if you are sued. You should also consider covers that protect your business against loss of income due to business interruptions. You definitely will need extra Public Liability Insurance and Employment Liability insurance if you hire anyone else to help out with your business. You will also definitely want Driving School Insurance if you decide to own or operate your own driving school. Or you may need Instructor Fleet Insurance instead.
• Covering your family: You will need to protect your family’s assets from possible law suits. You will also need to provide insurance for their safety, financial security, and overall state of well-being in case you become seriously injured, disabled, or killed during a driving lesson.

You also need to consider pensions for yourself and employees. You may also need health insurance for your family and employees, as you will be totally responsible for ensuring everyone’s health and future financial provisions. There are numerous reasons for becoming an ADI, but there are even more reasons why you should become a well-insured one.