The voluntary code of practice is being replaced by a mandatory one. Here is what that means, in plain English, whether you qualified last month or thirty years ago.
In a nutshell
- The old code was optional. You could sign up to it, or not.
- The new code is compulsory. You must declare you have read and agreed to it when you apply, renew or get a trainee licence.
- If you break it, the ADI Registrar can warn you, check you, investigate you, suspend you or remove you from the register.
What was the old code?
Since 2017 there has been an ADI code of practice on GOV.UK. It was written by the three national associations (the ADI NJC, the DIA and the MSA GB) and agreed with DVSA. It covered four things: personal conduct, business dealings, advertising and settling disputes.
The important word was voluntary. If you agreed to follow it, you could update your registration to show that you did. Many good instructors signed up. Plenty never looked at it.
What is the new code?
DVSA published a new code on 23 September 2026. It will come into force at a date still to be confirmed, sometime between late 2026 and early 2027. When it does, it replaces two things at once: the old voluntary code and the ADI register guide.
It is mandatory. You will have to declare that you have read and agreed to it when you:
- apply to become an instructor
- renew your registration
- apply for a trainee licence
Must, should and could
DVSA has said the new code uses three simple words, and it is worth learning them now because everything else hangs on them:
- MUST means required. Not negotiable.
- SHOULD means strongly recommended.
- COULD means good practice, and it is your choice.
In the old code almost everything was written as an agreement (‘the instructor agrees to’). In the new one, a lot of it is a must. That is the single biggest change, and it is why this series exists.
What happens if you do not follow it?
The new code spells this out. The ADI Registrar may:
- issue a formal warning
- carry out a standards check or an investigation
- suspend you and remove you from the ADI register
DVSA has also said that when it gets a complaint about an instructor’s conduct, the code is what it will measure that instructor against. In other words, the code becomes the rulebook.
You are an instructor even when you are not working
This is new and it catches people out. The code says you represent the profession when you are not working too. DVSA expects you to be honest, act with integrity, behave professionally and follow the law, in lessons and in your personal life. How you behave outside work can be taken into account if it affects public confidence in the register, road safety or the profession.
Then and now
| THEN: the voluntary code | NOW: the new mandatory code |
|---|---|
| Voluntary. You chose whether to sign up. | Mandatory. You must declare you have read and agreed to it. |
| Written as things the instructor ‘agrees to’. | Written as MUST, SHOULD and COULD. |
| No stated consequences for ignoring it. | Warning, standards check, investigation, suspension or removal. |
| Focused on lessons and business dealings. | Covers your conduct outside work as well. |
| Separate ADI register guide alongside it. | One code replaces both. |
If you are new to the industry
Good news: you only have to learn one rulebook, and it is written in plain language. Read it once from top to bottom, then keep it handy. Over the rest of this series I will take each section in turn and explain what it means on an ordinary Tuesday with an ordinary pupil.
If you have been doing this a while
Do not assume you already know it. Much of the old code is still in there, but the tone has changed. Things you could treat as good advice are now requirements, and some brand new duties have appeared: reporting allegations within 7 days, no hands-free calls while instructing, keeping a record of complaints, checking AI-made materials, and more. Each one is covered in the articles that follow.
What to do now
- Read the new code in full on GOV.UK. It takes about twenty minutes.
- Highlight every MUST. Those are the non-negotiables.
- Note your renewal date. That is when you will be asked to declare you have read it.
- Follow this series for a plain-English walk through each section.
This is Part 1 of 9 in The New Code of Practice — Plain and Simple. Read the whole series here.
Sources
Current voluntary code: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-instructor-code-of-practice/approved-driving-instructor-adi-code-of-practice
New mandatory code (published 23 September 2026, effective date to be confirmed): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-instructor-code-of-practice/driving-instructor-code-of-practice-effective-date-to-be-confirmed
This article summarises the code in plain English. Always read the code itself, as the wording on GOV.UK is what DVSA will use.
Leave a Reply