Driving instructors
Professional driving instructors in Victoria must hold a Driving Instructor Authority when teaching an unlicensed person to drive a motor car. This page details the application process.
Information on this page
Background
A Driving Instructor Authority must be held by anyone who, for financial gain or in the course of any trade or business, teaches an unlicensed person to drive a motor car on a road that is open or used by the public. This does not include a motorcycle, a vehicle with a gross mass of more than 4.5 tonnes or a vehicle with a seating capacity of more than 12 adults including the driver.
Driving Instructor Authorities are issued under the Road Safety Act 1986.
Applicant criteria
Applicants for a Driving Instructor Authority must:
- Hold a full (non-probationary) Australian motor car drivers licence.
- Successfully complete the Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport – Driving Instruction) (TL141207). For organisations offering this course, see registered training organisations below. This nationally accredited course replaced the Certificate III Motor Vehicle Driver Trainer (Car) (21370VIC) on 1 July 2008.
- Meet the Medical Standards for Licensing of Commercial Vehicle Drivers as set out in the publication Assessing Fitness to Drive 2003, available from registered medical practitioners.
- Pass a criminal history check. Applications will be checked for convictions or findings of guilt for serious violent, sexual, drug-related, fraud or dishonesty offences, or any other behavioural concerns known by the Victorian Taxi Directorate. A conviction or finding of guilt for one or more of these criminal offences or behavioural concerns will, in the absence of compelling evidence to the contrary, be likely to disqualify a person from being granted an authority.
- Pass a driver history check. Applications will be checked for serious or frequent traffic offences. A history of serious or frequent breaches of the Road Safety Act 1986 will, in the absence of compelling evidence to the contrary, be likely to disqualify a person from being granted an authority.
Prospective applicants who have concerns about their eligibility to be granted an authority should
contact the Victorian Taxi Directorate.
Applicants who have enrolled in the Certificate III Motor Vehicle Driver Trainer (Car) course (21370VIC) prior to 30 June 2008 have 12 months to complete their training and be issued the qualification.
The Certificate III qualification will be recognised for Driving Instructor Authority issue for applications lodged with the Victorian Taxi Directorate on or before 31 December 2010. Applicants who satisfactorily complete a Certificate III but do not apply for a Driving Instructor Authority issue upon course completion will be able to use the qualification to apply for a Driving Instructor Authority before 31 December 2010 without further qualification or training.
Application process
Training requirements
Applicants for the Driving Instructor Authority must successfully complete a Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport - Driving Instruction) (TL141207) course at a registered training organisation. The course units are:
Registered training organisations
Fees
Full Driving Instructor Authorities are issued for a period of three years. Temporary, one-year Driving Instructor Authorities are issued to people who have a medical condition that needs to be reviewed annually. They may also be issued as a result of disciplinary proceedings.
Further information
For further information,
contact the Victorian Taxi Directorate.
Industry bodies and associations