Franchise FAQ

Yes. We only recruit instructors who hold a current DVSA green badge. We don’t take on PDIs or trainees. Our pupils are promised fully qualified instructors and we need to deliver on that. If you’re working towards your Part 3, feel free to get in touch when you’ve qualified.

Yes. You’ll need a suitable tuition vehicle with dual controls fitted, fully insured for driving instruction. This is standard across the industry. If you already have a car but need dual controls fitting, that’s fine — just let us know your situation when you apply.

There’s no strict minimum, but we’re looking for instructors who can deliver high-quality, structured lessons from day one. If you’re newly qualified but confident in your ability, we’re happy to have a conversation. What matters most is your approach, your patience, and your commitment to pupil results.

We’re currently recruiting across all five of our areas: Liverpool, Wirral, St Helens, Warrington, and Widnes. You’ll need to be based in or very near your chosen area, as local road knowledge is a core part of what we offer. If you’re on the border of two areas, let us know and we’ll discuss options. Please note that territories are non-exclusive — TDA may have more than one instructor in overlapping areas, with pupils allocated based on availability and location.

It’s straightforward. You fill in our application form, Darren gets in touch within 48 hours for an informal chat, and if it’s a good fit for both sides, we sort the paperwork and get you set up. There’s no assessment drive or interview panel — just a genuine conversation to make sure we’re right for each other.

Absolutely. Any pupils you bring with you are yours. We’re focused on growing the total number of pupils in your area through our marketing and website, not claiming credit for work you’ve already done.

We charge a competitive flat weekly fee. The exact amount depends on your area and arrangement, and we’ll be completely upfront about the number when we chat. There are no hidden charges, no percentage cuts on your earnings, and no extra fees bolted on. What we quote is what you pay.

No. The weekly fee covers everything — brand use, website presence, marketing, lead generation, and ongoing support. You’re responsible for your own car costs (fuel, insurance, maintenance, dual controls) as you would be with any franchise or as an independent, but TDA doesn’t charge you anything beyond the weekly fee.

That depends on how many hours you work. Our lesson pricing is set at £42/hr for weekly lessons and from £950 for intensive courses. You collect lesson fees directly from your pupils, pay the weekly franchise fee, and keep everything else. The more hours you teach, the more you earn. We don’t cap your income or take a cut of your lesson fees.

Yes. For weekly lessons, pupils pay you directly at the start of each lesson — cash or bank transfer. For intensive courses and block bookings, payment is made by bank transfer. You handle all pupil payments yourself, which keeps things simple and means you’re always in control of your cash flow.

The weekly fee is collected by Direct Debit each Monday in respect of the previous week. It’s a flat amount regardless of how many hours you work that week. You’ll set up a Direct Debit mandate when you come onboard.

Yes. Every TDA franchisee is entitled to 4 weeks per calendar year where no franchise fee is payable. Holiday weeks must be taken as whole weeks and you’ll need to give at least 7 days’ notice. They can’t be carried over into the following year, and in your first year they’re calculated pro-rata from your start date.

Yes, completely. There are no minimum hours, no mandatory days, and no one dictating your schedule. You decide when you work, how many hours you do, and when you take time off. If you want to work school hours only, that’s fine. If you want to do six-day weeks, that’s your call.

Enquiries come through the TDA website via forms on your area page and the general contact page. When a pupil enquires from your area, the details are forwarded to you directly by email. You then make contact, arrange the first lesson, and take it from there. It’s fast, simple, and you’re always the first point of contact.

No. You’re a qualified professional and we trust your ability to teach effectively. We do expect structured, purposeful lessons with clear objectives — not aimless driving — but how you deliver that is down to your professional judgement. Our focus is on outcomes: well-prepared pupils who pass their test.

While you’re a TDA franchisee, we’d expect you to represent the TDA brand when teaching. This keeps things clean for pupils and avoids confusion. If you have existing pupils who came to you independently, that’s absolutely fine — we just ask that all new work goes through the TDA brand.

TDA sets the pupil-facing prices to keep things consistent across all areas. This also means our website and marketing can clearly advertise pricing, which helps convert enquiries. The prices are competitive for the region and designed to ensure you earn well while offering fair value to pupils.

We handle everything: the website, local SEO, area-specific content, booking forms, Google Business optimisation, and any paid advertising. Each area has its own dedicated page with local content, test centre details, and instructor profiles. You don’t need to spend time or money on your own marketing.

Yes. Your area page includes your photo, your credentials, your experience, and a personal bio. Pupils in your area will see you as their local TDA instructor. As you collect reviews from pupils, those are featured on both your area page and the main reviews page.

Darren directly. One of the benefits of being in a small franchise is that you’re not dealing with regional managers, helpdesks, or automated systems. You have Darren’s number, and he’s available for advice, questions, or just a chat about how things are going. It’s a genuine working relationship, not a corporate hierarchy.

We don’t run a formal training programme — you’re already qualified and experienced. However, Darren is always available to discuss teaching approaches, tricky pupil situations, or test preparation strategies. If there are DVSA updates or changes to test requirements, we’ll make sure everyone is informed and prepared.

There is an initial term of 12 months. This gives both sides the confidence to invest properly in setting up your area, building your profile, and generating pupils. After the initial 12 months, the agreement continues on a rolling weekly basis and either party can end it with just 2 weeks’ written notice. The notice period is deliberately short because we want people to stay because it’s working, not because they’re trapped.

After the initial 12-month term, you give 2 weeks’ written notice (email is fine) and the agreement ends on the Monday following the expiry of that notice. We part ways professionally. We don’t believe in making it difficult for people to leave — if it’s not working for you, you should be free to go.

Any pupils you brought with you when you joined are yours — no restriction. For pupils introduced to you by TDA through our website, advertising, or booking system, there is a 3-month non-solicitation period after you leave. This means you cannot actively approach or take on those pupils for 3 months post-termination. If an introduced pupil independently contacts you without any prompting, you may instruct them but only after the 3-month period has passed. Self-sourced pupils have no restriction at all.

We’d have an honest conversation about it. If something isn’t working, we’d rather address it directly than let it drag on. Sometimes things just aren’t the right fit, and that’s okay. The important thing is that we handle it professionally and with mutual respect.