You must hold a current motor driving instructor's (MDI) licence before you can train any driver for a fee or reward. If you already hold an interstate driving instructor's licence and wish to operate in South Australia, you can apply for mutual recognition status.
Trainers who teach 4WD or defensive driving courses to people who already hold a driver’s licence, don’t need an MDI licence.
Who can apply
Before an application for an MDI licence can be approved, you must:
- hold a current South Australian driver's licence
- have held an unconditional car licence for a minimum of two years with no disqualifications in that time
- have held an Australian licence, or a licence from an approved country, for four years with no disqualifications in that time
- demonstrate competency as a motor driving instructor. This involves
- holding a current Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training
See a list of organisations that offer driving instructor training - demonstrating an understanding of the Australian Road Rules by completing a road rules theory test for MDIs
- completing a regulator assessment
- holding a current Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training
- be a fit and proper person.
Your application is unlikely to be accepted if you have:
- been convicted of any sexual, fraud, financial, violent, drug related or theft offences
- a history of driving offences, licence disqualifications or suspensions.
Driving instructor licence
What you'll need
You will need to provide:
- a resume (196.4 KB PDF) with employment references
- a current (no more than three months old) national police check. Apply through SA Police or through organisations accredited by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
- a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) or a statutory declaration
- a Medical and eyesight certificate (72.8 KB PDF) for all licence classes
- proof of identity
- a certified copy of a current Certificate IV in Transport Logistics - Road Transport Driving Instruction
- evidence of successfully passing the road rules theory test for MDIs.
How to apply
Fill out the application form (89.7 KB PDF) and lodge it at a Service SA centre with the supporting documents. Applications will be returned if they are not complete and the correct supporting documentation is not attached.
What happens next
You will be notified by email to book a regulator assessment.
If you meet the required standard in the regulator assessment your application and supporting documentation will be sent to the registrar for consideration. If your application is approved you will then need to attend a Service SA centre to:
- pay the required licence fee
- have your photo taken.
Your photo identification MDI licence will be sent to you. This can take up to two weeks.
You cannot begin training clients until you receive your photo identification MDI licence, however you may use your digital licence.
Fees
Service | Fee |
|---|---|
Road law test through Service SA | $94 |
Regulator assessment (car) per assessment | $295 |
Regulator assessment (heavy vehicle) per assessment | $483 |
| Motor driving instructor licence for 5 years | $585 |
Mutual recognition
If you hold a current interstate MDI licence and wish to operate in South Australia, you can apply for mutual recognition status.
What you'll need
To apply for mutual recognition, you will need to supply:
- a copy of your South Australian driver’s licence
- either the original or a certified copy of your interstate instrument as evidence of current registration as an MDI in that state
- a current (no more than three months old) national police check
- a current working with children check (WWCC) or a statutory declaration
- medical and eyesight certificates (for all licence classes) (72.8 KB PDF).
You will also need to meet regulator assessment standards for South Australia
How to apply
Complete the mutual recognition application and declaration (52.5 KB PDF). This is a statutory declaration which asks for:
- current MDI registration details from the interstate authority and any other states where you are registered as an MDI
- information on any disciplinary proceedings (including preliminary investigations) in relation to being an MDI in any other state
- clarification if the MDI registration is current and not cancelled, suspended or conditions applied to the registration as an MDI in any state
- consent to contact interstate authorities and to exchange information regarding your activities as an MDI.
Submit the declaration to a Service SA centre.
What happens next
You will be notified by email to book a regulator assessment.
If your application for mutual recognition is successful, to get your MDI license issued you will need to attend a Service SA centre to:
- pay the required licence fee
- have your photo taken.
Your photo identification MDI licence will be sent to you. This can take up to two weeks.
You cannot begin training clients until you receive your photo identification MDI licence, however you may use your digital licence.
Under the Mutual Recognition Act the MDI licence will be granted only for the period remaining on the interstate authority and then can be renewed subject to renewal requirements being met.
A yearly fee applies for an MDI licence.
Fees
Service | Fee |
|---|---|
Regulator assessment (car) per assessment | $295 |
Regulator assessment (heavy vehicle) per assessment | $483 |
Renew your licence
A renewal notice and certificate of fitness form will be sent to you eight weeks before expiry of your current licence. You can commence the renewal process earlier if required using the application form (89.7 KB PDF).
You must attend a Service SA centre in person with the following:
- the completed renewal notice
- a completed certificate of fitness to drive light vehicles form (697.4 KB PDF) (72.8 KB PDF)
- a current (no more than three months old) national police check. Apply through SA Police or through organisations accredited by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)
- a current working with children check (WWCC) or a statutory declaration
- the prescribed fee of $585 for a 5 year renewal
- evidence that you have completed the road rules theory test, unless otherwise indicated on the renewal notice
- a certified copy of your MDI qualifications.
Once your renewal application and supporting documentation are approved, a new licence will be sent to you. This can take up to 2 weeks.
Driving instructor licence
What you'll need
You will need to provide:
- a resume (196.4 KB PDF) with employment references
- a current (no more than three months old) national police check. Apply through SA Police or through organisations accredited by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
- a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) or a statutory declaration
- a Medical and eyesight certificate (72.8 KB PDF) for all licence classes
- proof of identity
- a certified copy of a current Certificate IV in Transport Logistics - Road Transport Driving Instruction
- evidence of successfully passing the road rules theory test for MDIs.
How to apply
Fill out the application form (89.7 KB PDF) and lodge it at a Service SA centre with the supporting documents. Applications will be returned if they are not complete and the correct supporting documentation is not attached.
What happens next
You will be notified by email to book a regulator assessment.
If you meet the required standard in the regulator assessment your application and supporting documentation will be sent to the registrar for consideration. If your application is approved you will then need to attend a Service SA centre to:
- pay the required licence fee
- have your photo taken.
Your photo identification MDI licence will be sent to you. This can take up to two weeks.
You cannot begin training clients until you receive your photo identification MDI licence, however you may use your digital licence.
Fees
Service | Fee |
|---|---|
Road law test through Service SA | $94 |
Regulator assessment (car) per assessment | $295 |
Regulator assessment (heavy vehicle) per assessment | $483 |
| Motor driving instructor licence for 5 years | $585 |
Mutual recognition
If you hold a current interstate MDI licence and wish to operate in South Australia, you can apply for mutual recognition status.
What you'll need
To apply for mutual recognition, you will need to supply:
- a copy of your South Australian driver’s licence
- either the original or a certified copy of your interstate instrument as evidence of current registration as an MDI in that state
- a current (no more than three months old) national police check
- a current working with children check (WWCC) or a statutory declaration
- medical and eyesight certificates (for all licence classes) (72.8 KB PDF).
You will also need to meet regulator assessment standards for South Australia
How to apply
Complete the mutual recognition application and declaration (52.5 KB PDF). This is a statutory declaration which asks for:
- current MDI registration details from the interstate authority and any other states where you are registered as an MDI
- information on any disciplinary proceedings (including preliminary investigations) in relation to being an MDI in any other state
- clarification if the MDI registration is current and not cancelled, suspended or conditions applied to the registration as an MDI in any state
- consent to contact interstate authorities and to exchange information regarding your activities as an MDI.
Submit the declaration to a Service SA centre.
What happens next
You will be notified by email to book a regulator assessment.
If your application for mutual recognition is successful, to get your MDI license issued you will need to attend a Service SA centre to:
- pay the required licence fee
- have your photo taken.
Your photo identification MDI licence will be sent to you. This can take up to two weeks.
You cannot begin training clients until you receive your photo identification MDI licence, however you may use your digital licence.
Under the Mutual Recognition Act the MDI licence will be granted only for the period remaining on the interstate authority and then can be renewed subject to renewal requirements being met.
A yearly fee applies for an MDI licence.
Fees
Service | Fee |
|---|---|
Regulator assessment (car) per assessment | $295 |
Regulator assessment (heavy vehicle) per assessment | $483 |
Renew your licence
A renewal notice and certificate of fitness form will be sent to you eight weeks before expiry of your current licence. You can commence the renewal process earlier if required using the application form (89.7 KB PDF).
You must attend a Service SA centre in person with the following:
- the completed renewal notice
- a completed certificate of fitness to drive light vehicles form (697.4 KB PDF) (72.8 KB PDF)
- a current (no more than three months old) national police check. Apply through SA Police or through organisations accredited by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)
- a current working with children check (WWCC) or a statutory declaration
- the prescribed fee of $585 for a 5 year renewal
- evidence that you have completed the road rules theory test, unless otherwise indicated on the renewal notice
- a certified copy of your MDI qualifications.
Once your renewal application and supporting documentation are approved, a new licence will be sent to you. This can take up to 2 weeks.
Decision to issue a licence
The Registrar of Motor Vehicles or their delegate must review all aspects of your application before a decision can be made to issue an MDI licence.
If your application is properly made, you have met the pre-requisites and successfully passed your regulator assessment and road law theory test, your application and qualifications will be forwarded to the registrar for a decision on whether to issue an MDI licence.
In making a decision on whether to approve the issue of an MDI licence the registrar must be satisfied the applicant, in addition to meeting all the pre-requisites, is:
- fit and proper to hold an instructor’s licence
- proficient as a motor driving instructor.
Your application is unlikely to be accepted if you have:
- been convicted of any sexual, fraud, financial, violent, drug related or theft offences
- a history of driving offences, licence disqualifications or suspensions.
In addition, if you are unable to demonstrate proficiency as an MDI during the regulator assessments, your application may be refused.
Once you have a licence
Code of conduct
There is an expectation that MDIs will at all times conduct themselves in a way that meets the expectations of the registrar and the community. The code of conduct (256.7 KB PDF) endorsed by the Australian Driver Training Association of South Australia and the Professional Driver Trainers Association of South Australia outlines the minimum standards of practice expected of all licensed MDIs and appointed authorised examiners covering:
- being honest and acting with integrity
- having respect for others
- being competent
- managing business competently.
Consumer law and complaints
Motor driving instructors have certain business obligations. Under Australian Consumer Law an MDI must provide a receipt for any payment over $75.00 or on request.
A client may also request a receipt for less than $75.00 and one must be provided within seven days of asking or for an itemised account within 30 days of being billed.
Businesses providing a service may, at some time, receive complaints - see Handling complaints. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Consumer and Business Services provide advice on making complaints.
Disciplinary action
Under the Motor Vehicles Act 1959 the Registrar of Motor Vehicles may take disciplinary action if 'satisfied that the holder has been guilty of conduct making him or her unfit to hold such a licence'.
The following are examples of conduct that the registrar may consider for disciplinary action.
- any sexual assault including sexual assault of a driving student including inappropriate conduct of a personal or sexual nature, sexual harassment - this can include making inappropriate comments or discussion of a sexual nature or touching an applicant
- physical assault of a student or other persons related to the motor driving instructors business operations - ie student parent, other MDIs, authorised examiners or government officers
- drug possession and trafficking
- stalking of students, parents, other MDIs, authorised examiners or government officers
- dishonesty and fraud or poor or unscrupulous business practices
- driving offences
Further training for authorised examiners
Once you are an experienced motor driving instructor you may be eligible to undertake further training towards becoming an authorised examiner.
