Most people picture a driving instructor as someone tied to a school’s schedule, driving a marked car, taking whatever students get assigned to them. That’s the old model. Teaching through a platform looks different.
A Drivisa instructor sets their own hours, picks up students near them, and gets paid weekly. There’s no office to report to and no paperwork pile at the end of the week. The platform handles the booking and the payments, so the job is the part you actually trained for: teaching people to drive.
Here’s what a typical day looks like, how the work and the pay are structured, and what it takes to do this yourself.
What does a typical day look like?
It starts the night before, with you deciding when you want to work. You open the app, see your booked lessons, and set your availability for the days ahead. There’s no fixed shift. If you want mornings only, or evenings and weekends around another job, that’s your call.
On a normal day, you might have a 9 a.m. lesson with a student preparing for a G2 road test, a midday gap you use however you want, then two back-to-back afternoon lessons with newer drivers working on the basics. You meet each student near their home, run the lesson, log it, and move on. Between students, your time is yours.
By the end of the day you’ve taught a handful of lessons, helped a nervous driver get more comfortable on the road, and you can see exactly what you’ve earned. No invoicing, no chasing payments.
How does scheduling work?
You control it. You set your own availability, and students book the open slots that work for them. You accept students based on your schedule and location, so you’re never stuck with a lesson across the city at a time that doesn’t suit you. Students book you, you will see the type of the class (In-car private, BDE, exam, etc…). You will see the student’s profile, their previous classes and progress, pick up location and the map for you to get to the student.
This is the biggest day-to-day difference from a traditional driving school. Instead of fitting your life around a school’s timetable, you build your teaching around your life. You can scale up when you want more hours and pull back when you don’t.
How do instructors get paid?
Instructors earn through the lessons they teach and get paid weekly. You keep the majority of the lesson fee after a platform commission, and rates start around $45 per hour, tax inclusive.
Because this is a marketplace, your income depends on how many hours you teach. Instructors working 20 to 30 hours a week can build a full-time income. Those teaching evenings and weekends use it to top up other work. The weekly payout is a real shift from the bi-weekly or delayed pay common at traditional schools.
How do students find you?
The platform brings the students to you. Drivisa handles student acquisition, booking, and payment processing, so you don’t spend money on advertising or time on admin. Students browse instructors by reviews, availability, and language preference, then book directly.
No phone calls, texts, whatsapp messages, or letters with pigeons.
That review system matters. As you teach well, your ratings build, and a strong reputation brings you more bookings. Instructors who speak more than one language often stay busy, since many new drivers prefer to learn in their first language.
What’s the hardest part of the job?
Teaching driving takes real focus. You’re responsible for a learner and for everyone else on the road, which means staying alert through every lesson. Back-to-back sessions can be mentally tiring, and not every student is easy to teach. Patience is part of the job.
It’s honest work, not easy money. But for people who like teaching and want control over how they spend their week, the trade is worth it. Helping someone pass their road test and drive on their own is genuinely satisfying.
What do you need to become a Drivisa instructor?
You need to be a certified MTO driving instructor. To qualify for certification in Ontario, you generally need to:
- Be at least 24 years old
- Hold a full Ontario G licence, not a G2
- Have at least four years of licensed driving experience
- Have a clean driving record
- Pass a criminal background check (Police report)
- Complete an MTO-approved instructor training course
- Pass the MTO instructor certification exam
If you’re already certified, joining a platform lets you start teaching on your own terms without setting up a business from scratch. If you’re not certified yet, the training is a few months and a defined set of steps. We cover the full path in our guide on how to become a driving instructor in Ontario.
You need to have your own certified/approved vehicle AND insurance for a driving instructor as well as a dual brake installed already.
Vehicle safety, Insurance, MTO license, and police reports are required to be provided periodically (every 6-12 months).
Is being a driving instructor a good job?
For the right person, yes. Demand is steady, since Ontario issues hundreds of thousands of new licences every year, especially across the GTA, Ottawa, and other urban areas. The schedule is flexible, the barrier to entry is lower than many skilled trades, and the work means something.
The income is variable because it depends on the hours you put in, but you control your rates and your availability. That mix of flexibility and steady demand is why a lot of instructors prefer the platform model over a traditional school job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Qus. Do I need my own car to teach with Drivisa?
Ans. You need a suitable vehicle for instruction, and depending on your setup that may include dual controls and the right insurance. Confirm the current vehicle requirements when you apply.
Qus. Can I teach part-time?
Ans. Yes. Many instructors teach evenings and weekends around other work. You set your availability, so part-time is fully supported.
Qus. How much can I earn?
Ans. It depends on how many hours you teach and the rates you set. Rates start around $45 per hour tax inclusive, and you keep the majority after a platform commission. Because it’s a marketplace, income varies with your hours.
Qus. Do I have to find my own students?
Ans. No. The platform handles student acquisition, booking, and payments. Your job is to teach and build your reviews.
Qus. What if I’m already an instructor at a driving school?
Ans. You can join a platform to gain control over your schedule and keep more of each lesson fee. Many instructors run both while they transition.
Qus. How quickly do I get paid?
Ans. Weekly. Payouts are based on the lessons you teach, with no long delays between teaching and getting paid.
First day of the week, every week.
Ready to teach on your own terms? Learn more about joining Canada’s driving education platform at drivisa.com/become-an-instructor.
