Can driving instructors use a phone during a lesson?
The UK phone rules for driving instructors and supervisors: what is illegal, what hands-free use is allowed and how to run lessons without touching your phone.
The short answer: no hand-held phone use while your pupil is driving. The law treats the supervisor of a learner the same way as a driver.
What the law says
Since 25 March 2022 it has been illegal in Great Britain to hold and use a phone, sat nav or tablet while driving. That covers almost everything: calls, texts, photos, scrolling and choosing music. It applies when you are stopped in traffic too.
Anyone supervising a learner driver is treated as being in charge of the vehicle. That includes driving instructors. If you hold your phone to check the next booking while your pupil drives, you are breaking the same law as a driver would.
The penalty
- Six penalty points on your licence.
- A £200 fixed penalty, or more if it goes to court.
- Possible careless or dangerous driving charges if it contributes to an incident.
For an instructor, six points can also raise questions with the DVSA about your fitness to instruct.
What is still allowed
- Hands-free in a cradle. You can use a phone fixed in a holder, as long as it does not distract you from supervising.
- Genuine emergencies. You can call 999 or 112 if it is unsafe or impractical to stop.
- When parked safely. With the engine off and the car parked legally, you can use your phone as normal.
Running a lesson without touching your phone
The easiest way to stay within the rules is to do everything that needs a tap before you set off or after you park:
- Before the lesson: check the plan, the pickup point and any notes while parked.
- During the lesson: let apps run on their own. Live sharing and lesson timers should not need input.
- After the lesson: park, then record what happened, score the lesson and send feedback.
This is exactly how NextTurn is designed. Once the lesson starts, live sharing runs by itself, and everything that needs input happens on a parked screen at the end.
This guide summarises UK law for general information. It is not legal advice.
Common questions
Can a driving instructor use a hand-held phone during a lesson?
No. Since March 2022 it has been illegal to hold and use a phone while driving for almost any reason, and the same rules apply to anyone supervising a learner driver, including instructors.
What is the penalty?
Six penalty points and a £200 fine. You could also face careless or dangerous driving charges.
Can an instructor use a phone in a holder?
Hands-free use in a cradle is allowed, but you can still be prosecuted if it distracts you from supervising safely. Keep interaction to a minimum while your pupil is driving.
