Talt Abbas v Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors

Facts

The appellant, Talt Abbas, applied on 6 January 2026 for a further, and third, trainee driving instructor licence. He had already held two trainee licences covering the period 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2026. The Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors refused the application by a decision dated 9 April 2026, having considered the appellant's representations received on 8 February 2026, on the basis that two licences afforded more than adequate time to gain the experience needed to pass the Part 3 test and become entitled to registration as an approved driving instructor, and that the trainee licence system was not intended to operate as an alternative to full registration. The Registrar noted that a trainee licence was not required in order to sit a Part 3 test and that the existing second licence remained valid pending determination of the appeal, giving the appellant a trainee licence period exceeding 19 months. In his notice of appeal dated 20 April 2026 the appellant relied on health problems which he said had slowed his progress, though the only sick note produced covered two weeks. The Registrar's response recorded two failed Part 3 tests and five cancelled bookings. The appellant's application to postpone the hearing was refused, and he then agreed to determination on the papers.