Usman Hafeez v Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors

Facts

The appellant, Usman Hafeez, was a trainee driving instructor seeking to qualify as an approved driving instructor. He had held two trainee licences, together covering twelve months from 23 June 2025 to 22 June 2026, for the purpose of gaining the experience needed to pass the Part 3 test. On 31 May 2026 he applied to the Registrar of Approved Driving Instructors for a further, third, trainee licence. In representations made on 11 June 2026 he said that his previous trainer had given substandard training, that he had since changed trainer and completed additional training, that he instructed only part-time, and that he had difficulty obtaining a Part 3 test date in Luton. By a decision of 19 June 2026 the Registrar refused the application, principally because the appellant had provided insufficient material evidence of lost training time or a lack of pupils. The Registrar also considered that the period already enjoyed was more than adequate and that a trainee licence is not required to take the Part 3 test or to obtain further training. The appellant appealed to the First-tier Tribunal, alleging abuse of process, unfairness, deprivation of statutory rights, disproportionality and financial detriment. The Registrar responded on 9 September 2026. The appeal was determined on the papers.