Transport & automotive
MTD software for driving instructors.
Use the gap between lessons, not your evening.
Pupil transfers, fuel stops and franchise charges arrive on different schedules. Avona helps independent ADIs keep lesson income and vehicle spending in view while the next learner gets ready.
- Who it is for
- Driving instructors working as sole traders, managing their own business records and MTD for Income Tax updates.
- Available now
- Digital records, bank feeds, statement imports, transaction categorisation and quarterly self-employment updates. Pro adds customer invoicing, VAT accounting and reporting.
- Monthly price
- From £15/month for Lite. Pro is £20/month.
- Free trial
- Full access for 7 days. No credit card required.
- Annual-return limitations
- Quarterly updates do not replace your annual tax return. HMRC lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development. Check the listing and confirm support for your income sources before relying on Avona for your annual return.
Making Tax Digital
It’s what comes in.
Before costs go out.
The full price of lessons counts before fuel, car lease and franchise fees. High running costs can leave modest profit while gross teaching income crosses the MTD threshold.
Understand Making Tax Digital →When does MTD apply?
Combined qualifying self-employment and property income, before expenses:
- Over £50,000 in 2024/25
- From 6 April 2026
- Over £30,000 in 2025/26
- From 6 April 2027
- Over £20,000 in 2026/27
- From 6 April 2028
Eligibility and exemptions matter. These are income thresholds, not tax-free allowances.
Check HMRC’s eligibility guidance ↗From the work to your records
Clear records for your driving lessons.
Bring the evidence into Avona, review the suggested categories and check the figures before submitting. These three examples show the records behind your driving lessons, shared purchases and a prepaid driving-lesson block.
| What you bring | How you use Avona | What you check |
|---|---|---|
| £420 for your driving lessons £85 spent on business-use teaching materials and software | Connect your bank or import the payment, then upload the invoice or receipt for business-use teaching materials and software. Review the income and the purchase as separate records. | Keep £420 as the sale and the £85 cost separately. The £335 left after this cost is not turnover. Check that the spending is eligible for your business. |
| £100 mixed purchase £80 for lesson record books; £20 for personal stationery | Upload the itemised receipt and review the suggested category. Identify lesson record books separately from personal stationery. | Only the eligible £80 business portion belongs in business costs. Exclude the £20 personal purchase, and check that importing both the bank transaction and the receipt has not counted the spending twice. |
| £240 paid for a block of sessions Payment received before all sessions take place | Keep the booking and payment evidence for a prepaid driving-lesson block. Reconcile the receipt with the bank entry and retain any later refund details. | A prepaid block and its individual appointments are not separate sales to count twice. Apply your accounting method to payment timing; attendance alone does not show whether the client has paid. |
Keep supporting documents alongside your figures, review business use and apply your accounting method consistently. HMRC: keeping business records ↗
The costs behind your work
Six expenses worth
keeping records for.
Examples for driving instructors. Claim only eligible business costs; mixed use, equipment and your accounting method can change the treatment.
Dual-control car leasing
Driving school franchise fees
Business fuel costs
ADI renewal fees
Business dashcam costs
Pupil booking software
One thing to watch
Do not claim fuel twice through mileage and actual costs
Check the permitted method for your teaching vehicle. If you use simplified mileage, the covered vehicle costs cannot also be claimed separately; keep evidence of business and private use.
HMRC: car, van and travel expenses ↗Fit the admin around the work
A routine around your driving lessons.
Match pupil transfers to your diary, retain fuel and franchise receipts and review the chosen vehicle-cost method before filing.
Capture the supporting documents
Upload receipts or invoices for business-use teaching materials and software. Keep the date, supplier and amount legible, and distinguish lesson record books from personal stationery.
How document capture works →Reconcile your driving lessons payments
Review each customer receipt against the work it covers. Keep the breakdown for a prepaid driving-lesson block available alongside the bank entry, so fees, refunds or timing differences can be explained.
How bank review works →Review before you submit
Review Avona AI’s suggested categories, check that your driving lessons income is complete, and remove duplicate or personal spending. Keep the evidence for a prepaid driving-lesson block ready for your annual-return review too.
Before you get started
Questions from driving instructors.
Does MTD apply to everyone in this profession?
No. This page covers driving instructors working as sole traders. Your start date depends on combined qualifying self-employment and property income before expenses, and any exemptions. Employment and limited-company work have different reporting arrangements.
Does using my car for lessons make every motoring cost deductible?
Private use still matters. Keep a business journey record and the evidence for your chosen vehicle-cost method, including any relevant restriction for personal driving.
How do I record a prepaid driving-lesson block?
Example: £240 paid for a block of sessions (payment received before all sessions take place). A prepaid block and its individual appointments are not separate sales to count twice. Apply your accounting method to payment timing; attendance alone does not show whether the client has paid.
Which bookkeeping issue should I watch for?
Do not claim fuel twice through mileage and actual costs. Check the permitted method for your teaching vehicle. If you use simplified mileage, the covered vehicle costs cannot also be claimed separately; keep evidence of business and private use.
Can I keep using my existing spreadsheet?
Yes. Bring your driving lessons income records and evidence of business-use teaching materials and software into Avona using supported spreadsheet uploads. Check dates, categories, personal spending and duplicates against the original documents before you approve the records.
Do quarterly updates complete my annual tax return?
No. You still need the annual tax return and any relevant adjustments or other income. HMRC currently lists annual-return items including PAYE income, interest, dividends and pensions as in development for Avona. Confirm support for your own income sources and circumstances before relying on Avona for the annual return.
Built for the way you earn
Put your driving instruction records in gear.
Choosing Avona
Your questions, answered.
Can I create customer invoices?
Yes. You can create customer invoices with Avona Pro.
What if I am VAT-registered?
Full VAT accounting is available with Avona Pro, so you can manage your VAT-registered business with Avona.
Can my accountant review my records?
Yes. You can connect your Avona account to your bookkeeper or accountant so they can review your records.
Can I use my phone on site?
Yes. Every feature has a mobile-friendly version, so you can manage your accounts from your phone while you are on the move.
Can I keep using my personal bank account?
Yes. Avona supports Open Banking connections and PDF bank statement uploads. You can clearly separate personal and business transactions to keep your business records organised.