Hi guys & gals. I have collated the most recent chat about EOFY questions. Have included names and timestamps etc from WhatsApp S.A.D.I. chat to hopefully, make it easy to follow.

28/7/26, 3:26 pm – Amy Mason +61 425 124 359:
Hello Team,
Slightly off training topic but as we are all business owners & it is tax time, I thought it would be beneficial if we all came together to see how you best manage EOFY.
What software do you find the best?
What do you claim?
Do you have recommendations on a great accountant that understands MDI?

28/7/26, 5:07 pm – Kirsten Bigpond +61 419 518 700:
I use Xero, I claim everything I possibly can and have a great accountant who lives in Melbourne and has been my accountant for 20+ years. Feel free to message me direct if you have any specific questions. Cheers Kirsten

28/7/26, 6:53 pm – Driving With Pete +61 467 771 567:
Hi Amy, I use Xero, and have been using Kim from Rowe Partners who are in Beach Rd. They have been amazing, helping me every step since I took this on. The owner actually gave me her son as a student( who passed after his 2nd test) and she was extremely impressed. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
Cheers Pete

28/7/26, 7:25 pm – Steve Palmer:
Knowing what we’re allowed to claim is always a challenge. Here’s a couple of the things I wouldn’t have thought of that my accountant pointed out…
– Home office. You can claim a percentage of your household energy bills, internet, phone, printer ink, paper etc
– ⁠Obviously any branded clothing, or anything safety related.
– ⁠Any tools that you may use for your work
– ⁠Coffee while you’re waiting for a VORT to come back, or your car to be serviced

28/7/26, 7:26 pm – Jacqe Temme:
I use Xero but it’s constantly raising its prices. Although it works for my business really well, I do wonder if MYOB Solo would be a better option. Insurance (need to find time to shop around AGAIN) just went up, petrol is on the rise, parents are becoming more demanding but less involved and I know a lot of us are feeling burnt out and concerned about the future next year.
That’s my vent. Thanks for your time.

28/7/26, 7:39 pm – Claudia +61 421 284 905:
Hi Amy my hubby is an accountant. You can get in touch if you want to chat to him. Vehicle expenses (usually the biggest claim) for me.

If you use your own car for lessons, you may be able to claim:

* Fuel
* Servicing and repairs
* Registration
* Comprehensive insurance
* Tyres
* Car washes
* Roadside assistance
* Loan interest (not the principal)
* Lease payments (if applicable)
* Depreciation (decline in value)

Driving instructor equipment

* Dual controls
* Dash cameras
* Phone mount
* First aid kit
* Emergency triangles
* High-visibility vest
* Cleaning supplies
* Floor mats used for work
* L plates

Technology

* Mobile phone (work-use percentage)
* Laptop or tablet
* Computer accessories
* Printer and ink
* Software subscriptions
* Cloud storage
* Internet (work-use percentage)

Business expenses

* Public liability insurance
* Professional indemnity insurance
* Vehicle insurance
* Instructor accreditation and renewal fees
* Police checks or Working With Children Check.
* Accountant fees
* Bookkeeping software
* Bank fees
* Merchant fees (Square, EFTPOS, Stripe, etc.)

Marketing

* Website costs
* Domain name
* Facebook and Instagram advertising
* Google Ads
* Business cards
* Flyers
* Vehicle signage
* Photography and branding

Office expenses

If you run the business from home:

* Home office running costs
* Office furniture
* Stationery
* Printer paper
* Filing cabinets
* Pens
* Diaries

(You can only claim the work-related portion.)

Uniforms

You may be able to claim:

* Branded shirts or jackets with your business logo
* Protective clothing required for work

Ordinary everyday clothing is generally not deductible.

Training and education

If it directly relates to your current work:

* Driver training seminars
* Defensive driving courses
* Road safety conferences
* Professional development
* Industry memberships

My largest legitimate deductions are likely to be:

1. Mazda 3 running costs.
2. Fuel.
3. Servicing and tyres.
4. Insurance and registration.
5. Website and online booking software.
6. Facebook/Instagram advertising.
7. Square payment processing fees.
8. Mobile phone and internet.
9. Professional accreditation fees.
10. Accountant and bookkeeping costs

28/7/26, 7:43 pm – Bas +61 415 361 261:
Thank you,
Your information is very helpful.

28/7/26, 7:45 pm – Claudia +61 421 284 905:
My absolute pleasure! 

28/7/26, 7:48 pm – Amy Mason +61 425 124 359:
Thank you Claudia & Steve
This is exactly the direction I was hoping my question would do.

So many MDIs are unaware of the taxable costs we can claim.

This is very helpful 

28/7/26, 8:01 pm – Kirsten Bigpond +61 419 518 700:
Impressive run down. A great help to those not in the know. Bravo 

28/7/26, 8:29 pm – James Sadler +61 424 907 002:
Hi Claudia, my sister in law is an accountant and she agrees with all this. Fwiw I use an app that also logs every lesson and tracks kms done and hours spent teaching. It creates a monthly CSV and I just share it with her at the end of each month.

28/7/26, 9:58 pm – Maneet Garg +61 403 948 623:
Hi everyone! 
Just wanted to let you all know that while many of you know me as a driving instructor, accounting is actually my main profession, and I am a CPA Qualified accountant having over 15 years of experience in accounting and taxation. If you, your family, or your friends need help with tax returns, BAS, bookkeeping, business accounting, or any tax-related matters, I’d be more than happy to assist.
Thanks for all your support over the years, and please feel free to reach out anytime if you need a hand or know someone who does. 

See SADI WhatsApp group chat for image – sorry Maneet, couldn’t insert here. (I tried )
: Thanks Claudia for a comprehensive list of the expenses, good reference for our fellow MDI’s

29/7/26, 11:06 am – Daryl +61 408 811 815:
Hi can I ask who can you recommend for comprehensive insurance for a driving instructor in south Australia? Cheers Daryl
I’m currently with NRMA , but getting expensive?

29/7/26, 11:07 am – Roy Warwick (Key2Safety) +61 437 145 868: Suncorp, good price.

29/7/26, 11:07 am – Daryl +61 408 811 815:
Thanks
I got a quote from them. $1579 for a 24 Rav 4 hybrid

30/7/26, 7:00 am – Mark Fraser:
Hi All,
Supporting each other in business operation and advice is definitely “on topic” for this group. I will collate the excellent responses below and drop them across onto our community forum as part of building our member’s resource 

**Jenny Fraser here.
As Mark has been on the road all day, and hasn’t had a chance to get into the office to do the above, I thought I would at least get the chat that Amy began as it is an excellent example of what the Group does really well. Thanks all for your participation 

Discussion Topic – Preparing Clients for a Test in an unknown car.

Members were encouraged to brainstorm ideas to help prepare clients for planned new Government Practical Driving Test (PDT). Once the new system starts (some time before Mid 2027) all car driving tests will be conducted by a Government Examiner in a random Government Supplied Car. Members shared ideas about how we can best prepare clients for driving tests under the new system.

Thank you so much to everyone who attended the meeting and pitched in ideas. It was great to see the group working together.

Here is what we came up with.

Learner Preparation & Vehicle Familiarisation:

- Emphasis on understanding various handbrake types (manual, foot pedal, automatic) due to significant car-to-car differences.

- Discussion on teaching all vehicle operations during the first couple of lessons, including steering wheel adjustment, seat positioning, and indicator locations.

- Standardisation of teaching universal symbols, e.g., rectangle for rear windscreen, fan shape for front demister.

- Promoting familiarisation with diverse vehicles, including parent's, uncle's, or friend's cars, to broaden experience.

- Practice tests with different instructors and vehicles to simulate actual testing conditions.

- Reassurance to clients that similarities exist in pivot points (e.g., for parallel parking) across different car models.

- Importance of parent education and early involvement to build client confidence in new and different vehicles.

Driving Assessment Standards & Evolution:

- Current Vehicle On-Road Test (VORT) standards for mirror checks (minimum standard centre mirror) are outdated.

- CBT&A (Competency-Based Training & Assessment) standards have evolved and are more current.

- RA assessment preparation must be to current CBT&A standard. Under the new system, it will need to be to the new PDT (Practical Driving Test) standard. Just following VORT standards will not get you a pass.

- The new test system may incorporate a "cabin drill" and warm-up component, similar to Queensland's existing practice and Victoria's "prepare to drive" process.

Teaching Methodologies:

- Deliberately setting car controls incorrectly (e.g., seat too close/far, steering wheel too high/low) to encourage client problem-solving / adjustment familiarity.

- Encouraging clients to identify and articulate their own parking systems, then applying these systems to different vehicles.

- Using analogies such as "you are the car" to help clients adapt to different vehicle sizes and types.

- Suggesting the "fourth mirror" concept for reversing cameras to integrate them into observation techniques.

Logbook & Resources:

- Highlighting the importance of clients reading the blue section of their logbook early in their training.

- Recommending external resources such as road rules videos from Queensland Transport and SA RAA Give Way Practice Test  

- Emphasising the relevance of "stopping and moving off from the kerb" as it teaches fundamental skills applicable to other manoeuvres and is early introduction to System of car control

Aged Drivers & Licencing:

- Case examples of older drivers obtaining or regaining licences:

    - 68-year-old lady obtaining a licence from scratch.

    - 89-year-old gentleman regaining his licence via CBT&A for a specific purpose (to show his visiting girlfriend around Adelaide).

    - 90-year-old gentleman with fatigue issues towards the end of a driving assessment, obtaining a 20km radius licence.

- No maximum age for obtaining a learner's permit or licence in Australia.

- The process for elderly drivers is now focused on medical assessments and capability rather than age-based testing.

- Discussion on fatigue as a factor in older drivers' assessments.

Reverse Parallel Parking Strategies:

- Using consistent reference points (e.g., back door handle aligned with back tyre) across different vehicles.

- Getting clients to observe the car from the outside to understand mirror-to-wheel relationships.

- Guiding clients to understand that internal visual cues (e.g., hand proximity to kerb) are important.

- Encouraging independent problem-solving for 90-degree parking by visualising the space as a garage with walls.

- Observing that current reversing cameras have varying guideline interpretations (e.g., Corolla: parking lines; Camry: wheel lines), which can cause confusion.

- Reversing cameras are now considered a "fourth mirror" and part of the standard observation package due to changes in vehicle design and safety ratings.

Organisational Relations:

- Importance of maintaining a strong, collaborative relationship with the Department of Transport (DIT).

- Suggestion to email the reform committee with questions from the group regarding testing procedures.

- Inquiry regarding the extent to which examiners can answer client questions during a test, particularly regarding unfamiliar controls, how to adjust seat etc.

I’ve now had 2 from https://roofsign.com.au/

I love them. Nicely put together and stick to the roof really well. I’ve driven it well over 100kph on a race track and it stayed firm. The only reason I’ve bought a second is that I stupidly bought a white one and painted it back, rather than buying a black sign first off. Looks much better now :)