Criminal activities have emerged that exploit the current backlog of driving tests, offering services to individuals frustrated by long wait times. Fraudsters claim they can expedite the process of obtaining driving licenses by allowing applicants to bypass required examinations for a fee. These scammers purport to have inside connections within the government testing and licensing agencies.
In one instance, a fraudster solicited £850 for a driving license, presenting a fictional team of DVSA-certified instructors who would manage the applicant’s submission. They asserted that the individual would be enrolled at a test center without needing to take the requisite theory or practical tests, instead claiming that their affiliates would submit results electronically to facilitate the issuance of the license.
However, both the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have cautioned that these offers are scams aimed at collecting money and personal information. They stress that any documents that recipients might receive would likely be counterfeit. Owning a fraudulent license can lead to significant legal penalties, including potential imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Currently, average waiting times for driving tests in Great Britain hover around 22 weeks, with drivers in London facing waits of up to 24 weeks. A substantial increase in the number of practical driving tests booked, rising from 579,138 to 668,128 in a year, has been reported by the DVLA. Concurrently, data from TSB indicates that reported losses related to driving lesson and test scams have increased, with victims averaging losses of £244 each.
Fraudulent schemes predominantly operate through social media platforms, where prospective victims are approached with offers to circumvent traditional licensing processes. Authorities recommend reporting any suspected scams to the police or Action Fraud. Both the DVLA and DVSA emphasize that they have no verified connections to these scams, which they treat with utmost seriousness. Multiple social media accounts promoting such fraudulent services have faced removal due to policy violations regarding the promotion of scams and forgery.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/oct/12/scammers-exploiting-driving-test-delays-great-britain