Driving test reseller scams on the rise

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Fri, 28 Mar 2025

Experts are warning frustrated learner drivers to be on the lookout for driving test reseller scams which are reportedly on the rise.

Lloyds Bank says there has been a 92% increase in driving lessons and test scams in the past six months.

With some learner drivers now waiting over a year for a test slot, many are turning to third-party services that claim to offer earlier bookings for a fee.

Some resellers, who have previously block-booked driving test slots, simply charge inflated prices. There are reports of some learners paying £300 or more just to secure a test sooner.

The standard driving test fee is £62.

However, others operate outright scams, including taking money without securing a test, misusing personal data and simply disappearing without trace.

EzLicence is an online driving lesson marketplace and its expert Joe Parry says that while they’re risky, such resellers are not illegal.

"Many of these resellers exploit loopholes to hoard and resell test slots, contributing to worsened delays and driving up prices for everyone."

"This lack of regulation has also created the perfect environment for fraudsters to offer these serves and simply take money then disappear."

Parry says that thousands of driving instructors have already been calling for stricter regulations on test resales – but the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has yet to act.  

"Instead, they are relying on technology to combat test slot hoarding… many instructors, however, argue that the simplest solution is to ban resale altogether."

Parry advises frustrated learner drivers take their theory test as soon as possible, then book their test early to minimise the waiting time while they take lessons.

Some driving instructors also have the ability to book tests on learners’ behalf, which can secure test slots sooner.

However, if desperate learners are considering using a reseller, Parry urges extreme caution.

He advises that people always check independent reviews, avoid sharing personal details unless absolutely necessary and remember that none of these services are officially affiliated with the DVSA.

In other words, and mindful of the recent 92% increase in scams, be very careful indeed.

Ask HJ

What is a suitable electric car for a driving instructor?

I am currently undergoing training to become a driving instructor. Once I have qualified, I am looking to buy my own vehicle rather than lease from one of the major national driving schools. I am looking for a vehicle that is totally electric as opposed to a hybrid and that has lots of safety features such as front collision prevention as this will be crucial for instructing learners, even though I plan to have dual controls fitted. My budget is about £10,000, I'm not that worried about vacant age providing it is no more than 7 years old. What electric vehicles would you recommend that would be suitable for driving instruction which have lots of safety features as standard as opposed to optional extras which might be difficult to find used?

There are plenty of electric cars available that come with plenty of safety features, but things such as autonomous emergency braking are only standard on more recent vehicles, and with a budget of £10,000 it means you will have a limited choice of used EVs. However, cars like the Volkswagen e-Golf, Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq may be available within your budget, so it would be a matter of checking the specification of the available examples to see which have the safety systems you need.

Answered by David Ross

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