DVSA issues urgent warning to motorists amid 'serious' driving test problem leaving thousands out of pocket

The incident saw motorists fork out thousands to help get on UK roads quicker, and comes at a time when backlogs for driving are at an all-time high.

A spokesperson for the DVSA confirmed that recent data demonstrated "a serious and growing problem with this type of fraud".

The DVSA emphasised that fraudulent accounts and websites attempting to secure payments or personal details have no connection to the official agency.

"We take all allegations about test fraud extremely seriously and fully investigate reports of any individuals who attempt to circumvent the testing process," the spokesperson stated.

It has called on the public to report questionable social media profiles advertising driving services directly to the relevant platforms.

The agency stressed that these scams represent recognised attempts to defraud learner drivers seeking legitimate testing opportunities.

New banking analysis by TSB has revealed that fraudulent activity targeting prospective drivers has surged by 211 per cent over the past year.

More worryingly, the data found that between January and August 2025, typical victims lost £244 to these schemes.

The bank's fraud analytics team identified social media platforms as the primary vehicle for these scams, with nearly all recorded incidents originating from online networks.

Young people and parents seeking driving instruction have been particularly affected by the sharp increase in fraudulent activity.

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Alex Robinson, TSB's Head of Fraud Analytics, said: "Fraudsters have really upped their attempts to target learner drivers with offers of driving lessons and fast-tracked tests that simply don't exist.

"Almost all of these scams start from social media platforms, so we'd advise only paying for a service if you can verify it first."

Facebook emerged as the dominant platform for driving test fraud, accounting for 56 per cent of all financial losses associated with these schemes.

Meta's other platforms contributed significantly to the problem, with Instagram accounting for nine per cent of cases and WhatsApp representing eight per cent. Other major social networks showed similar levels of fraudulent activity, including Snapchat (nine per cent) and TikTok (eight per cent).

Criminals have been reported to employ various tactics to defraud vulnerable learner drivers across different platforms. In one example, one victim transferred £500 through TikTok for a package of 20 driving lessons, only to lose all contact with the supposed instructor after payment cleared.

Scammers have also established counterfeit DVSA websites as part of their operations. Multiple customers have reported paying £350 for driving tests after receiving offers via WhatsApp, only to have the fraudsters block all communication immediately after receiving payment.

Current booking pressures may be contributing to learners' vulnerability to these schemes. DVSA figures from May indicated that 603,352 practical driving tests had been scheduled, representing a 16 per cent rise from 521,190 during the corresponding period in 2024.

The agency's statistics also revealed that test completions in early 2025 dropped by 15 per cent compared with the previous year's first four months. These backlogs potentially create conditions where desperate learners seek alternative routes to secure appointments.

The DVSA confirmed that GOV.UK remains the sole official booking service for driving tests. Legitimate theory tests cost £23, while practical tests are priced at £62 on weekdays and £75 at weekends.