Drivers in their twenties are being urged to avoid booking early driving tests through third-party websites, as some shady companies are reselling slots for up to £200 each. The DVSA is cracking down on this growing ‘black market’ for driving tests.
Since the pandemic, getting a driving test has been tough, with average wait times reaching 18 weeks earlier this year. This shortage has allowed some illegal businesses to book multiple tests and resell them at inflated prices. While a standard driving test costs £62, research by the RAC found some sites charging as much as £195 for a single booking.
To make matters worse, some apps are even charging for ‘cancellation alerts,’ with premium ‘VIP Packages’ costing over £100.
Identity theft is also a growing concern, with scammers using people's details to book and resell tests. One victim, Lara, paid £162 for a black-market test, only to fail. When she tried to rebook, the DVSA blocked her account because it appeared she had booked 52 tests.
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, warned that criminals are “cheating the system” by using bots to reserve test slots faster than anyone else, making it difficult for real learners to book. He called for stricter action to stop bots from wasting test slots and leaving learners waiting months to qualify as drivers.
