Would-be drivers are being scammed out of hundreds of pounds after buying fake UK licenses advertised on TikTok without ever taking a test.
Fraudsters are using short videos to pitch “driving made easy,” asking interested learners to contact them on WhatsApp. They promise full licences, including theory, practical and the photocard, for up to £800, sometimes claiming they have inside contacts at the DVLA to make it look legitimate.
There are dozens of these accounts online. In one WhatsApp exchange, a scammer quoted £650 for a full licence, saying an “inside job” at the DVLA would take the tests for you. Others demanded £700, claiming they help people who’ve repeatedly failed theory tests. One seller asked for a £300 deposit to “secure your details” on the DVLA database and said the process would take up to seven days.
Some accounts even offer to lift bans for about £600 or remove penalty points, actions that would be illegal and could lead to prosecution. HGV licences and other services were also advertised at inflated prices, with removal of three penalty points priced at £200 in some messages.
One TikTok clip showed a young woman who passed her test, but the post falsely suggested she had done so without taking the exam. The clip gained 120,000 views. While some commenters raised doubts, many privately asked “how much” and “how can I do it.”
Learners are under pressure. Theory pass rates have fallen from about 65 per cent in 2007/08 to 44.2 per cent in 2022/23, and long waits for practical tests make legitimate routes slow and costly. That climate makes quick, illegal shortcuts tempting.
The DVLA says the accounts are not connected to the organisation and are recognised scams that attempt to obtain payment or personal information. A spokesperson warned that any documents obtained through these channels would be counterfeit and urged anyone who thinks they’ve fallen victim to contact Action Fraud and the police. So far, investigators have found no evidence that DVLA staff are involved.
Experts say financial strain and frustration fuel demand. Aseem Munshi, founder of financial firm Updraft, warned that when people are worried about costs or long test queues, they become vulnerable to quick-fix offers. “Scammers are clever at exploiting frustration,” he said. “The only safe, legal way to get a licence is to pass your test. No social media account can shortcut that process, and paying them could cost you far more.”
A separate problem is a growing black market for driving test slots. Long waits, sometimes as much as six months, have led unofficial brokers to sell appointments for around £200 via third-party sites, Facebook groups and WhatsApp. These brokers reportedly use instructors’ reference numbers to book slots, then change the details to match the buyer, charging far above the official fee so learners can take a test much sooner.
