The UK’s driving test system is grappling with an underground market that’s turning a public service into a lucrative black-market operation. Recent BBC investigations have revealed that touts are offering driving instructors up to £250 a month for their official login details, bulk-booking limited test slots, and then reselling them to desperate learners for up to £500 per test—a price almost seven times the official fee.
This isn’t just a story about a few bad actors. It’s a warning siren for anyone who cares about fairness, access, and integrity in public services. Let’s break down why this matters, what most people are missing, and what needs to change.
Why This Matters
- Systemic Exploitation: The scheme targets the very heart of the driving test system, exploiting loopholes in the DVSA’s booking platform and turning a public good into a private cash cow.
- Worsening Inequality: Learners from less affluent backgrounds are being priced out, forced to wait months or pay extortionate rates to sit their driving test.
- Long-Term Backlog: With 642,000 learners on the waiting list and average waits at 21 weeks (sometimes up to six months), the touting racket only compounds delays, pushing legitimate candidates further back.
- Data Privacy Risks: Touts use harvested license details, potentially breaching data protection laws and exposing learners to identity risks.
What Most People Miss
- It’s Not Just a Scapegoat Problem: While some instructors sell their details, it’s the lack of robust digital controls in the DVSA’s Online Business Service (OBS) that enables this scale of abuse. Hundreds of instructors’ logins are reportedly being used—sometimes unknowingly.
- Official Inaction: Despite warnings to DVSA leadership as early as February, many touts flagged to authorities are still operating. The recent closure of 346 OBS accounts is a start, but the market persists.
- Tech-Driven Scalping: Touts are using bots and automated systems to snap up slots the instant they appear, making it nearly impossible for ordinary learners to compete.
- Learner Desperation: A DVSA survey found 1 in 3 learners now turn to third-party booking services. For many, it’s the only option to avoid months-long waits.
Key Takeaways
- Bulk-booking and reselling test slots is not new, but the scale and sophistication have grown post-pandemic.
- Social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook are fueling the underground marketplace with hundreds of test slots posted for sale daily.
- The Department for Transport plans to restrict test bookings to learners only (not instructors) from Spring, aiming to clamp down on abuse—but this may only push touts to find new workarounds unless digital systems are overhauled.
- Frustration is boiling over: Instructors and families alike say the system is rigged, with honest instructors losing out and learners facing financial and emotional stress.
Comparisons and Industry Context
- Ticket Scalping Parallels: The situation mirrors how ticket touts use bots to grab concert or sporting event tickets, then resell at huge markups. Both cases highlight the need for secure, fair digital booking systems.
- International Perspective: Other countries have faced similar scams in public test and examination systems, but the UK’s backlog and high demand make it a particularly fertile ground for exploitation.
- Regulatory Response: The DVSA’s slow reaction is reminiscent of other government agencies struggling to keep up with digital fraud—underscoring the need for agile, tech-savvy oversight.
Action Steps and Practical Implications
- Upgrade Booking Security: Multi-factor authentication and tighter digital controls on instructor accounts are long overdue.
- Transparency and Communication: The DVSA must more openly publish its progress in tackling touts and account closures.
- Learner Safeguards: Consider hardship schemes or priority slots for those waiting longest or unable to pay tout prices.
- Platform Accountability: Social media companies should do more to prevent illegal sales on their platforms.
Important Quotes With Context
“These people are taking advantage of kids and I don’t want my kids’ friends being taken advantage of by these guys.” — Ian Pinto, frustrated parent
“One of my students just failed and he was in tears because his parents are going to have to pay over £500 for another test. It’s a vicious cycle.” — Jag Singh, driving instructor
The Bottom Line
Driving test touts are not a niche nuisance—they’re a symptom of a public system buckling under demand, outdated tech, and insufficient oversight. If the government’s upcoming reforms are to make a real difference, they must go beyond surface-level fixes and address the digital vulnerabilities at the root of this crisis.