The hangover from the Covid lockdowns continue to cause problems.

The DVSA announced new investigations to crack down on what it becoming a black market for driving test slots. Of course, the black market means people circumventing the legal and established systems. As previously reported, it is leading to desperate candidates paying many time the test official price to secure a test in the near future.

Your  booked

Learner drivers are forking out hundreds of pounds for driving test slots in order to jump queues and long delays.

ten delays continue despite a recruiting campaign for more examiners and extended hours of tes provision, including weekends.

In cities such as London, Cardiff and Birmingham, there’s currently a six-month wait for driving tests. This is the case when booking individually via the official DVSA booking system .

A BBC investigation revealed that companies are using automated computer software to monitor part of the DVSA system meant for driving schools. It allows them to grab test slots as soon as new dates are added, or existing bookings are cancelled.

While bookings are made using a provisional licence numbers, it doesn’t prevent individuals taking advantage. A secondary market has sprung up because bookings can be swapped between candidates on the DVSA system.

High price of success

The BBC Panorama investigation found companies and websites offering inflated test prices for upcoming test slots. The report believes some driving instructors are getting in on the act by offering fast-tracked tests at inflated prices.

Booking a test through the DVSA should cost £62, rising to £75 for weekends or evening tests. However, the BBC discovered tests being offered by third party websites and on Facebook Marketplace.

Test dates were being guaranteed for candidates within three weeks by one advertiser. It claimed driving instructors working with him are making an extra £400-£600 per week selling on tests to their pupils.

As part of the investigation, the BBC created a fake driving school on the DVSA website. It discovered it took five minutes to register with no authentication required.

Protection needed

The BBC say the system is flawed because it ‘relies on trust’. It is not illegal to book a test in someone else’s name unless you don’t have their consent.

The DVSA is working on investigating the issues and strengthening protocols to reduce the chances of such profiteering schemes of success.

You can read more about the BBC investigation here.