A BBC investigation has uncovered the scale of illegal driving test touting, revealing how organised intermediaries are exploiting shortages in the UK’s driving test system.

The result is learners being charged hundreds of pounds for appointments that should be freely available.

It’s also furthering the problems of what appears to be a dysfunctional test booking system, piling even more stress onto learners.

A bot’s life

The investigation found that touts are using automated software, multiple online accounts and bulk bookings to snap up practical driving test slots as soon as they are released by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

These slots are then resold to desperate learner drivers at vastly inflated prices, often through social media platforms and messaging apps.

According to the BBC, learners reported being charged £200 to £300 or more for a single test booking, compared with the official DVSA fee of £62 on weekdays and £75 at weekends.

In some cases, touts demanded payment upfront with no guarantee that the test would actually take place.

Tired of waiting

Driving instructors told the BBC that the practice has become increasingly common, with many students turning to touts after struggling for months to find a test.

Waiting times for practical driving tests have lengthened significantly since the pandemic, creating what instructors describe as a “perfect storm” for exploitation.

Undercover reporting revealed how touts openly advertise “guaranteed tests” at short notice, often claiming to have insider access or special systems.

In reality, the investigation found that many rely on bots to repeatedly refresh the DVSA booking website, giving them an unfair advantage over ordinary users.

Some touts claim to work with more than 1,000 instructors, using their logins to gain access to the system.

Evidence gathered by the journalists included WhatsApp conversations, screenshots from the booking system, and offers of guaranteed monthly payments for login access.

One tout offered £100 a month, plus the opportunity for instructors to resell tests to their own pupils for profit.

In other cases, instructors were allegedly offered £250 a month and referral bonuses for recruiting colleagues.

Minority madness

Carly Brookfield, Chief Executive of the Driving Instructors Association (DIA), speaking to the BBC, said such schemes represent “an own goal for driving instructors that brings the profession into disrepute”.

Brookfield stressed that this behaviour involves a small minority whose actions harm the wider industry.

She confirmed that some instructors have already had their licences revoked as a result of similar activity.

The DVSA told the BBC that driving test touting is illegal and that it is taking action to disrupt the practice.

Measures already in place include identifying and cancelling suspicious bulk bookings, blocking automated software, and working with police and technology companies to tackle fraud.

A DVSA spokesperson said: “We are committed to making sure that driving tests are booked fairly and that learners are not exploited. Anyone found abusing the system risks having their bookings cancelled.”

However, campaigners and industry figures say enforcement has struggled to keep pace with the scale of the problem.

The BBC investigation suggests that some touts move to new accounts when blocked, continuing to operate with little risk.

Paying up

Learners featured in the investigation described the emotional and financial toll of the situation.

One learner said they felt they had “no choice” but to pay a tout after their test was repeatedly cancelled and rescheduled.

Another said they lost money after paying for a test that never materialised.

Driving instructors have also raised concerns that touting undermines road safety.

They say learners may feel pressured to take tests before they are fully ready, simply because a rare slot has become available at a high cost.

This can lead to higher failure rates and added stress for candidates.

The BBC investigation also highlighted the role of social media platforms, where many touts advertise openly.

Some posts promise tests within days, while others encourage learners to message privately for prices.

Critics say platforms need to do more to remove illegal adverts and prevent repeat offenders from returning.

Growing concerns

Transport safety experts argue that the root cause of the problem lies in the severe shortage of available tests.

While acknowledging the DVSA’s efforts to recruit more examiners and increase capacity, they say demand continues to outstrip supply, leaving learners vulnerable.

In response to the investigation, the government said it is working with the DVSA to reduce waiting times and crack down on illegal activity.

Ministers have previously pledged to tackle driving test fraud and have urged learners not to use touts.

The BBC’s findings have renewed calls for tougher penalties for those exploiting the system and for further reforms to how driving tests are released and booked.

With 642,000 learners waiting for tests at the end of October and average delays of 21 weeks, the investigation raises serious questions about the driving test booking system, its fairness, consumer protection and even road safety.

There is growing concern that the current measures instigated by the DVSA are not enough to stop touts profiting from learners’ frustration and expose serious issues of digital exploitation.