Leaner riders and drivers warned of test scam

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is warning learner riders and drivers to avoid copycat websites and save money by using GOV.UK for booking driving tests. This test scam is targeting riders and drivers who are often short of cash, and looking to get their first transport.

Copycat websites offer to book theory and practical tests, and can appear to be the official agency, but charge a premium for their services. Some of these websites appear in adverts above the results in search engines.

Some charge up to £30 just for booking a test, on top of the test fee itself, and a ‘pass protection’ fee with the promise of a free retest that very few customers actually qualify to use. These websites are not able to show live appointment availability and customers will not receive instant confirmation of a booking.

When booking a test through the official booking service on GOV.UK candidates will only pay for the cost of the test and will get instant confirmation of their appointment.

A theory test theory test costs £25 and a driving test costs £62 when booked through GOV.UK.

DVSA Chief Executive, Alastair Peoples, said:

“It is unacceptable that some of these websites try to trick learner drivers into paying an extra fee to book their driving test.

“We are working alongside other government departments to ensure that ads for misleading websites are removed. We want to make sure our customers are aware of the risks of these websites and know how to avoid them.”

The Government is already taking action to tackle rogue websites which masquerade as legitimate Government services, exaggerate the nature of the services they provide, or deliberately underplay the services that people can get for free or at a lower cost from official sources. For example, the Government is working with organisations such as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB), Which? and search engines to raise awareness of the issue and to ensure enforcement action is taken where appropriate.

If you have used an unofficial website you can report adverts in search engines that have misled you by visiting www.gov.uk/misleadingwebsites