DfT boss slams 'dodgy' websites re-selling driving tests

The UK's new transport secretary has hit out at websites re-selling driving tests for a profit, calling them "unacceptable".

As learners are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of tests available, many are turning to online websites and social media to buy their driving tests at a higher price.

These tests are booked using bots. They're able to enter information faster than a human, meaning any available tests are quickly taken by those looking to sell the slot.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has called this practice "unacceptable", and said that tackling the DVSA backlog was a "key priority" for the new Labour government.

Wait times are also getting longer thanks to an increase in learners booking tests before they're ready.

The DVSA says that 8.2% of learners are booking a practical test before taking any driving lessons.

An extra 145,000 tests were made available between October 2023 and March 2024 in an attempt to try to tackle the growing backlog.

Despite that, 65,534 driving tests were cancelled in the year up to March 2024 with annual leave, industrial action, bad weather, examiner sickness and coronavirus cited as reasons for cancelling.

Cities with the longest wait-times revealed

After a Freedom of Information request from the BBC, the DVSA have revealed that driving test wait times are 4 and a half months on average across all of England, Scotland and Wales, as of May 2024.

It's also been revealed that a staggering 81 of the 242 test centres (33.5%) across England, Scotland and Wales have wait times of 24 weeks, or 6 months.

Most of the test centres with the longest waiting times are based in the South of England, with several in London appearing on the list.

Cities such as Bristol, Bradford, Portsmouth and Southampton are also struggling with test-centre wait times of 24 weeks.

According to evidence seen by the BBC, brokers are using WhatsApp, Snapchat and other social media platforms to sell driving tests for upwards of £200. Desperate learners who need to pass their test quickly for their personal or work lives are forking out the money to avoid waiting for months.

The DVSA has said it is using artificial intelligence to try to prevent tests from being booked by bots, and is actively banning and suspending accounts who exhibit suspicious activity.