Drivers warned not to fall for common con as learners pay up to £400 for test

The learner driver insurance company Veygo has warned motorists not to fall for common scams when they book their driving test.

The company had found that online bots are automatically booking driving test spaces to resell to learners, with some slots advertised at up to £400.

James Armstrong, CEO of Veygo, described how the scammers are taking advantage of the lengthy backlogs that learner drivers face in booking a test.

He explained: “These scammers are profiting from learners’ eagerness to get on the road and the DVSA [Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency] test backlog, by attempting to resell these test slots.

“With over 1.68million tests taken in Britain each year, these fraudsters are sadly pocketing hundreds of thousands of pounds in profits – and worse; not all these test slots advertised will even be real.”

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According to the DVSA, over 1.68 million driving tests took place between April 2022 and May 2023, an increase of about 10 percent compared to 12 months earlier.

However, there is still a significant backlog for those learning to drive, caused in part by an increase in demand following the Covid pandemic.

The DVSA also noted that lower customer confidence in the availability of driving test slots has led to motorists booking tests further in advance, often before they feel prepared for it.

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James added that motorists who are looking to book their driving test should always use the DVSA’s own website.

He advised: “To avoid falling victim to online scams, learners should only book a test directly through the official DVSA website.

“Ignore so-called deals and offers on social media platforms, as scammers are looking to capitalise on learners who are impatient and eager to pass soon.”

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Despite some learner driver’s willingness to spend up to £400 for their driving test, Veygo also highlighted that the cost of learning to drive has increased.

On average, driving lessons in the UK cost £35 per hour, with the majority of learners needing 45 hours of professional education before they can pass their test.

In all, the company noted that motorists typically spend £1,575 on driving lessons, in addition to the typical cost of £62 for a practical test.

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