BBC Investigation: Touts Bulk-Buying and Reselling UK Driving Tests

Driving Test Backlog and Touts

• 🚗 Touts are exploiting the UK driving test system by bulk-booking slots and reselling them at inflated prices, causing significant delays for learners.
• 💰 Driving instructors are being offered kickbacks of up to £250 a month to sell their official test-booking login details to these touts.
• 📈 Learners are facing waiting times of up to 21 weeks, with some needing licenses for employment or study, making the inflated prices seem like the only option.

How the Scheme Operates

• 💻 Touts use instructor-only booking systems (OBS) and learners' provisional licenses to book tests, which are then sold for up to £500, far exceeding the official £75 cost.
• 🤖 Some touts boast of working with over a thousand instructors and using automated bots to secure test slots faster than humans.
• 🌐 Investigations identified touts operating in major cities like Birmingham, London, and Manchester, with evidence of widespread activity on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook.

Impact on Learners and Instructors

• 📉 The delays are so severe that some learners are giving up trying to book tests, while others postpone lessons, impacting instructors' livelihoods.
• 😠 Legitimate driving instructors are frustrated by the system's exploitation, with some considering leaving the profession due to the strain.
• ⚠️ The BBC confronted Anil Ahmed, identified as a tout named AAN online, who denied the allegations, calling them a "complete fabrication."

Upcoming Changes and Advice

• 🗓️ New rules are planned for spring 2026, allowing only learners to book their own tests, aiming to curb tout activity and reduce backlogs.
• 💡 Until then, learners are advised to use the official booking system, but many may feel compelled to pay touts due to urgent needs and long waiting times.
• 🔍 The DVSA is aware of the issue and stated that instructors involved in such schemes may be investigated.