UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A severe shortage of official driving test availability in the UK has fueled a flourishing black market for driving tests and licences, leaving many learner drivers like Ruth expressing a reluctance to drive after discovering illegal trade and scams. Fraudulent activities include touts pre-booking tests to resell at high prices and offering fake licences on social media platforms like TikTok.
Black Market Thriving Amid Driving Test Shortages
According to a recent article by BBC News and further investigations shared by the SW Londoner, a significant backlog in driving test appointments caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has created fertile ground for a black market in the UK driving test system. “The shortage arose primarily because many driving instructors left the profession or reduced hours during the pandemic while government examinations were paused,” reported Ruth, a learner who discovered the extent of this illegal trade.
This black market involves touts buying up large blocks of test appointments from official booking systems and reselling them at inflated prices, sometimes reaching hundreds or thousands of pounds. Additionally, fake full UK driving licences are being sold on platforms like TikTok, with sellers charging prices around £750 with no test or driving requirements.
Impact on Learner Drivers Like Ruth
Ruth expressed her frustration and fear after encountering these scams: “At this stage I don’t want to drive. Discovering the black market made me feel unsafe and unconfident about even attempting the test honestly,” she told the SW Londoner. Reports from BBC News revealed many others have fallen victim to similar scams, having paid large sums for fake appointments or licences that ultimately prove worthless.
Emma Kirwan of The Times highlighted that almost 700,000 people are currently on the waiting list for driving tests in the UK, leading to significant exploitation by criminals. More than £134,000 has been lost to scammers this year alone by hopeful drivers seeking to bypass the long wait times.
Government and Law Enforcement Response
The government and DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) have acknowledged the problem but continue to face challenges in resolving the backlog promptly. Trading Standards and law enforcement have stepped up crackdowns, seizing fake goods and shutting down illegal operations, but experts warn the problem is growing due to the scale of demand and criminal entrepreneurship.
In some cases, learners are resorting to buying appointments or licences through unofficial, illegal channels simply out of desperation a choice that carries high financial and legal risks.
Broader Black Market in the UK Economy
This illegal trade in driving tests fits into wider concerns about the UK’s black market economy, which is estimated to be worth nearly a quarter trillion pounds, including counterfeit goods, illegal immigration, and other illicit activities. Experts stress that this underground economy not only cheats law-abiding citizens out of money but also threatens public safety.
Call for Urgent Reforms
Voices from Parliament and learner driver groups are calling for urgent reforms to increase the number of available driving test slots, improved regulation of driving instructors, and stronger social media policing to prevent licences and appointments from being sold illegally online.
Ruth’s reluctance to participate in the driving system after discovering these illegal practices epitomises the growing disillusionment and risk faced by thousands of UK learner drivers.
