Ads for fake driving licences found on Facebook and Instagram
A snapshot investigation by Which? has uncovered a host of dodgy, most likely scam, adverts claiming to sell UK driving licences for as much as £600 – without the need for tests.
While some of the ads we found claim they’re compliant with the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), official UK driving licences can only be acquired after passing driving tests accredited by the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Read on to find out more about the dodgy driving licence ads circulating on social media.
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Fake driving licence ads
A series of dubious ads posted by ‘UK Theory test driver’s license DVLA’ claim to offer a ‘registered driving license’ without a test in ‘just a few working days’.
The advert Which? found claimed to offer a licence for learner drivers who’d failed their theory and practical tests many times.
Which? contacted the Facebook page behind the advert and asked them how to acquire a driving licence. Within seconds it replied to us: ‘To clarify, our full license package includes both the theory and practical test certificates. We have a direct system registration process, so there are no exams or tests required.’
‘Once we update your information in the DVLA system, your license or permit will be printed and sent to your address within 4 to 5 days. Our licenses are registered and checked by the DVLA system, ensuring their authenticity. And it will cost £600.’
Another ad Which? came across was promoted on Instagram and claimed to provide a UK driving licence as well as remove licence bans and points.
It also claimed to be fully registered with its services 'confirmed' by the DVLA.
We messaged the page behind this Instagram ad – the person who replied told us they could help us get a driver’s licence without sitting the driving tests. They went on to say that they were a DVLA agent and that what they were doing was a ‘back-door activity’.
They also told us: ‘For it to be authentic I’ll need to have you registered for the theory exams and also for the practicals. I’ll take care of the results. Then I’ll proceed with the license. Your license will be ready in 6-10 days.’
Applying for a UK driving licence
Which? contacted the DVLA with examples of some of the scam ads we saw – it confirmed that these ads are not connected to the DVLA and are recognised scams that attempt to obtain payment or personal information.
Which? also contacted the DVSA, which carries out driving tests. It told us that it receives many reports of illegal services relating to driving test fraud on social media platforms.
It also told us that the vast majority of these services are scams used to extort money from people desperate for a licence that they’ll never receive.
The DVSA said: ‘Any tests booked outside of the official DVSA booking site could be a scam and may result in candidates not having a test slot.
'We urge anyone to report any tests offered on social media to us. Learners should only take their driving test if they are completely ready to pass.’
Driving licences can be applied for and renewed on the Gov.uk website. Third-party services do exist, but you will end up paying more for your application and you could end up using a dodgy service.
Those learning to drive will need to apply for a provisional licence before they start driving lessons or take their theory and practical tests.
You can search for accredited driving schools, instructors and lessons on Gov.uk. Learner drivers can also use the official DVSA site to book a driving test.
If you’re nearly 70, you should receive a D46P application form through the post and be able to renew your licence for free. This can also be done online.
Avoiding and reporting driving licence scams
Scam ads like the examples we've found highlights the importance of the new Online Safety Act, which became legislation in October 2023. Under this new legislation, online platforms such as Facebook, Google and Instagram will be legally obliged to remove harmful content, which will include scams and fraudulent content among others.
Which? reported the to ads Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. It told us that it reviewed the accounts we shared and removed all violating content depicting the sale of fraudulent documents.
Meta said: 'We do not allow fraudulent activity on our platforms, including the selling of forged documents. When we identify this kind of activity we take action – removing content and, as with this case, disabling accounts as necessary.'
To report a scam group, page or profile on Facebook, select the three dots on the right-hand side of the page and click ‘report’.
Similarly, on Instagram, you can press the three dots in the top right corner of a post or profile and select ‘report’.
If you become the victim of a scam, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Action Fraud or call the police on 101 if you’re in Scotland.
