Nayana Mena and Ava Devlin are two learner drivers expressing their frustration over the long wait times for practical driving tests. In response to these delays, many are turning to “dodgy sites” that resell driving tests for profit, a practice deemed “unacceptable” by the UK’s Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh.
With the average wait time now reaching four-and-a-half months across England, Scotland, and Wales, many learners are booking tests through brokers who block-book and resell appointments for hundreds of pounds. Haigh stated that addressing this backlog is a “key priority” for the Labour government.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) encourages learners to book tests only through the official government website. While reselling tests is not illegal, the DVSA has pointed out that it “exploits” learners who are eager to get their tests done.
The official cost for a driving test through the DVSA website is £62, but many brokers utilize automated software to secure available test slots quickly, allowing them to sell these dates at a premium.
Nayana Mena, a BBC producer, shared her experience of booking a test through a broker on Snapchat, paying £150 to take the test within just a couple of weeks. She remarked, “I felt like I was a pawn in this game,” highlighting that many of her friends have faced similar issues.
After nearly falling victim to a scam when another broker asked for her bank details, Nayana relied on brokers to quickly arrange new practical tests after failing twice before ultimately passing. “I spent thousands over the course of a year, and it was really frustrating. I cried to my friend about it and was close to giving up driving,” she added.
This ongoing issue has sparked significant concern, with Josie Hannett and Alex Bish from the BBC South East Investigations Team, alongside Jonathan Fagg from BBC News, shedding light on the ethical dilemmas surrounding the reselling of driving tests.