It’s one of a scam... touts sell driving test slots on black market

TOUTS are buying driving test bookings and charging learners hundreds to dodge waiting lists.

Candidates are forced to pay up to £300 more to online resellers for earlier dates than those available on the official system.

Touts use platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Telegram to advertise the slots.

It comes amid a backlog of available dates caused by the pandemic and examiner strikes.

Exploiting

Practical driving test slots are released 24 weeks in advance by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and sell out in minutes.

It costs £62 to book a weekday test via the government website, or £75 for an evening, weekend or bank holiday slot.

Driving instructors and schools have privileged booking rights and are allowed to swap tests between candidates.

Previously, touts could register in the DVSA system as a driving school without verification.

Some resellers use bots to book slots before learners have a chance to secure them.

Ed Voller, 55, a driving instructor from Ipswich said the town’s test centre had become a target for touts.

He told a Sunday newspaper that young people are encouraged to book their tests in centres many miles from home. He added: “Somebody in Ipswich can’t get a test because somebody from Sheffield has got [a slot here], and somebody from Blackpool has taken their slot.”

Last year, the DVSA conducted 1.67 million driving tests.

According to internal polling, 26.6 per cent of learners did not book through the official system.

It suggests 444,000 tests were booked through the grey market.

DVSA chief executive Loveday

Ryder said: “DVSA is committed to tackling the reselling of driving tests at profit.”

Ms Ryder said the DVSA has “zero tolerance” for those exploiting learners.

“We have changed the rules to prevent anyone from selling tests at profit, deploying new bot protection to stop automated systems from buying tests unfairly.

“We will remove the accounts of those who break the rules.”