Driving instructors offered monthly kickbacks of £250 by test touts

A BBC investigation has revealed that driving instructors are being offered monthly payments of up to 250 in exchange for their official test-booking login details. These credentials are used by resellers to secure driving tests in bulk, which are then sold to learners on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook for prices reaching 500, far above the official cost of 75.

This black-market activity creates extra obstacles for learners trying to book tests through legitimate channels and worsens already lengthy waiting times. Evidence indicates that Loveday Ryder, the outgoing head of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), was informed of such operations as early as February, yet some sellers continue to operate.

The DVSA stated it does not comment on individual complaints but emphasized a zero-tolerance approach toward exploitation of learners.

Resellers have been identified in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and the Home Counties. Investigators posing as instructors on WhatsApp were offered monthly payments for their login details to the DVSAs Online Business Service (OBS), a system instructors use to book tests. One reseller claimed partnerships with over 1,000 instructors, while another, known as Anil Ahmed or "Ahadeen," said he recruited two instructors per week. These claims could not be independently verified.

While no specific instructors have been confirmed as participants, the high volume of tests being resold and images of OBS screens shared online suggest that hundreds of instructors may be involved. Additionally, 30 instructors across England, Scotland, and Wales reported hearing about test slots being sold at inflated rates, with ten stating they had direct contact with resellers or knew colleagues who had.

As of late October, 642,000 learners in Great Britain were awaiting a test, with an average waiting period of 21 weeks, according to DVSA data. In Northern Ireland, waits can extend up to six months. Many learners turn to resellers out of frustration, and a DVSA survey suggested around one in three learners have used third-party services to book tests.

To tackle this, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced changes effective from spring: only learners, not instructors, will be able to book test slots. Instructors have welcomed the Department of Transports plan but want assurance that rogue teachers will be eliminated. They report that the bulk booking and resale of tests has worsened significantly over the years.

Investigations uncovered active communities on Facebook, WhatsApp, and Snapchat where hundreds of test slots were posted daily for up to 500. Resellers use learners license information to book slots, which may breach data protection laws and DVSA regulations. Instructors and parents have expressed frustration at having to resort to resellers.

One parent, Ian Pinto from St Albans, shared that his children have been trying to secure tests for two years and described the touts practices as taking advantage of young learners. A top reseller, "Ahadeen," was linked to Anil Ahmed, who claimed to recruit instructors weekly and run staff accounts to book tests continuously, offering payments of 100 per month per instructor.

Other resellers, including Khalid in the West Midlands and Jamal in the Home Counties, also offer instructors monthly payments and access to automated tools for booking multiple tests. Instructors have reported these activities to the DVSA, but some touts continue to operate.

The DVSA confirmed that 346 OBS accounts were closed for terms violations as of 17 November. The DfT plans to enforce further changes next spring to curb abuse, but until then learners may feel compelled to pay resellers.

At busy centers like Goodmayes in East London, learners report paying hundreds of pounds to secure test slots. Driving instructors indicate that nearly all students feel forced to use resellers, creating a cycle of high costs and stress.

Author: Connor Blake