Brits urged to make one check before booking driving test as scams skyrocket

Young motorists planning to book their driving test have been urged to keep vigilant and follow three tips that can help them avoid a scam that is growing in popularity.

Driving test waiting times recently hit a record high in the UK, with the average motorist waiting a staggering 20 weeks for a chance to receive their driving licence in February 2025 - an increase of six weeks compared to 2024 figures.

As a result, a number of scammers are attempting to trick learners into booking a fake test or lessons at an inflated price, with the accident compensation experts claims.co.uk recommending drivers always check the address of the driving school.

They advised: "Every online business needs a registered address for legal purposes. Before paying money towards driving lessons or tests, people should confirm the driving school’s physical business address by visiting the premises or using Google Street View.

"This is more reliable than a website as scammers can easily replicate an existing school’s information."

According to a study by Lloyds Bank, scams surrounding driving lessons and practical tests have increased by 92 percent in the past six months.

However, drivers can help to identify any potential scams when finding lessons by checking if the company has a physical business address.

All companies offering goods and services in the UK need to have a business address, which should be possible to confirm on the Government's website and visible via Google Street View.

Similarly, claims.co.uk recommended that drivers who see social media adverts for driving tests or cut-price lessons think twice before they make a booking.

They added: "Lloyds Bank has reported a growing number of driving test and lessons scams originating from social media.

"By advertising cheap lessons and short-term promotions, scammers can convince people to hand over their financial information without taking the proper precautions. People should be wary of deals found on social media that sound too good to be true."

Finally, the company reassured drivers that they should never feel afraid to ask for more information before they make a booking with a driving instructor or examiner.

In most cases, scammers encourage unwitting members of the public to make a transaction with them as soon as possible - for example, by running a deal for a particularly short time.

As a result, it is a good idea to reach out to the instructor or examiner to see whether they attempt to rush the learner. The company recommended drivers should also ask questions that can help to identify how professional they are - such as what their teaching style is like and their pass rates.