Learner drivers are being warned they could be at risk of taking lessons with unqualified instructors, potentially putting themselves in danger. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has confirmed it is cracking down on illegal driving instructors involved in fraudulent activities.
Typically, a qualified driving instructor will have undergone rigorous training and an assessment to ensure they are capable of safely teaching someone how to drive. By law, a driving instructor must be officially approved and qualified to charge for instructing a learner. In a bid to protect learners from potential scams and unsafe driving lessons, the DVSA states that it is actively investigating suspected cases of illegal driving instruction.
It is also conducting targeted operations to catch illegal instructors and unsafe vehicles before they are reported. For instructors, this could result in severe fines, prison sentences, and criminal fraud convictions, according to the DVSA.
It has also reported that more than 150 learner vehicles have been stopped and checked while three potential illegal instructors are under investigation. However, the DVSA is urging members of the public to help share information that could assist in identifying illegal instructors.
One tell-tale sign that your driving instructor may not be qualified is if they fail to display a badge in their windscreen. It's crucial to remember that anyone charging you for driving lessons must either be a fully qualified and approved driving instructor or a trainee.
All instructors are required to display a badge in their windscreen to demonstrate they're registered with the DVSA. A green badge indicates a qualified driving instructor, while a pink one signifies a trainee.
If your instructor doesn't have this badge on their windscreen during your lesson, they could be unqualified and conducting the lesson illegally.
The DVSA has confirmed it's developing a form to make it easier for people to report potentially illegal instructors. However, the form isn't yet available, and the government department is working on perfecting it.
In the meantime, you can still report a suspected illegal driving instructor by contacting the DVLA directly. This can be done by emailing enquiries@dvsa.gov. uk or calling 0800 030 4103.
If an instructor is found to be giving illegal driving lessons, they could face serious consequences:
