Sharp Increase in Driving Test Fraud Across Great Britain
Attempts to cheat on driving tests in England, Scotland and Wales have surged by a substantial 47% over the past year, according to newly released official figures. This dramatic rise has prompted serious concerns among motoring organisations and road safety experts about the potential risks posed by unqualified drivers on British roads.
Alarming Statistics Reveal Widespread Fraud
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has reported 2,844 recorded cases of cheating during the year ending September 2025. This represents a significant increase from 1,940 incidents during the previous twelve-month period and more than double the 1,274 cases recorded in 2018/19.
Marian Kitson, DVSA's director of enforcement services, explained that the agency has significantly enhanced its "fraud detection capabilities" in recent years. "It is essential that all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge and attitude to drive safely," she emphasised. "Our counter-fraud team carries out robust investigations into suspected fraud, working with the police to bring fraudsters to justice and keep Britain's roads safe."
Methods of Cheating and Detection Measures
The breakdown of cheating methods reveals several concerning trends:
- Technology-assisted cheating during theory tests, including using earpieces connected to concealed phones via Bluetooth, accounted for 1,113 cases in 2024/25
- Impersonation attempts during theory tests were recorded in 1,084 instances
- Practical test impersonation occurred in 647 documented cases
The DVSA has implemented increasingly sophisticated detection methods to combat this growing problem. Theory test candidates may now be asked to roll up their sleeves, show their pockets are empty, and submit to pat-down searches with handheld metal detectors. Learners arriving at test centres must also show their faces to verify they match their photographic identification documents.
Prosecutions and Penalties for Test Fraud
During 2024/25, ninety-six individuals faced prosecution for attempting to cheat driving tests or impersonate candidates. These prosecution cases can include multiple incidents, reflecting the serious nature of the offences.
The penalties for driving test fraud can be severe, including:
- Prison sentences for both impersonators and learners who employ them
- Driving bans for successful candidates who cheated
- Unpaid work orders as part of community sentences
- Substantial court costs and fines
Several recent cases highlight the judiciary's tough stance on driving test fraud. Qounain Khan, a 23-year-old from Birmingham, received an eight-month prison sentence in June 2025 after admitting to impersonating learners at theory test centres twelve times. The court heard that impersonators could earn up to £2,000 for successfully passing a test on someone else's behalf.
In another case, Sorina-Ana Turcitu, 42, from north London, admitted attempting to take a practical driving test for another person and received a 12-week suspended prison sentence. Meanwhile, Ali Rasul, 22, from Exeter, was handed a two-year prison sentence in November 2025 after being caught repeatedly attempting to cheat the theory test over eight months using hidden earpieces and impersonators.
Backlog Concerns and Industry Response
The surge in cheating attempts coincides with substantial backlogs for practical driving tests across Great Britain. In September, learners faced average waiting times of 22 weeks for a test slot, compared with approximately five weeks in February 2020 before pandemic-related suspensions disrupted testing schedules.
However, the DVSA has stated clearly that it has no evidence linking increased cheating directly to longer waiting times. The agency maintains that the recorded increase reflects both more cheating attempts and improved detection methods rather than a causal relationship with test availability.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation motoring research charity, expressed serious concerns about the implications of test cheating. "The longer people have to wait to get a test slot, the greater the pressure to pass, but that's no excuse for cheating," he stated. "Those looking to make money through impersonation and deception are putting other road users at risk. This data demonstrates the need for DVSA to be vigilant in spotting the cheats and for the penalties to be severe."
Emma Bush, managing director of the AA Driving School, described the increase in cheat attempts as "staggering" and particularly worrying. "It is even more worrying that while the numbers of those caught have risen a concerning amount, it is likely some people will have cheated successfully and be on our roads," she added, highlighting the potential road safety implications of undetected fraud.
The DVSA continues to use intelligence gathering to identify vehicles and individuals involved in previous cheating attempts, working closely with police forces across England, Scotland and Wales to maintain the integrity of the driving test system and ensure road safety standards are upheld.
