Driving Test Cheating Jumps by 47% in England, Scotland, and Wales as Road Safety Concerns Grow.
In a disturbing trend, cheating on driving tests has skyrocketed across England, Scotland, and Wales, with reported cases increasing by an alarming 47% in the past year. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) revealed that 2,844 instances of test tampering were recorded between April 2024 and September 2025, up from 1,940 the previous year and a mere 1,274 in 2018-19.
Theory tests have emerged as the most popular target for cheating, with over 1,100 cases involving technology-assisted cheating via concealed earpieces or phones. Impersonating registered candidates was another common method used by cheaters, accounting for over 647 practical test cases and 1,084 theory test instances.
The rise in cheating comes at a time when learner drivers are facing an average waiting period of 22 weeks for driving tests, compared to just five weeks pre-pandemic. However, the DVSA insists that there is no evidence linking cheating to waiting times, despite concerns from motoring charities.
Cheaters can expect severe penalties, including imprisonment, banning from driving, unpaid work, and court costs. For instance, a man in Birmingham was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to impersonating learners 12 times, while another woman was fined and suspended for 18 months after attempting to take a practical test on behalf of someone else.
Motoring charities and experts warn that the increasing number of cheating incidents puts other road users at risk. "The longer people have to wait to get a test slot, the greater the pressure to pass," said Steve Gooding from the RAC Foundation. "Those looking to make money through impersonation and deception are putting others at risk."
As the DVSA enhances its fraud detection capabilities, experts emphasize that severe penalties must be in place to deter cheaters. Emma Bush of the AA Driving School described the rise as "staggering" and cautioned that some individuals may have succeeded in cheating without being caught.
The alarming surge in driving test cheating has raised serious concerns about road safety, highlighting the need for vigilance from authorities and stricter measures to prevent this type of fraudulent activity.
In a disturbing trend, cheating on driving tests has skyrocketed across England, Scotland, and Wales, with reported cases increasing by an alarming 47% in the past year. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) revealed that 2,844 instances of test tampering were recorded between April 2024 and September 2025, up from 1,940 the previous year and a mere 1,274 in 2018-19.
Theory tests have emerged as the most popular target for cheating, with over 1,100 cases involving technology-assisted cheating via concealed earpieces or phones. Impersonating registered candidates was another common method used by cheaters, accounting for over 647 practical test cases and 1,084 theory test instances.
The rise in cheating comes at a time when learner drivers are facing an average waiting period of 22 weeks for driving tests, compared to just five weeks pre-pandemic. However, the DVSA insists that there is no evidence linking cheating to waiting times, despite concerns from motoring charities.
Cheaters can expect severe penalties, including imprisonment, banning from driving, unpaid work, and court costs. For instance, a man in Birmingham was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to impersonating learners 12 times, while another woman was fined and suspended for 18 months after attempting to take a practical test on behalf of someone else.
Motoring charities and experts warn that the increasing number of cheating incidents puts other road users at risk. "The longer people have to wait to get a test slot, the greater the pressure to pass," said Steve Gooding from the RAC Foundation. "Those looking to make money through impersonation and deception are putting others at risk."
As the DVSA enhances its fraud detection capabilities, experts emphasize that severe penalties must be in place to deter cheaters. Emma Bush of the AA Driving School described the rise as "staggering" and cautioned that some individuals may have succeeded in cheating without being caught.
The alarming surge in driving test cheating has raised serious concerns about road safety, highlighting the need for vigilance from authorities and stricter measures to prevent this type of fraudulent activity.
i mean what's next? people cheating on exams or something? 
it's not just about the cheaters but also about the legit learners who have to wait for like 22 weeks to take a test and are already super stressed out. can't we just focus on getting these tests done fairly without all this cheating nonsense? 
some ppl r so desperate to pass they'd impersonate others or try to cheat through phones... bad move, cheaters gotta expect some serious penalties now 
8 months in prison? that's harsh but fair lol. road safety is def at risk here tho... who else is waiting to book a test slot? 22 weeks?! 
gotta stay vigilant on the roads 
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. We need stricter measures to prevent this from happening again 
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like it had no idea what was going on but still managed to look adorable meanwhile these cheaters are literally risking people's lives on the road ugh and can we talk about how long does it take to get a driving test in england i've been waiting for months and its not like they're busy or anything 22 weeks is like forever 
22 weeks waiting period is crazy, imagine having to wait that long just to pass a test... meanwhile cheaters are getting away with it? 
they gotta crack down hard on this ASAP. 
and omg those penalties sound super harsh too... 8 months in prison is a pretty big deal 
and yea 22 weeks waitin period is already a struggle 4 most people, dont need cheaters makin it worse 
. It's like, I get that waiting times are a thing, but cheating is still super irresponsible & puts lives at risk 
. The DVSA needs to step up their game & make it harder for cheaters to get away with it 