DVSA uncovers surge in cheats as delays caused thousands to put road safety at risk

The data was released by the DVSA following a Freedom of Information request but now motoring experts have warned the rise in cheating could put lives at risk.

The RAC Foundation echoed the warning, saying people attempting to fraudulently obtain driving licences are “putting other road users at risk”.

According to the DVSA, the increase reflects both a rise in actual cheating and improvements in detection methods. Emma Bush, managing director of the AA Driving School, described the figures as “staggering“.

She said: “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.”

The most common form of cheating involved technology-assisted fraud during theory tests. There were 1,113 cases where candidates used hidden earpieces linked via Bluetooth to mobile phones concealed under their clothing, allowing answers to be fed in remotely.

Impersonation was also widespread with the data revealing 1,084 cases of people attempting to sit theory tests while pretending to be the registered candidate, while a further 647 cases involved impersonation during practical driving exams.

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Dr Rasha Kassem, who leads the Fraud Research Group at Aston University, warned unqualified drivers pose a serious danger and said the impact could be severe.

“It means there will be more accidents, collisions, insurance issues as well, damage to the car, and damage to human beings, injuries, and in some cases, death,” she said.

She added: “There has to be public awareness, because this is a serious crime. It is fraud.”

The rise in cheating comes as learner drivers face long waits for practical test slots.

In September, the average waiting time was 22 weeks, compared with around five weeks before the Covid pandemic disrupted testing in early 2020.

The DVSA said it has found no evidence linking long waiting times directly to cheating. However, industry figures say pressure on learners is contributing to risky behaviour.

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Carly Brookfield, chief executive of the Driving Instructors Association, said the situation made fraud more likely.

“It almost seems inevitable in an era of lots of demand, but very little consistent supply,” she said, adding some candidates turn to cheating services in an attempt to pass.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, acknowledged the pressure but said it was no excuse.

“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 said.

During the year to September 2025, 96 people were prosecuted for driving test fraud or impersonation offences.

Courts heard impersonators could earn up to £2,000 for successfully passing a test on someone else’s behalf.

To combat the rising thefts, the DVSA said it has strengthened its fraud prevention measures including matching candidates’ faces against photographic identification, physical searches at theory test centres, and metal detector scans.

Marian Kitson, the DVSA’s director of enforcement services, said: “It is essential that all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge and attitude to drive safely.

She added: “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.”

The National Audit Office has warned the driving test backlog is unlikely to be cleared until November 2027, citing staff shortages and the impact of automated booking systems run by third-party websites.