Teesside driving instructor concerned about road safety due to cheaters
There was an almost 50% rise in cheating cases last year across the country
A Teesside driving instructor says he's concerned about the safety of road users if cheaters take theory and practical tests.
Earlier this week, we told you how there was an almost 50% rise in cases last year across the country.
Chris Flower, a driving instructor in Middlesbrough, said: "What you have potentially is people driving on the road who have never taken lessons, who have never actually been assessed by the DVSA, and as to whether or not they're safe for the privilege of holding a licence to drive on the road.
"Just putting one person on the road who has never actually sat a test, who has never read the theory test, who has never even read the highway code, puts all road users at risk. The UK has some of the highest road standards in the world, so by lowering those standards, it presents a huge road safety problem.
"It's also worth before starting any lesson as a learner please check your driving instructor's badge. They have to present it to you if you ask. The badge should be green or pink, it should have a date on it when the badge expires and it should have their name and photograph."
Driving test cheat attempts soar 47% in a year
Attempts to cheat driving tests in Britain increased by 47% in a year, an investigation has found, sparking concerns about road safety.
Some 2,844 cases were recorded in the year to the end of September 2025, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) figures obtained by the Press Association news agency show.
That is up from 1,940 during the previous 12 months, and 1,274 in 2018/19.
Motoring research charity the RAC Foundation said driving test cheats are "putting other road users at risk".
The DVSA attributed the increase in recorded cases to a combination of more cheating and better detection.
Technology assisted cheating during theory tests, such as using an earpiece connected to a concealed phone via Bluetooth, made up the largest proportion of incidents in 2024/25, with 1,113.
People trying to take the theory or practical test while impersonating the registered candidate was recorded in 1,084 and 647 cases respectively, the figures obtained in response to a Freedom of Information request show.
The rise in cheating comes amid a large backlog for practical driving tests.
Learners faced an average waiting time for a test of 22 weeks in September, compared with about five weeks in February 2020 before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, when testing was largely suspended.
The DVSA said it has no evidence linking cheating to waiting times.
Learners arriving at test centres are required to show their face to check it matches their photographic ID.
Measures to uncover theory test cheats can include asking candidates to roll up their sleeves and show their pockets are empty, and a staff member patting them down and waving a handheld metal detector around them.
The DVSA said it also uses intelligence to identify vehicles and individuals involved in previous cheating attempts.
Ninety-six people were prosecuted for attempting to cheat driving tests or impersonate candidates in 2024/25, the DVSA said.
A prosecution case can include multiple incidents.
Impersonators and learners who use them could be sent to prison, banned from driving, ordered to carry out unpaid work and made to pay court costs.
The court heard impersonators could be paid up to £2,000 for passing a test.
Marian Kitson, DVSA's director of enforcement services, said the agency has enhanced its "fraud detection capabilities".
She went on: "It is essential that all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge and attitude to drive safely.
"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."
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "The longer people have to wait to get a test slot, the greater the pressure to pass, but that's no excuse for cheating.
"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."
Here are the number of recorded incidents of driving test cheating in the 12 months to the end of September each year since 2019:
2024/25: 2,844
2023/24: 1,940
2022/23: 2,344
2021/22: 1,960
2020/21: 820
2019/20: 876
2018/19: 1,274