London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025

Fake driving licences offered online for £600

Fake driving licences offered online for £600

Scammers on social media who claim to work for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency are selling "full driving licences" for £600, a BBC News investigation has found.

They claim to have inside access to driving test centres which allows them to book and pass practical driving tests without clients being present.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - which has responsibility for driving tests - said that was not possible.

They are money-making scams, it said.

It is illegal to drive without a valid licence. The punishment for doing so includes a fine of up to £1,000, up to six points on your licence and a possible disqualification.

The licence vendors claim to supply their clients with a plastic licence card and test certificate at their home address.

They also send clients an image of what appears to be their updated driving licence status as shown on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) "view your licence" webpage.




The client's driving status reads "full driving licence", which suggests they are on the DVLA database as registered to drive - despite having paid for their licence instead of taking and passing a driving test.


'Not genuine'


BBC News has discovered that these images are fraudulent mock-ups of the DVLA's "view your licence" webpage and that the licence numbers clients are issued with are not on the agency's database.

The BBC sent the examples of the licences to the DVLA.

In response, the DVLA said: "Only DVLA can issue a driving licence. We can confirm that the examples seen are not genuine."

The licence vendors advertise their service on social media platforms such as Instagram, but urge any potential clients to message them privately on WhatsApp.

BBC News has acquired screenshots of text messages between clients and the licence vendors.

They show the vendor asking for personal details such as the client's address, date of birth and a passport photo - information the seller says is required to issue a licence.



Text messages seen by the BBC also show the licence vendor discussing payments with his clients and them thanking him for his service.



To find out more about how the scammers operate, BBC News sent text messages to a vendor posing as a potential client. The vendor is asked if the DVLA would find out but is assured they wouldn't because "we [the vendors] work for DVLA".

In a phone call with the BBC, which was covertly recorded, the vendor went into more detail about how the fraud is carried out.

"We usually book your test for you and pass it without you actually being there but it's gonna look like you were there" he said.

"If you do wanna go ahead, I'll need your full name and provisional licence number."




The vendor suggested he was able to cheat the driving test and pass people without them being present, allowing them to have their licence updated to a "full driving licence".

He also told the BBC he could start the process that same day and everything would be done in "five to seven days".


'Money-making scams'


In a statement responding to the BBC's investigation, the DVLA said: "We are aware of these offers and are investigating similar claims.

"We have so far found no evidence to suggest these claims are true or anything more than money-making scams."

Scarlett (not her real name) tried to acquire a driving licence from the vendor.

She told the BBC she came across his account on Instagram and "paid £500 for him to pass my driving test".

Scarlett says that despite having paid the vendor, all she received was an image of her licence details.

"I checked the [licence] details he sent me but it was all fake," she says. "I never received no licence just that picture.

"If you've found him, can you get my money back? I want my money back."

BBC News has learnt of several others, like Scarlett, who've tried to acquire a driving licence from a licence vendor.

They come from different parts of the country, including Liverpool, Birmingham, North Yorkshire, Bradford and London.

In its statement to the BBC, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency warned members of the public against attempting to acquire licences illegally.

"The driving test is there to make sure all drivers have the skills and knowledge to use the roads safely and responsibly; trying to circumvent it is illegal and a serious danger to road users," it said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. and Britain Poised to Finalize Over $10 Billion in High-Tech, Nuclear and Defense Deals During Trump State Visit
China Finds Nvidia Violated Antitrust Laws in Mellanox Deal, Deepens Trade Tensions with US
US Air Force Begins Modifications on Qatar-Donated Jet Amid Plans to Use It as Air Force One
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
Elon Musk Retakes Lead as World’s Richest After Brief Ellison Surge
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
London Daily Podcast: London Massive Pro Democracy Rally, Musk Support, UK Economic Data and Premier League Results Mark Eventful Weekend
This Week in AI: Meta’s Superintelligence Push, xAI’s Ten Billion-Dollar Raise, Genesis AI’s Robotics Ambitions, Microsoft Restructuring, Amazon’s Million-Robot Milestone, and Google’s AlphaGenome Update
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Musk calls for new UK government at huge pro-democracy rally in London, but Britons have been brainwashed to obey instead of fighting for their human rights
Elon Musk responds to post calling for the murder of Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk: 'Either we fight back or they will kill us'
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
USA: Office Depot Employees Refused to Print Poster in Memory of Charlie Kirk – and Were Fired
Proposed U.S. Bill Would Allow Civil Suits Against Judges Who Release Repeat Violent Offenders
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
×