Learner drivers use 'impersonators' to cheat test

Impersonators have been used by learners to try to pass practical and theory driving tests in the South East, the BBC has discovered.

There were 21 cases across Kent, Surrey and Sussex last year, where somebody else tried to sit the practical test for a learner driver.

New figures obtained by the BBC revealed that 71 incidents of cheating were discovered at theory test centres, with more than half of the cases involving someone impersonating a candidate.

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said detecting and preventing fraud before it occurs remains a top priority.

National figures provided to the BBC showed 2,059 incidents of cheating were recorded by the DVSA in the 2023-24 financial year.

In 27 cases of suspected theory test fraud, covert technology devices were used to assist with the cheating.

The DVSA figures for 2024 reveal that in Kent there were 24 attempts to cheat on the theory test, 28 attempts in Sussex and 19 in Surrey.

There were 12 attempts to cheat on the practical test in Kent, seven in Sussex and two in Surrey over the same time period.

But the agency could not reveal how many of the South East cases last year were currently being investigated by the police.

Carly Brookfield, chief executive of the Driving Instructors Association, said there had been brazen attempts to cheat.

"Fraudsters have been found to use devices like Bluetooth to sit theory tests and to even attempt to bribe or collude with test centre staff to gain a pass," she said.

"They carry out ID checks but in some instances the impersonator is able to try and emulate the look of the person they are representing, so obviously there is a view that more robust measures will have to be implemented in the future."

She said the current situation with test waiting times is driving this demand for tests and this behaviour.

"They will try to cheat the system because they don't want to have to take that test and fail and therefore wait for another test," she said.

There is still a minimum six-month wait to book a driving test in several areas of the UK, with waiting times reaching a record high, according to new data from the motoring organisation AA.

Last year ministers told BBC South East that tackling the test backlog was a "key priority" for the Labour government.

The DVSA said it was "continuing to reduce waiting times, and to encourage learners to only book their test when they're ready".

It added that another 450 new examiners were being recruited.

It is illegal to cheat at a driving or theory test by using an impersonator to take the test for you or impersonating a candidate and taking their test for them.

Penalties include prison, being ordered to carry out unpaid work or being banned from driving.

The DVSA said it worked with driving examiners and test centre staff to help them better identify candidates suspected of cheating.

Bosses say staff will use intelligence of previous attempts while verifying candidate identity.

Candidates are also not allowed to take personal items into the theory test and will undergo checks to make sure they don't take anything which may be used to cheat.

In 2023, a BBC investigation found fraudsters, who offered to help people illegally pass their UK driving tests, were advertising their services widely across social media.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "By being prepared to get behind the wheel by fair means or foul, people hiring impersonators put everyone's lives at risk, because neither we nor they have any idea whether their driving meets the required standard.

"Our strong road safety record is built on three pillars – roadworthy vehicles, responsibly driven by properly qualified drivers. This sort of behaviour is flagrantly kicking one of those pillars away."

Marian Kitson, DVSA's Director of Enforcement Services, said: "Our dedicated counter-fraud team focuses on identifying suspected fraud and works with the police to bring fraudsters to justice."

"The people that get criminals to take their driving test know that they are incapable of passing themselves. By fraudulently obtaining a driving licence, they place other road users and themselves at risk from their unsafe driving.

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