A group of 38 Members of Parliament have raised concerns about a troubling trend where individuals are exploiting the driving test system by using automated bots to secure test slots, which are then resold for profit. These tests, which are made available by the DVSA every Monday at 6am, are quickly taken up, leading to a scenario where eager learners are coerced into paying significant amounts, sometimes up to £500, to bypass the queue.
Data reveals a concerning increase in the swapping of test dates, a practice that has been on the rise since the onset of the Covid pandemic. Statistics indicate that the swapping of test slots has surged, with a notable rise from 2.7% in Jan 2019 to a peak of 34.1% in Oct 2023. Presently, approximately 25% of tests are swapped at least once, with a staggering 29,000 tests being swapped ten times or more.
Labour MP Amanda Hack spearheaded the initiative to address this issue, emphasizing the need for decisive action to curtail the exploitation of learners facing exorbitant test fees. Hack highlighted the unfairness and detrimental impact on learner drivers, urging the government to intervene and restore test prices to their standard levels for accessibility and affordability.
Responding to the concerns, a Department for Transport spokesperson acknowledged the existing efforts to combat fraudulent activities in the testing system. Measures have been implemented to enhance the availability of tests, including incentivizing driving examiners to conduct more tests and expanding the pool of trainers to support new examiners. While progress has been made, the spokesperson emphasized the ongoing commitment to further improvements to reduce waiting times and ensure equal opportunities in line with the Plan for Change initiative.