Wannabe drivers who are buying fake UK licences from TIKTOK without ever taking a test are being scammed out of hundreds of pounds

Aspiring drivers are being scammed out of hundreds of pounds by social media scammers promising to give them a full UK license without having to take any tests.

TikTok scammers are offering desperate student drivers the chance to skip the queue with what they say is “driving is easier now” and encouraging customers to send them messages on WhatsApp.

It comes with a hefty price tag of up to £800 as many claim to have worked with the DVLA and are confident it is legitimate.

The Daily Mail counted more than 20 such accounts, with scammers assuring them that ‘you won’t have to do anything’ other than handing over your provisional license to make arrangements.

In a WhatsApp thread seen by the Daily Mail, the scammer says it costs £650 to get a full UK driving licence, including the theory, driving test and the card itself.

They claimed this was carried out as an ‘insider job’ by someone working within the DVLA who would carry out the tests on your behalf.

Another opportunist claimed £700 and said: ‘We specialize in helping people who face many difficulties in passing their theory test or gaining a full licence.’

They and several others claimed to work for the DVLA and so could make changes and updates directly within the database system, which was expected to appear within three days.

Pass rate for driving theory tests is at ‘lowest point in history’, according to a 2023 report

A fourth account, which also charged £700, said the process took up to seven days and they required a £300 deposit to secure your information in the DVLA database.

Buyers are promised an easy profit as they are told that ‘you will not need to take any tests or classes, we will take care of the entire process for you from start to finish’.

The man behind one of the accounts said the full license would cost £590 and guaranteed everything was ‘100% legal’ and ‘fully registered on the DVLA database’.

He even asked to be directed to his friends saying ‘customer satisfaction is my priority’.

As well as fake driving licences, some also promise the removal of £600 bans under which drivers can be prosecuted.

The cost of a HGV license could set you back £1,200, while the removal of penalty points is priced at £200 for every three points.

A TikTok account made a video of a girl passing her driving test for the first time, but shared a caption stating that she did it without any exams.

It was viewed 120,000 times, with skeptical users asking “is this real,” “how does this actually work,” and “is this legal?”

They claimed this was carried out as an ‘insider job’ by someone working within the DVLA who would carry out the tests for you.

But hundreds of others are intrigued by the prospect of rapid success and ask ‘how much’, ‘how can I do that’ and say ‘I’m interested’.

The pass rate for driving theory tests is at ‘the lowest point in history’, according to a 2023 report.

Students’ chances of passing the theory exam have fallen by a third since 2007/08, from 65.4 per cent to just 44.2 per cent in 2022/23.

Average driving theory test pass rates were generally between 60 and 65 percent in the late 2000s, but changes made a decade ago led to a sharp drop in pass rates to around 50 percent.

These included an increase in questions, the withdrawal of translators and – arguably with the biggest impact – the decision to stop publishing new theory test questions online or in practice papers.

A DVLA spokesman said: ‘These accounts are not linked to the DVLA and are known scams attempting to obtain payment or personal information.

‘Anyone concerned that they may have been the victim of a scam should contact police immediately via Action Fraud.’

To date, no evidence has been identified to suggest that DVLA staff were involved in such incidents.

As well as fake driving licences, some promise to remove bans and points for a fee of up to £600 and drivers can be legally prosecuted for this.

It was warned that any documents received as a result of applications made through these social media accounts would be fake.

As the cost of lessons increases and the threat of being pushed to the back of the queue if they fail, many students see the shortcut as a cheaper alternative.

Aseem Munshi, founder of finance company Updraft, warns that it is the economic pressure on potential drivers that makes scams more attractive.

He said: ‘When people are under pressure from rising costs or fear of falling further behind in the driving test queue, they are more vulnerable to offers promising a quick fix.

‘Scammers are clever at taking advantage of frustration, but the only safe and legal way to get a license is to pass the exam. No social media account can shorten this process and paying them could end up costing you much more in the long run.’

Meanwhile, Britain’s learner drivers are facing the biggest backlog in history and are being exploited by shrewd brokers who charge more than double the price for an earlier test.

With the increasing cost of courses and the danger of being pushed to the back of the queue if they fail, many students see the shortcut as a cheaper alternative

Endless waiting lists of up to six months to take practical tests mean slots have become popular products.

Given the huge demand, a driving test black market has been created as test bookings are sold via third-party websites, Facebook groups and WhatsApp at inflated prices of around £200.

Unofficial brokerage companies sell appointments using instructors’ official Personal Reference Numbers to access available slots and then sell them at an exorbitant price, making a profit on the original fee.

The details are then changed to match the recipient’s details. The service allows students to take the exam within a few days or weeks.