Martin Lewis has issued a warning to drivers about 'shyster sites' that charge excessive fees for DVLA services. The money-saving expert said these sites appear at the top of search engine results, tricking users into paying up to triple the official rate.
Speaking on ITV's This Morning, Lewis highlighted a case where a 70-year-old viewer was charged £93 instead of the standard £14 fee. The viewer contacted the DVLA, which confirmed it was not affiliated with the third-party site.
Lewis explained that these sites are 'quasi-legal' and often mimic official government pages. They charge extra for services that are free or cheaper on GOV.UK, using disclaimers to avoid legal repercussions. He urged drivers to look for the 'ad' label in search results and always use official channels.
The DVLA has acknowledged the issue, stating it works with the Government Digital Service to address misleading sites. Drivers are reminded that the only official online portal for DVLA services is GOV.UK.
