The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has issued a stark warning to learner drivers across the UK as a new wave of sophisticated scams sees unqualified individuals posing as certified driving instructors. These fake tutors are not only ripping off learners but are also providing dangerously substandard training, putting lives at risk.
The Scale of the Problem
Investigations have uncovered that fraudulent instructors are using increasingly cunning methods to appear legitimate. Many create professional-looking social media profiles and websites, complete with stolen photos and fake reviews, to lure in unsuspecting learners, often charging premium rates for lessons that are worthless or, worse, teaching incorrect and unsafe driving habits.
How the Scams Operate
These scams typically follow a pattern:
- Fake Listings: Scammers advertise on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, offering cut-price lessons.
- Cloned Credentials: They use the badge numbers and names of genuine, approved instructors to create fake IDs.
- Pressure Tactics: Victims report being pressured into paying for blocks of lessons upfront, after which the instructor becomes unreachable.
The Official Checks You MUST Do
To protect yourself, the DVSA urges all learner drivers to perform one simple, free check before booking any lesson.
"Always use the official 'Find your driving instructor' service on GOV.UK," a DVSA spokesperson emphasised. "This is the only way to be 100% certain that your instructor is qualified, has passed the necessary criminal and background checks, and is held to the high professional standards required."
This online tool allows you to verify an instructor's name and their official Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) number. If they don't appear on the list, do not book with them.
Red Flags to Watch For
Be extremely cautious if an instructor:
- Refuses to provide their official ADI number for verification.
- Only accepts cash payments and cannot provide a proper receipt.
- Offers a price that seems too good to be true.
- Uses a car that does not have dual controls.
- Pressures you to pay for a large block of lessons in advance.
Falling victim to these scams does more than just waste money; it can severely set back a learner's progress by ingraining bad habits, ultimately making it harder and more expensive to pass the driving test safely.
