Driving test cheats face prison as cases soared last year

Cheating during driving tests is on the rise, and it’s not just a little white lie – it’s a serious crime with real consequences. In fact, attempts to cheat during driving tests in England, Scotland, and Wales jumped 47% last year, according to new figures from the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

But how are people cheating? The methods vary, but the numbers are staggering. A PA news agency freedom information request found that:

• 1,113 cases involved technology, such as Bluetooth earpieces linked to a hidden phone, to try to cheat at a theory test.
• 1,084 attempts involved people trying to take theory tests while impersonating someone else.
• 647 incidents involved impersonating someone for a practical test.

In total, 2,844 attempts to cheat were recorded in the year to September 2025, a 47% increase on the previous year. Nearly 100 people were prosecuted for trying to cheat or for impersonating a candidate, the DVSA figures show.

Experts say the rise is partly due to a nationwide shortage of tests, leaving some learners desperate enough to cheat. The DVSA also says improved detection has caught more cases.

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The real consequences

Dr Rasha Kassem from Aston University’s Fraud Research Group told the BBC that cheating on driving tests can cause great harm.

“It means that there will be more accidents, collisions, insurance issues as well, damage to the car, and damage to human beings, injuries, and in some cases, death,” she said. “There has to be public awareness, because this is a serious crime, from my perspective, and also in the eyes of the law. It is fraud.”

Impersonators – and those who hire them – can face serious legal consequences. You could be sent to prison, banned from driving, ordered to carry out unpaid work, and made to pay court costs.

Notable cases include 23-year-old Qounain Khan, who received eight months in prison for impersonating learners at theory test centres 12 times. Impersonators can be paid up to £2,000 for passing a test on someone else’s behalf.

Sorina-Ana Turcitu, 42, admitted trying to take a practical test for someone else and was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, while Ali Rasul, 22, was sentenced to two years in prison for repeatedly attempting to cheat theory tests with hidden earpieces and impersonators.

How the DVSA is fighting cheating

The DVSA has stepped up its checks to stop cheating. Practical test candidates are now matched to their photo ID, and theory test takers must show their pockets are empty and roll up their sleeves. Even with these measures, the DVSA says the public still plays a key role in spotting offenders.

How to report someone impersonating a driving test candidate

It’s illegal to use someone else to take a theory or driving test for you, or to pretend to be another candidate and take their test.

If you suspect someone of cheating, you can report it directly to the DVSA Intelligence Unit:

• Email: enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk
• Phone: 0800 030 4103 (Mon-Fri, 7:30am-6pm)

When reporting, try to include as many details as possible, such as:

• Names and addresses of the people involved
• Descriptions of what they look like
• Dates, times, and locations
• Where you found out about it (in person, online, social media, etc.)

The DVSA will investigate your report, though be aware that they might not be able to tell you what the outcome is.

Cheating might seem like a quick way to pass a test, but the consequences are real – from prison time to driving bans – and the rise in cases shows authorities are cracking down harder than ever.

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