Five ways to spot a driving test scam
According to research from Lloyds Bank, driving lesson and driving test scams have skyrocketed by 92% in the last six months.
Nationwide searches for ‘driving lessons’ have also risen by 1,207% in the last seven days, highlighting the growing need for caution before booking.
With this in mind, accident compensation experts claims.co.uk have shared five expert tips to avoid being scammed in 2025.
1) Ask for confirmation of the vehicle identification number (VIN)
Every registered vehicle has a 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN). To avoid being scammed, learner drivers can ask for the vehicle’s VIN to confirm the features and registration of the car that will be used for their lessons and test. This simple trick can verify the car’s existence and stop scammers from committing fraud.
2) Confirm the instructor’s identity with reverse image searches
It’s important to confirm the identity of driving instructors before paying for any lessons or tests as scammers will often use stolen or AI-generated images. A great way to do this is by conducting reverse image searches and making sure the image does not appear under a different name. Google and Bing, for example, have reverse image search functions that are quick, free and easy to use.
3) Ensure the driving school has a physical business address
Every online business needs a registered address for legal purposes. Before paying money towards driving lessons or tests, people should confirm the driving school’s physical business address by visiting the premises or using Google Street View. This is more reliable than a website as scammers can easily replicate an existing school’s information.
4) Be aware of increasingly common social media scams
Lloyds Bank has reported a growing number of driving test and lessons scams originating from social media. By advertising cheap lessons and short-term promotions, scammers can convince people to hand over their financial information without taking the proper precautions. People should be wary of deals found on social media that sound too good to be true.
5) Don’t be afraid to ask for more information before booking
Scammers are often eager to finish fraudulent transactions as quickly as possible. It may seem daunting, but people shouldn’t be afraid to ask for more information before handing over their financial details. This can be information only known by professionals, such as an in-depth account of their teaching styles or pass rates, which can be checked alongside online reviews.
By following these steps, learner drivers are less likely to fall victim to lesson and test scams in 2025.
