Cheating on driving tests in Great Britain has surged by 47% over the past year, prompting concerns about road safety. According to figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), there were 2,844 cases of cheating reported in the year ending September 2025, up from 1,940 during the previous 12 months and a low of 1,274 in 2018-19.
The most common form of cheating is technology-assisted cheating during theory tests, with 1,113 incidents reported. This often involves using an earpiece connected to a concealed phone via Bluetooth. Impersonating registered candidates was another major issue, with 1,084 theory test cheats and 647 practical test cheats reported.
The rise in cheating comes as the country grapples with a massive backlog of driving tests. Learners are facing lengthy waiting times, with an average wait of 22 weeks in September – compared to just five weeks before the pandemic when testing was largely suspended.
Despite this, the DVSA claims there is no evidence linking cheating to waiting times. However, the agency has enhanced its fraud detection capabilities and uses intelligence to identify vehicles and individuals involved in previous cheating attempts.
The consequences for those caught cheating can be severe, including prison sentences, bans from driving, and fines. In one notable case, a young woman was handed an eight-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to impersonating learners at theory test centres 12 times.
Motoring charities are warning that the increase in cheating is putting other road users at risk. "It's essential that all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge and attitude to drive safely," said the DVSA's director of enforcement services. However, some experts argue that the penalties for cheating should be tougher, particularly given the growing waiting times for tests.
The rise in cheating has also raised questions about how it can be prevented. With driving test centres facing capacity issues, learners are feeling pressure to pass their tests quickly – but this is no excuse for cheating. As one expert warned, "Those looking to make money through impersonation and deception are putting other road users at risk."
The most common form of cheating is technology-assisted cheating during theory tests, with 1,113 incidents reported. This often involves using an earpiece connected to a concealed phone via Bluetooth. Impersonating registered candidates was another major issue, with 1,084 theory test cheats and 647 practical test cheats reported.
The rise in cheating comes as the country grapples with a massive backlog of driving tests. Learners are facing lengthy waiting times, with an average wait of 22 weeks in September – compared to just five weeks before the pandemic when testing was largely suspended.
Despite this, the DVSA claims there is no evidence linking cheating to waiting times. However, the agency has enhanced its fraud detection capabilities and uses intelligence to identify vehicles and individuals involved in previous cheating attempts.
The consequences for those caught cheating can be severe, including prison sentences, bans from driving, and fines. In one notable case, a young woman was handed an eight-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to impersonating learners at theory test centres 12 times.
Motoring charities are warning that the increase in cheating is putting other road users at risk. "It's essential that all drivers demonstrate they have the right skills, knowledge and attitude to drive safely," said the DVSA's director of enforcement services. However, some experts argue that the penalties for cheating should be tougher, particularly given the growing waiting times for tests.
The rise in cheating has also raised questions about how it can be prevented. With driving test centres facing capacity issues, learners are feeling pressure to pass their tests quickly – but this is no excuse for cheating. As one expert warned, "Those looking to make money through impersonation and deception are putting other road users at risk."
it's like people think they can just game the system and get behind the wheel without even knowing how to drive properly... but what's the point of even taking a test if you're just gonna cheat? 
and those waiting times are already super long, i feel for all the learners who have to wait months for their chance to get on the road... it's not like they can just take off without passing first. 
the DVSA is doing its best to crack down on cheating but it seems like we're just seeing more and more people trying to take shortcuts 
! And it's not just about the tech-assisted cheating, impersonating others is a huge problem too. It's like they're more worried about passing their test than actually being safe on the road 
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! it's like they think they can just pass with fake answers or impersonate others... newsflash: that's not how it works 
! as for the consequences, yeah, prison sentences should be on the table for those who get caught red-handed 
. but what's really concerning me is that these cheaters are putting innocent people on the road at risk 
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45% increase in cheating on driving tests? That's just ridiculous 
. And have you seen those waiting times? 22 weeks? That's just crazy 
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. The DVSA needs to step up their game and find a way to make those waiting times shorter without sacrificing road safety.
. If people are willing to risk cheating just to get behind the wheel, something's gotta give. It's not like it's hard to pass a driving test – you just need some basic skills and knowledge 
u cant just fake ur way thru a driving test and expectnto be a safe driver...that's so irresponsible! 
. On the other hand, there are people resorting to technology-assisted cheating and impersonation – it's just not right 
. The DVSA needs to find a way to reduce these waiting times without compromising on safety standards. It's a tough balancing act, but someone's gotta do it 
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. And don't even get me started on the technology-assisted cheating... using earpieces and whatnot? It's just basic human decency 
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. Earpieces connected to concealed phones? That's like something out of a spy novel! And impersonating registered candidates? Come on, people, that's just basic human decency 
. Maybe it's some kind of coordinated effort to bring down the system? Or perhaps there are outside forces at play... I mean, we've all seen enough conspiracy theories to know that something fishy is usually lurking just beneath the surface 
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. We need to make sure these cheaters are held accountable and that our roads remain safe for everyone 
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honestly tho the figures r insane 47% increase in cheaters is a huge red flag, its like ppl dont care about their own safety or others on the road anymore... its not just about the waiting times for tests its about making sure those who pass actually know how to drive. and yeah i think penalties should be tougher 8 month prison sentence wasnt even enough for that many cases 
) but cheatin' is never the answer. I mean, I'm all for making it easier for learners to pass, but not at the cost of other road users safety 
. gotta give props to the DVSA tho for enhancin' their fraud detection capabilities and gettin' these cheaters 
anyway, I think the gov should increase the penalties for cheating, like, make them pay more fines and stuff. and btw, 22 weeks waiting time is too long, some ppl are literally losing their minds over this...