Can I trust a seller for driving test?

[kmo0416]

I really need a test date in my local test centre and can't find one as all the tests have been booked up.

I went on to an Instagram page that connected me to a WhatsApp group from a guy who sells driving tests as £265 each. I presume he and others book up all the tests then just sell them to make money.

I can't find a test anywhere else and don't want to wait so long.

I would rather not pay so much money for a £62 test, but that is not even my main concern. I am mostly worried about the security of my details. This is as he wants my provisional driving license number to manually book my test for me. i am worried that he will forever have access to those details so if I hypothetically failed my test, he may in the future be able to, just book a test which he will sell later at a profit using my details or he will be able to swap a future test I booked for someone else who paid him to do so or he would be able to reschedule my test.

Furthermore, if I did pass the test, I wonder what will happen to such details. If I got a driving license, would the number/letters/code on it be different to those on my provisional driving license so it would no longer be any concern as he wouldn't have access to that or no?

Couldn't I just pay a small fee (I think of £25) to get a new driving license which would come with a new license number/letters/code - or do they give the same code even if you buy a new driving license?

He promised that his 'company' doesn't keep such license details and he does have reviews on Instagram about his service being good from people who booked with him and passed their driving tests - but I'm unsure.

Also, he said he wants the money by bank transfer - so I don't think it's that dodgy and others on TikTok have reported paying other sellers and besides for the loss of money - they have not had much issues. Although some have said that some sellers (not the one I am talking about) have abused their license details.

So what should I do?

Its a big fat scam! Avoid at all costs!

There is absolutely no way I would even consider doing this.

And my dd did her test three hours away so it’s not like I don’t have an understanding of how impossible it is.

Report them .

Don't do it. You are effectively encouraging the business model which is corrupt and and a money laundering scam. Just get the testi app, book a test anywhere, and then wait for a local cancellation to come up. Do auto book.

No, you can’t have more than one license at a time

Don't do it, it's either a scam or they are block booking the tests using bots and they are the reason no one can easily get a test.

The best thing you can do is book the first available test at your preferred test centre (even if it's months away) then get an app which notifies you of any cancellations. This seems to work quite well for most people. DD had to book a test in October, but has now got one for the start of August. Some where coming up with same day tests but her instructor couldn't do them at such short notice. If your using your own car that shouldn't be as much of an issue.

We’ve joined a Facebook page ‘Driving Test Cancellations and swaps’ where you can swap tests, within our counties area, so multiple test sites, if done 10 days before test date it’s free to change I believe, just a call to DVLA . Maybe see if there is one for your area, we aren’t at the stage of booking a test yet, dreading it.

WTF? How is it even possible for anyone to book up all the tests and sell them on?

direct message me, I got a genuine one

Never heard of tests being sold privately, I would report it to Dvla, it might be a scam. And at very least immoral.
But I do know how hard it is to get a test-it's almost impossible!!
I booked one for my DD near her DGP house 6 hours away, after days and says of repeatedly logging on to try to find a test any date anywhere. I did then manage to change it to a nearby test centre, test dates for our centre seem to be released about 10am on Mondays.
Think new test dates are currently early January but once you get a date it maybe possible to bring it forward and get a cancellation. Can your driving instructor help at all? They can sometimes get tests booked.
It is a very painful process

Unfortunately this is a big flaw in the test booking system 😕. Tests are allocated on a first come first served basis, but currently the software they use doesn't stop bot software block booking tests as soon as they become available. They are trying to change it by only allowing applicants to book tests or possibly registered driving instructors, but currently anyone can book them.

Wow it seems crazy that the system allows that. I’m not in the UK and I think only driving instructors can book tests.

They will also sell the, though. The whole thing is a farce.

What is the name of the company? We used one with a similar set up and it was totally legit. Ended up saving more money on not having to book endless lessons than it cost on higher fees. It’d crazy that it’s necessary but that is the reality of the situation.

They get the test slots by working with a fast track driving school who block book slots.

Just to repeat for the millionth time (it feels like) on here...

Noone is block booking tests, not now, not ever.

In order to book a test you have to have a licence number of someone who has a valid theory for the test date and who doesn't already have a test booked. It's one test booked at a time per valid driver number. Always has been.

What the quick money merchants have been doing is exactly what the OP has encountered. They farm valid licence numbers and then use bots to make use of those numbers while looking for a slot to fulfill the initial request.

The DVSA have made it harder, but far from impossible for this to continue. At the same time it has made the traditional cancellation services which no one has a problem with almost useless.

But it is form of block booking, by using software to game the system. They need to make it that only humans can book tests, how they do that I don't know.

I used one to get my test and paid a similar amount. They need your details because you can’t book a test without putting in the number. I got the details of mine through my instructor - have you asked yours what their other pupils are doing?