[Mark07]

Check out this article for more information.

Since the pandemic, the average wait for a driving test is over 4 months. Subsequently, a 'black market' has opened up.

Bots are snatching appointments as soon as they become available, these appointments are then being sold on unofficial sites for inflated prices - upto £195.

As well as the cost implications, there have been reports of learners having personal details being stolen and being unable to book tests through legitimate routes.

The DVSA is taking steps to combat this, but if you see promotions of 'VIP packages' on forums and social media accounts it's recommend that you only book your driving test via the official government website.

[Mark07]

The official driving test booking site - https://www.gov.uk/book-driving-test

[Drivingforfun]

Going back to economics 101 but I wonder if it's one of those things that is essentially only in demand because people think it's in demand??

In other words, if the bots weren't doing their thing and learners weren't being advised to book a year in advance, would there be a supply issue in the first place?

[olduser]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

Going back to economics 101 but I wonder if it's one of those things that is essentially only in demand because people think it's in demand??

In other words, if the bots weren't doing their thing and learners weren't being advised to book a year in advance, would there be a supply issue in the first place?

I thought I heard they are trying to workout a way of stopping the bot's.

One way would be to only accept a booking for a driving test against a valid provisional licence number.

[Drivingforfun]

@olduser

That makes sense to me and sounds easy enough to implement

I don't know if I'm making this up but I might have read something about people booking tests in any area of the country they can get one - even if it means traveling to somewhere they've not been to before ... I don't know how that could be stopped as I suppose that's not illegal