Overview
- Technology-assisted scams during theory exams were the largest category, with 1,113 cases involving hidden earpieces or phones.
- Impersonation remained widespread, with 1,084 attempts at theory centres and 647 during practical tests.
- Authorities brought 96 prosecutions in 2024/25, and courts issued prison terms in several 2025 cases, including eight months for Qounain Khan and two years for Ali Rasul.
- Test centres have tightened checks with face verification against photo ID, pocket and sleeve inspections, pat-downs, handheld metal detectors, and intelligence-led targeting.
- Learners faced an average 22-week wait for practical tests in September versus about five weeks pre-pandemic, though DVSA reports no evidence linking waits to cheating as road-safety groups urge tough penalties.