- DVLA issues licences; DVSA runs the theory and practical tests. Neither sells shortcuts.
- Which? found 26 fake-licence adverts on Facebook and Instagram, published 17 January 2024.
- The real route: £34 provisional licence online, £23 theory test, £62 to £75 practical test.
Start here, by situation
- I saw an advert for a licence: buy a driving licence, then the WhatsApp licence scam.
- I paid or sent my passport: what to do now.
- I want to check a licence: is my licence real.
- I want the lawful route: get a driving licence, or exchange a foreign one.
- I drive lorries or buses: buying an HGV licence.
- I am travelling abroad: the international driving permit.
The core scams
- Buy a driving licence: the pillar guide, with the costs, the law and documented cases.
- Fake driving licences: why a counterfeit fails the official check and what a 2018 Warwickshire case shows.
- Buying a provisional licence: the official £34 route against resellers.
- Fake theory test certificates: what a real pass needs and the language support on offer.
- Driving test booking scams: how slots are really released and why booking for someone else is unlawful.
- Test impersonation: paying someone to sit your test, and how it has been prosecuted.
- The WhatsApp licence scam: what the sellers ask for and say.
Real costs and rules
- Provisional licence fee: £34 and £43, with other licence fees alongside.
- Age and eligibility: who can apply and the 185-day rule.
- Theory test cost: every test fee, and what to take on the day.
Lorry and bus drivers
- Buying an HGV licence and the HGV theory test: why offers of up to £1,200 fail.
- Driver CPC check, the 35 hours and national versus international courses.
- Driver CPC training fraud: hours paid for and never recorded.
Driving abroad
- The international driving permit: £5.50, who qualifies and how long each type lasts.
- 1949 against 1968, paper licences and fake IDPs.
Points and bans
- Penalty point removal scams: why a seller cannot clear the record.
- Ban removal scams, how long points last, totting up and checking points online.
Check and report
To check a licence, use is my licence real. To see why a database entry cannot be bought, read the DVLA database claim. The offences are on UK law on fake documents. To report a fraud in England and Wales, GOV.UK gives Report Fraud online or on 0300 123 2040; in Scotland, Police Scotland.
More official routes
- How long a theory test pass lasts.
- What you receive after passing the practical test.
- HGV and bus licence cost and the D4 medical.
- Replacing a lost Driver CPC card and what operators must check.
- Where to get an IDP.
- Reducing a driving ban lawfully.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the official source for driving licence information?
GOV.UK. DVLA issues licences, DVSA runs tests, and both publish their services there.
Is any of this site selling licences?
No. Truthdocuments sells nothing and is not part of DVLA, DVSA or any government body.
Which scam is the most common?
We have no official ranking. Which? found 26 adverts for fake licences on Facebook and Instagram, and TSB reported rising losses to fake test slots in 2025.
Where do I start if I already paid?
Read what to do after paying a scammer, call your bank, then report to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 in England and Wales or Police Scotland.