- Which? published its findings on 17 January 2024: 26 adverts on Facebook and Instagram.
- Sellers claimed a “direct system registration process” with no exams, 4 to 10 days delivery and a price of about £600.
- DVLA said the adverts were unconnected to it and were recognised scams.
The advert
Which? found 26 adverts for fake licences on Facebook and Instagram. The sellers claimed a “direct system registration process, so there are no exams or tests required” and talked of “back-door” access to DVLA. Delivery was promised in 4 to 5 or 6 to 10 days, and some offered to remove bans and points as well. DVLA called them recognised scams that attempt to obtain payment or personal information, and Meta said it removes content and disables accounts when it finds fraud.
How it unfolds
- You see an advert or a post in a group: a licence, no test, a few working days.
- The seller says to carry on in WhatsApp, where nothing is public and nothing can be reported to the platform as an advert.
- They ask for your address, date of birth and a photo of your passport, as press reports describe.
- A screenshot is sent as “proof”, including mock-ups of the DVLA view-your-licence page.
- You pay. Then either nothing comes, a further fee is demanded, or a card arrives that has no DVLA record.
Steps 2 to 4 are from press reports rather than an official record; we mark them as reported.
What the seller says, and what is true
| The seller says | What is true |
|---|---|
| “You are registered, check on GOV.UK.” | The look-up needs your National Insurance number and licence postcode, or a code you create. A seller has neither for a card that was never issued. See the DVLA database claim. |
| “No test is needed.” | DVSA said the vast majority of such services are scams used to extort money from people desperate for a licence they will never receive. |
| “We have inside contacts.” | DVLA said the adverts had nothing to do with it. |
| “Send your passport photo to verify you.” | The official application asks for ID inside the GOV.UK sign-in. |
Two-minute checks
- Did the conversation start from an advert and move to a private chat? That alone is the pattern.
- Is a licence promised without a test? The GOV.UK route needs tests unless you are exchanging a licence.
- Can the seller show a check code you could use? They cannot.
- Has the price risen since the first message? Extra fees “to release the card” are typical of advance-fee scams.
If you were contacted and have not paid
- Do not send documents or money, and do not reply further.
- Screenshot the advert and the chat.
- Report the advert from the platform’s three-dot menu (Facebook and Instagram, per Which?).
- Block the number inside WhatsApp.
If you already replied or paid
Stop paying, keep the chat, and read what to do if you paid a scammer. Report to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 in England and Wales or to Police Scotland on 101 (GOV.UK). Which? also named Report Fraud and 101 for Scotland. The lawful route with its real prices starts at the provisional licence fee.
Myth and fact
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| “If it was on a big platform, it must be checked.” | Which? found 26 of them, and Meta removed them only afterwards. |
| “WhatsApp is just a way to talk.” | It is where the ID photos are collected, away from public reporting tools. |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a way to get a UK licence without a test?
No. Which? found sellers claiming one, and DVLA said the adverts were unconnected to it. The only exception is a lawful exchange of a qualifying foreign licence.
Why do sellers want my passport photo?
It gives them what they need for identity fraud, whether or not any licence ever arrives.
How much do WhatsApp licence sellers charge?
Which? reported about £600 in the adverts it found, with delivery promised in 4 to 10 days.
Has anyone verified that these licences work?
DVLA said the adverts were recognised scams, and DVSA said the vast majority of such services never deliver a licence.
What should I do if I only replied to the advert?
Stop replying, screenshot the chat, report the advert on the platform and block the number. Do not send documents.
Who do I report this to?
The platform, and Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 in England and Wales or Police Scotland on 101.