Driving School Franchise
Driving School Franchise
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is stepping up its efforts to stop illegal driving instructors from operating on UK roads. Using a mix of new enforcement strategies, high-profile prosecutions, and advanced investigative work, the DVSA is determined to root out unqualified instructors who put learner drivers and the public at risk.
Illegal driving instructors don’t just threaten the safety of learners; they also damage the reputation and livelihoods of legitimate, qualified professionals. By clamping down on these illegal operators, the DVSA aims to make driving lessons safer, ensure fair pricing in the industry, and protect the value of the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) qualification.
This crackdown is not only about catching fraudsters but also about raising awareness among learners and their families.
You can contact the DVSA Intelligence Unit by email at enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk or by phone on 0800 030 4103 (Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm). Alternatively, reports can be sent to DVSA fraud and integrity teams at fraudandintegrity@dsa.gsi.gov.uk or by phone on 0191 201 8120. When making a report, include as much detail as possible, type and colour of the car, registration number, description of the person giving lessons, date, time and location observed, and any proof of payment or advertisements (messages, receipts, screenshots, etc.). If investigators find evidence of fraud, they may work with the police to carry out roadside checks and seize vehicles used illegally. The official reporting page is available on GOV.UK under “Report an illegal driving instructor”.
The DVSA’s approach to stopping illegal driving tuition relies on two key strategies: investigative enforcement and visible, proactive operations. The investigative arm, powered by the agency’s Intelligence Unit, carefully analyses tips from the public, learner drivers, and the industry. Every report or pattern of suspicious behaviour is reviewed to identify suspected illegal instruction, often using digital monitoring tools and cross-checks against the official ADI register.
When evidence is found, the DVSA follows up with targeted enforcement. This can mean undercover operations, working with local police, or roadside spot checks to catch offenders in the act. For example, in a widely reported case, Mobashir Gujar was caught at Llanishen test centre and found to be teaching illegally with an expired licence. He charged pupils for lessons, test use and “insurance” (totalling £1,972). At Newport Crown Court on 7 August 2025, he was disqualified, given an 18‑month prison sentence suspended for two years, ordered to do 180 hours’ unpaid work and a 15‑day rehabilitation course; proceeds of crime action continues. This case underlines that illegal instruction brings serious criminal and financial penalties.
Visible roadside checks and proactive patrols by DVSA officers act as a major deterrent. These efforts also reassure learner drivers and legitimate instructors that the agency is on their side, safeguarding both public safety and the integrity of the profession. The DVSA says it is “actively investigating suspected cases of illegal driving instruction” to ensure that only properly qualified, registered instructors are allowed to teach and to remind would-be fraudsters that they face real penalties if caught.
Choosing a legitimate driving instructor is one of the most important decisions a learner driver can make.
All BOOK2PASS instructors are DVSA verified. BOOK2PASS performs a verification check on every instructor before offering a free driving school franchise to ensure instructors are genuine and listed on the DVSA register. Choosing BOOK2PASS therefore helps learners be confident they are booking lessons with properly qualified, insured and registered instructors.
Certain warning signs can help learners spot when something isn’t right, whether it’s a missing badge, uninsured vehicles, or offers that seem too good to be true. It’s vital for learners to do their homework and verify their instructor’s credentials to avoid falling victim to fraud or receiving poor-quality tuition. Due diligence at this stage can save a lot of trouble down the line.
If you suspect that a driving instructor may be operating illegally, knowing how and where to report it is essential. The DVSA offers straightforward ways for learners, parents, and qualified instructors to flag up illegal activity, and every report received can help support an investigation and prosecution.
When you make a report, you’ll likely be asked for details such as the instructor’s name, vehicle registration, and the nature of your concerns. This information is invaluable to DVSA intelligence teams, and your action can help protect other learners from unsafe practices. As the reporting process evolves, the DVSA is developing more user-friendly online tools to make it as easy as possible for members of the public to play their part.
Reporting illegal driving instructors is vital for keeping learners safe and upholding industry standards. Each report helps the DVSA identify and stop unqualified individuals, leading to thorough investigations and, when necessary, legal action. By taking responsibility for reporting, all road users help protect others from scams and unsafe lessons, ensuring only those who meet professional standards can instruct.
Public vigilance and timely reporting maintain the integrity of driving tuition and help support the dedicated professionals who have met the high standards required to teach safely.
Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) are specially trained and thoroughly evaluated before they can teach for payment in the UK. They must complete a rigorous training process, pass an assessment, and clear comprehensive background and character checks to join the DVSA’s register.
To remain listed, ADIs are subject to ongoing monitoring, regular standards checks, and must always follow a strict code of conduct. Choosing an ADI such as those available through schools like BOOK2PASS Driving School ensures learners receive safe, up-to-date tuition from someone committed to driver safety and professional excellence.
The Motor Schools Association and similar bodies play a crucial role in raising and maintaining high standards within the driving instruction sector. They work alongside the DVSA by sharing intelligence on suspected illegal activity, helping to promote legitimate tuition, and providing guidance on best practices for instructors.
Through their support for continual professional development and by championing ethical business practices, these associations reinforce the public’s trust in the industry. Their partnership with the DVSA improves the identification of illegal instructors, helping to ensure driving lessons across the UK are legal, safe, and effective for all learners.
Check the DVSA’s online register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) using the instructor’s name or ADI number. A genuine instructor will also show a valid ADI badge in the car and be happy to provide their ADI number on request. If you’re booking through BOOK2PASS, instructors have already been DVSA-verified.
Look out for no ADI badge displayed, refusal to show registration or qualifications, unusually cheap lessons, no specialist insurance, frequent vehicle changes, or a vague booking process. These are common red flags that learners should investigate further.
Report suspected illegal instructors to the DVSA Intelligence Unit by emailing enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk or calling 0800 030 4103 (Mon to Fri, 07:30 – 18:00). You can also contact DVSA fraud and integrity at fraudandintegrity@dsa.gsi.gov.uk or 0191 201 8120. Provide as much detail as possible: vehicle registration, description, dates/times, payment evidence and adverts or messages.
Collect the car make, model and registration number, date, time and location of lessons, the instructor’s name, any screenshots of adverts or messages, receipts or bank transfer records, and photos of the vehicle or the instructor’s badge (if safe and legal to take). The more detail you provide, the easier it is for investigators to act.
Generally, the DVSA focuses on the instructor, but learners may face issues such as invalid insurance after an accident or wasted time and money if lessons are poor or the instructor disappears. Always check the instructor’s ADI status and get receipts for payments to reduce risk.
Penalties can include fines, vehicle seizure, disqualification from driving or teaching, confiscation of proceeds of crime and even prison sentences for serious fraud. Recent high-profile cases show courts are prepared to hand down substantial sentences and financial penalties.
Ask the instructor for proof of specialist learner-driver insurance and details of what it covers. A legitimate ADI will provide insurance information without hesitation. If they can’t or won’t, don’t take lessons with them until you are satisfied.
Not always, but unusually low prices compared with local averages can be a red flag. Cheap lessons may indicate the instructor is uninsured, avoiding tax, or not supplying the standards and vehicle equipment expected of ADIs. Always verify registration and ask for a receipt.
The DVSA uses public tips, digital monitoring, cross-checks against its ADI register, undercover operations, roadside checks and partnerships with local police. Intelligence leads are reviewed and, where evidence exists, targeted enforcement and prosecutions follow.
Yes. Look for reviews on trusted sites, local forums, social media and the instructor or school’s website. Verified platforms and affiliation with reputable schools or the Motor Schools Association add credibility. Be wary of instructors with no online presence or only anonymous positive reviews.
ADI badges are issued by the DVSA: green for qualified instructors and pink for trainees. They should be clearly displayed on the vehicle’s windscreen while teaching. If no badge is present, ask for the instructor’s ADI number and verify it on the DVSA register.
The DVSA treats intelligence reports confidentially and will protect your identity where appropriate. If you are worried about reprisals, mention this when you make your report and provide as much documentary evidence as possible so the case does not rely solely on eyewitness follow-up.
BOOK2PASS verifies every instructor against the DVSA register before offering a franchise, so learners can be confident their instructor is properly qualified, insured and legitimate. This reduces the risk of fraud and helps ensure quality, structured tuition from verified ADIs.
Response times vary by case complexity and available evidence. The DVSA prioritises clear, corroborated intelligence and may follow up with surveillance, roadside checks or police partnership work. Providing comprehensive details speeds up investigations.
Ask for the instructor’s ADI number, proof of insurance, details of lesson structure and pricing, cancellation and refund policies, and reviews or references. Request receipts for payments and confirm whether the instructor uses a dual-control car with L-plates.