Latest news with #instructors
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Learner drivers being exploited by brokers charging over DOUBLE the price for earlier tests
Learner drivers are being exploited by dodgy brokers charging more than double the price for an earlier test. Endless waiting lists as long as six months to sit practical tests means the slots have become hot commodities. Given the huge demand, a driving test black market has been created as test bookings are now being sold at inflated prices of around £200 through third party websites, Facebook groups and WhatsApp. Unofficial broker companies are selling the appointments by using instructors' official Personal Reference Numbers to access available slots, then selling them at an extortionate price where they take the profit off the original fee. The details are then changed to match that of the buyer. The service allows learners to get a test in a matter of days or weeks. Most test slots are being booked through a portal only accessible to qualified instructors. One revealed he was even approached by a broker who offered to pay him in exchange for his details to access the appointments. One report revealed a slot in just nine days was sold for £137 by an instructor - instead of the flat rate of £62 on weekdays or £75 for weekends and evenings. In a WhatsApp group seen by Manchester Evening News, several dates for last minute slots across different locations were being offered within days notice. In another, a sooner slot was being sold at £100 to give the broker a £38 profit. While there are also dedicated Facebook groups with tens of thousands of members desperate to find last-minute test dates or swap slots. One driving instructor said test slots being block booked means there is often no availability for his own legitimate students. 'They are making so much profit,' the instructor told the M.E.N. 'This is a public service. It's not like they can go somewhere privately. They are selling these tests at £250 or even £300 so it's become big business. I look at it as though the students have paid enough to learn to drive, and the test is the final part of it all.' Some desperate learners are going to huge lengths to get earliest test slots possible – even if that means driving the length of the UK to sites that are more remote and in lower demand. In August This is Money reported that multiple freedom of information requests to the DVSA by Marmalade car insurance over a six-month period revealed learners travelled an extra 48 per cent further to take their driving test in 2023 compared to 2019. One learner travelled a staggering 647 miles from Exeter to Shetland to take their practical exam, while another travelled 633 miles from Folkestone to Shetland. The process of paying to complete a theory test, driving lessons and the practical test is a huge financial commitment running up to hundreds of pounds, making the pressure to pass higher than ever. The Online Business Service - what driving instructors use to book and manage tests for their pupils - said: 'Because learners are desperate and know they are going to wait 20 weeks for a test, they book it early and try and go for it. But the pressure to pass is then higher than ever before, because if you fail, you then have to either pay an extortionate amount or wait another 23 weeks. 'They then may need more lessons in that wait time, at a cost of £35 or £40 an hour. The cost implications of failing are lot higher, so this is just desperation. They become stuck in this vicious cycle.' In January 2023, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) banned anyone from selling tests at profit. But since then they have has issued 350 warnings, 792 suspensions and closed 813 businesses for misuse of its booking service. The The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) has also found many unofficial sites offering booking slots for around £200 each. A DVSA spokesperson said: 'DVSA's consultation on improving car driving test booking rules will be used to inform the next steps on improvements we can make to the test booking system so it's easier and fairer for everyone. ' is the only official way to book your practical driving test, and we urge people to report any social media channels or posts offering unofficial test slots or bookings to the social media network. We will take decisive action against those who misuse the booking system to exploit learners.'
Entrepreneur
29-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
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Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you'll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. If you're leading a business—or building one from the ground up—here's a tip: your competitive edge is only as sharp as the skills you keep refining. With EDU Unlimited by StackSkills, you can do just that—for $19.97. That's not a monthly fee. That's lifetime access to over 1,000 curated courses designed to help business leaders, freelancers, and side hustlers gain an edge in today's fast-moving landscape. This platform offers a curated mix of high-impact content in tech, design, development, marketing, finance, and even soft skills that boost leadership and communication. Whether you want to better understand cloud security before your next pitch meeting or finally wrap your head around growth hacking to boost user acquisition, EDU Unlimited has you covered. Led by 350+ vetted, elite instructors, each course is self-paced, practical, and focused on real-world applications—not fluff. You'll also get certifications to show off your new skills, monthly course updates to keep the learning fresh, and quarterly webinars with instructors who've walked the walk. Think of it as the Netflix of business skills—but instead of binge-watching dramas, you're building the skillset that powers your next big business leap. From a Manhattan co-working space to a suburban home office, the lessons apply across industries, stages, and time zones. Skip the expensive boot camps and recurring fees and get lifetime access to a world of growth to use whenever, wherever. Just $19.97 (reg. $600) gets you StackSkills Unlimited for life—through July 20 only. EDU Unlimited by StackSkills: Lifetime Access See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Disabled people's independence stalled by driving lessons wait
Disabled people are facing long waits for driving lessons due to a lack of instructors with suitable to the Association of Disability Driving Instructors (ADDI), less than one percent of the 39,500 driving instructors in the UK have specially adapted vehicles which can be used by those with additional organisation added that only 20 of those instructors are available to disabled learners across the entire South Rogers, chief executive of the ADDI, called the situation "frustrating", adding it was "vitally important" to resolve it. One of those affected is Chelsea Moon, 24, who has atypical osteogenesis imperfecta – a bone condition that stunts just over four feet tall, her additional needs mean she has waited a year for lessons."In a normal car I can't see out the windscreen very well, and I need specially adapted steering and braking."But I really want my independence, instead of relying on public transport." Her instructor Emma Hallett bemoaned the UK-wide lack of those, like her, who have specialist training. "It can be very rewarding, whether you're giving lessons to new learners or existing licence holders who've been taken off the road by an accident or medical incident," she said. Having qualified as a disability driving instructor in 2015, Ms Hallett said the shortage had "always been an issue".However, as a part-time employee at Cornwall Motability in Exeter - an organisation helping disabled people tackle mobility challenges - she said that "measures are underway to address it".Ms Hallett added that the organisation has been given a grant by the Motability Foundation to set up a driving school with two adapted vehicles, which local driving instructors would be trained to use and take wherever said the pilot project is due for completion in 2027 before being rolled out across their other centres in Truro and Plymouth. Mr Rogers said while interested in training, many instructors were either already "too busy" or put off by the cost of adapting their cars - a process which can cost "thousands, even with the discounted manufacturers prices available".In a statement, the Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency (DVSA) said it was "working hard to provide a level playing field for learner drivers with disabilities".
Entrepreneur
08-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Serious About Professional Growth? $20 Gets You 1,000+ Expert-Led Courses for Life.
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you'll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Remember when learning new skills meant signing up for expensive classes, sitting in freezing (or sweltering) classrooms under fluorescent lights, and wondering if the vending machine would ever accept your crumpled dollar bill? Yeah, StackSkills EDU Unlimited is here to wipe that memory clean. For just $19.97 (reg. $600)—yes, less than your last food delivery—you can grab lifetime access to 1,000+ online courses. IT, coding, graphic design, business strategy, marketing. You name the topic, and it's probably already waiting for you. New courses are added monthly, so your library actually grows with you over time, not against you. This is real-world learning made for real-world schedules. Whether you're a business leader trying to sharpen your digital strategy, a parent plotting a return to the workforce, a freelancer adding a new service, or a student supplementing a less-than-exciting course catalog, StackSkills gives you the flexibility to learn on your own time, from any device, without having to sacrifice your sanity (or your weekend plans). And StackSkills isn't about fluff. Their 350+ elite instructors are people who've been there, done that, and are ready to show you how they actually succeeded (and yes, sometimes how they failed, because that's where the real lessons live). Each course includes progress tracking, certificates, and even quarterly live Q&As to keep you engaged and growing. Compared to one college course that costs, what, $600, $1,000, or more, $19.97 for lifetime access is almost criminally affordable. Plus, you'll be able to pivot your learning as new trends pop up, industries shift, and opportunities arise. No need to re-enroll, re-pay, or re-think every time you want to pick up a new skill. It's lifetime learningbuilt for people who actually have lives. Take the leap. Own your growth. And seriously, stop paying $300 just to sit through a PowerPoint for beginners class. StackSkills has you covered for life. Get lifetime access to StackSkills by EDU for just $19.97 (reg. $600) while inventory is available—don't wait any longer to invest in your professional or personal growth. EDU Unlimited by StackSkills: Lifetime Access See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.
RNZ News
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Transport agency at odds over car simulators
transport politics 35 minutes ago Driving schools that offer lessons in high-tech car simulators are at odds with the transport agency over safety risks they could pose for learner drivers once they hit the road. The NZTA argues simulators could encourage over-confidence, putting new drivers at greater risk of crashing, but instructors insist they aren't dangerous. Joe Shaw reports.
