Illegal driving instructors are a danger to learner drivers and other road users and they undermine your business. Their fraudulent activities threaten to devalue the professional qualifications you've worked hard to achieve.
As qualified professionals, you are essential to road safety. That's why we're actively protecting your profession and livelihoods by investigating and prosecuting illegal instructors, working with you to identify unlawful practice, and making sure only qualified approved driving instructors (ADI) can legally charge for instruction.
How we're tackling illegal instruction
We’re working in 2 complementary ways to stop illegal instructors:
1. Investigative enforcement
Our Intelligence Unit reviews all suspected cases of illegal instruction, including reports from you, driving examiners and the public.
When credible evidence is found and further action is needed, the case is escalated to our Counter-Fraud and Investigations team for full investigation – then onto our Prosecution and Legal Services team for court action.
We’re unable to update anyone who submits a report as doing so could risk compromising any ongoing investigation, but every report is reviewed and contributes to our enforcement efforts.
2. Proactive enforcement operations
We're running targeted operations to catch illegal instructors and unsafe vehicles before they're reported, creating visible deterrence across the country.
Investigations secure convictions
Here’s a recent example of what happens when DVSA investigate reports of illegal instructors.
Mobashir Gujar: sentenced at Newport Crown Court on 7 August 2025
After being spotted at Llanishen driving test centre with a failing pupil, our investigation revealed Gujar had been operating illegally despite earlier warnings. He was disqualified from driving and his licence had expired in 2021. Gujar charged unsuspecting students:
- £35 per hour for lessons
- £120 for test vehicle use
- £87 for insurance
- total fraud: £1,972 from multiple victims
He was sentenced to:
- 18 months imprisonment (suspended for 2 years)
- 180 hours unpaid work
- 15-day rehabilitation requirement - which includes mandatory learning on topics such as fraud which are designed to reduce the risk of reoffending
- proceeds of crime proceedings ongoing
These cases show that illegal instruction leads to serious criminal convictions and substantial financial penalties.
Targeted operations: proactive protection
Since September 2024, we've been running nationwide enforcement operations targeting learner vehicles. It aims to:
- catch illegal instructors
- check instructor certificates are displayed
- make sure driving school cars are safe to drive
This joint operation involves DVSA working alongside law enforcement and other government departments.
So far, we've run operations in 5 locations – including Leeds, Nottingham, Rotherham and Sheffield.
During these operations:
- more than 150 learner vehicles have been stopped and checked – with a number of immediate and delayed prohibitions issued for vehicle defects
- 3 potential illegal instructors have been identified and are now under investigation
- 2 vehicles have been taken off the road by law enforcement for insurance offences
This activity is creating a visible deterrence, while catching illegal operators before they can exploit more learners.
Real consequences for illegal operators
Both enforcement routes deliver serious consequences:
- prison sentences (including suspended sentences)
- substantial fines and compensation orders
- community service requirements
- proceeds of crime investigations
- criminal fraud convictions affecting future employment
Every prosecution sends a clear message that illegal instruction is high-risk criminal activity with lasting consequences.
Your role
Report suspected illegal instruction
The intelligence you share with us drives our investigations and leads directly to prosecutions.
We’re in the process of developing a new reporting form to improve how suspected illegal instruction is shared with our Intelligence Unit. The new form is being designed to make it easier for you to share your concerns, ensure the right information reaches the team who investigate and help us to act more quickly.
It’s important we get the new form right so it may take a little more time before it’s live, but we’ll share more about this as soon as we can.
Support our operations
When you see DVSA enforcement activity in your area, know that it's creating deterrence and catching illegal instructors your reports might not have identified yet.
If you're stopped during an operation:
- cooperate fully with DVSA enforcement officers
- have your ADI certificate clearly displayed and readily available
- ensure your vehicle insurance covers driving instruction
- be patient – checks help protect your profession
What officers will check:
- valid ADI or trainee instructor certificate
- current registration status
- vehicle insurance for driving instruction
- vehicle safety and roadworthiness
Why this helps you:
- demonstrates you're operating legally
- shows the difference between qualified and illegal instructors
- helps officers identify who should and shouldn't be teaching
- builds evidence of professional standards in the industry
Your cooperation:
- makes operations more efficient
- helps target enforcement on actual illegal instructors
- shows legitimate instructors support action against illegal operators
- contributes to protecting the profession's reputation
You have nothing to fear from these checks – they're designed to protect your business by stopping those operating illegally and undercutting professional standards.
Together, we can stop illegal instruction.
21 comments
Comment by T A Hussain posted on
👍🏼keep up the good work 👍🏼
Comment by Carole Bray posted on
As a practicing ADI, I welcome any type of investigation and law enforcement regarding these illegal activities. There are extremely bad drivers on the roads that also put everyone at risk! It feels like an absolute minefield on the roads!
Comment by Karen MacLeod posted on
I commend the DVSA in doing this. I hear about illegal instruction but haven’t come across any myself. My badge is displayed in my car window and I would welcome a stop.
Keep up the good work.
Comment by Dev Parashar posted on
This may sound very convincing and good but Family, relatives and friends are legally allowed to support learner-driver.. I think that such help might be available for a fee as well.... classified as Paid-illegal driving instructor work...
It wouldn't be fair if DVSA stop them..
Comment by lucyrobinson posted on
DVSA supports a blended approach to learning to drive. That means combining professional lessons with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and private practice with a family member or friend. Family and friends are legally allowed to support learner drivers, provided they meet the qualifying criteria for accompanying drivers. However, this cannot be done for payment or reward. This would be classed as illegal instruction if they were not an ADI or holder of a trainee licence. For more information and tips on learning to drive safely, check out Ready to Pass? - How to pass your driving test - https://readytopass.campaign.gov.uk/
Comment by Graham Burrows posted on
Hi I'm an ADI in Plymouth
How do I report a suspected fraud?
Regards
Comment by lucyrobinson posted on
Hi Graham, please follow the guidance on reporting an illegal driving instructor: https://www.gov.uk/report-an-illegal-driving-instructor
Comment by Nasim posted on
There should be a direct telephone number to report illegal instructors whilst it is happening
Also an email to report at a later time with full details
Comment by lucyrobinson posted on
Please follow the instructions on reporting an illegal driving instructor. The 0800 number is available from 07:30 – 18:00 and an email address is available in the guidance: https://www.gov.uk/report-an-illegal-driving-instructor
Comment by Christopher Moir posted on
Brilliant idea..I would be more than happy to help in any way I can
Comment by Ranj posted on
I am in full support of your efforts. Thank you.
Comment by lorraine barker-powell posted on
Great to see but I need to report what I’ve seen and there are no links or info where to send details , the test centre poster is out of date
Comment by lucyrobinson posted on
Hi there, please follow the instructions on reporting an illegal driving instructor on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/report-an-illegal-driving-instructor
Comment by HAYDN JENKINS posted on
"Gujar had been operating illegally despite earlier warnings."
why were warnings given why was the person not prosecuted first or second warning.
in 35 years as an ADI, I was only asked once for my certificate by DVLA/police check at the test centre, this is very poor enforcement,
illegal instructors shouldn't be given warnings, they should be prosecuted 1st time and everytime.
Comment by lucyrobinson posted on
There are various reasons why DVSA may issue a warning rather than pursue prosecution. To proceed with a prosecution, we must satisfy both the evidential and public interest tests outlined in the Prosecutors’ Code of Practice.
In light of significant court backlogs, issuing a warning for a first offence is often a pragmatic alternative. It allows us to take proportionate action while also establishing a record that can demonstrate reasonableness, and guilty knowledge should further offences occur and prosecution be pursued.
Comment by Naida posted on
That's actually a really good, learners are unsafe with these people not only the learner public too and otger road users. To be ome a ADI we have to under go so much training its a very stressful to become a qualified Adi you must demonstrate you can teach safely and be able to be proactive and to be able to manage dangerous situations at all time be alert.
Comment by MOHAMMAD FARHAN posted on
Two driving schools are allowing their former learners to use their cars to teach new learners, even though they do not hold ADI or PDI badges. I reported this issue, but no action has been taken, and they are still conducting lessons, especially on Saturdays and Sundays.
Comment by lucyrobinson posted on
Thank you for reporting your concerns. Further details would be needed to confirm receipt of the report. A telephone number is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/report-an-illegal-driving-instructor
Comment by Julia Zouch posted on
I'm pleased to learn more about yhe work of the enforcement team and hope operations like these will be carried out in more areas across the country.
Comment by Roger posted on
How can we report a illegal driving instruction taking place now. Where do we send photographic evidence and our complaints. Without this how are we supposed to help immediately as we see this going on in Bristol every day?
Comment by lucyrobinson posted on
Please follow the instructions on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/report-an-illegal-driving-instructor It is possible to attach photos to the email address specified on the website.