Driving Lessons Reading

Learner Drivers Warned About Extra Charges.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is advising customers to avoid copycat websites and save money by coming to the agency directly.
Copycat websites offer to book theory and practical driving tests, and can appear to be the official agency, but charge a premium for their services.

Some websites also charge for ‘pass protection’ with the promise of a free "re-test" that very few customers would ever qualify to use.

Some companies charge up to £30 for just booking a test, on top of the driving test fee itself.

Current Prices Of Tests (20th October 2013)

Theory Test -£31

Practical Test - £62 Weekday / £75 Evenings, Weekends and Bank Holidays

Current prices can be checked here... www.gov.uk/driving-test-cost

Coming to DSA directly can save money and gives you instant confirmation of your driving test appointment.

Alastair Peoples, DSA Chief Executive, said:

"It’s unacceptable that some of these websites try to trick learner drivers into paying an extra fee to book their driving test."

"We’ve already taken action with Trading Standards and the Advertising Standards Authority to make sure that they don’t use official logos, trademarks or make misleading claims. We continue to monitor these sites and explore new ways to counteract activities."

Misleading Consumers

In response to complaints from DSA, the Advertising Standards Authority has ordered a number of websites to remove wording that could mislead consumers into thinking they were using the official booking service.

Last month (July 2013), the website book-theory-test-online.co.uk was fined £85,000 by premium rate phone regulator Phone Pay Plus for ‘very serious’ breaches of its code.

Official Booking Website

GOV.UK is the only official driving test booking website for both theory and practical tests.

Theory Tests can be booked at www.gov.uk/booktheorytest
Practical Driving Tests can be booked at www.gov.uk/bookdrivingtest 

What if you’ve used an unofficial website?

The Citizens’ Advice Bureau can tell you about any course of redress open to you in your case if you’ve used an unofficial booking website.

Will you be next to pass your Driving Test with MSM Driving School?

For Driving Lessons in Wokingham contact a member of the team on 01189612055 or email us at info@msm-online.co.uk

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