Learner drivers across the UK stand to receive refunds following a crackdown on hidden booking fees by major driving schools. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has mandated refunds for over 80,000 affected customers and imposed a £4.2 million fine on AA Driving School and BSM Driving School for employing drip pricing practices.
Number of Affected Drivers
More than 80,000 learner drivers booked lessons online without seeing the full upfront price, including a £3 booking fee that only appeared at checkout. The total refunds amount to over £760,000, with individuals receiving an average of around £9 based on their purchases.
Eligibility Criteria
Customers qualify if they booked lessons on the AA or BSM websites between April and December 2025. New learners saw the complete cost, incorporating the mandatory fee, only after selecting lessons and entering personal details.
How to Receive Your Refund
Affected customers require no action. AA Driving School and BSM Driving School will contact eligible individuals automatically and issue refunds to the original payment card. If card refunds prove impossible, cheques will be mailed instead.
Reasons for the Fine
The schools violated regulations by excluding the £3 mandatory booking fee from initial pricing displays. Drip pricing, which adds unavoidable charges late in the process, misleads consumers and has been prohibited to ensure transparency.
AA Driving Schools’ Response
A spokesperson for AA Driving Schools expressed disappointment with the outcome but confirmed immediate website updates to highlight the fee prominently. “Although the £3 booking fee was made clear to customers prior to their purchase, we acknowledge it should have also been displayed at the start of the online booking journey,” the spokesperson stated. “Having listened to the regulator, we made immediate changes… We are now refunding all relevant customers.” The company emphasized its long-standing commitment to consumer rights over 120 years.
CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell stated: “If a fee is mandatory, the law is clear: it must be included in the price from the very start – not added at checkout – so consumers always know what they need to pay. At a time when people are watching every pound, dripped fees can tip the balance. And when it comes to something as important – and costly – as learning to drive, people deserve clarity.”
Ongoing Challenges in the Driving Industry
The sector faces continued disruptions from a post-Covid driving test backlog, with average wait times now at 22 weeks compared to five weeks pre-pandemic. Desperate learners book distant slots or fall victim to bots and resellers charging premiums. Government initiatives include adding 10,000 extra tests monthly and deploying military examiners to alleviate pressures.
