Spain’s traffic authority warns of scams offering fake driving licences online
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Scrolling through Instagram or TikTok late at night, it’s easy to stumble across an offer that feels almost too good to ignore. A Spanish driving licence in just 24 hours. No exams. No studying. No stress. For a growing number of people, that promise has ended not with a licence, but with lost money, stolen personal data and a very real headache.
Spain’s Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) is now warning that this scam is spreading fast, fuelled by social media, clever branding and a basic human desire to save time and effort. It is being described by cybersecurity experts as one of the most convincing digital frauds seen in recent months.
A tempting promise that spreads at speed
The adverts look reassuring at first glance. Accounts using names like “DGT Servicios” or “Carnet DGT España” pop up on Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp. Many use the official DGT logo, screenshots of supposed exam results and short videos claiming successful licence approvals.
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The message is always confident and direct. “We take care of everything. No theory test. No practical test. Approved in 24 hours.”
Once someone shows interest, the conversation quickly moves into private messages and then onto WhatsApp. That’s where the story gets more detailed. The scammers claim to have “internal access” to DGT systems and say they can manually register a pass on the official database.
All that’s needed, they say, is a quick payment – usually between €150 and €200, often requested via Bizum or bank transfer.
After the money is sent, the account goes silent.
Why this scam is more dangerous than it looks
Losing a few hundred euros is bad enough, but the DGT says the real damage often comes later. Victims are usually asked to send personal information, including copies of ID cards, photos, addresses and dates of birth.
That data can then be reused for identity theft, online loans, fake contracts or other forms of fraud – sometimes months after the original scam.
The traffic authority has been clear: there is no such thing as registering a pass from outside the official system. No employee can ‘add’ a driving licence approval, and no private service can bypass the legal process.
“There is absolutely no way to obtain a driving licence without passing the required tests,” DGT sources have repeated.
The law leaves no room for shortcuts
Spain’s driving licence rules are strict and clearly defined. Under the General Drivers Regulation (Royal Decree 818/2009), anyone applying for a licence must be officially declared fit by a Provincial Traffic Office.
That means completing three compulsory steps: a medical fitness check, a theory exam and a practical driving test. Miss any of them, and there is no licence – full stop.
Authorities are also warning that victims of the scam could face legal trouble of their own. Anyone caught driving with a fake or manipulated licence, even if they were genuinely deceived, could be charged with document forgery and driving without a valid permit.
There is no way to “verify” a licence that was never officially issued.
A booming business for cybercriminals
According to cybersecurity experts, this scam is part of a wider trend. Organised groups are now specialising in impersonating public institutions, recycling the same tactics across different countries and government departments.
The numbers are worrying. Digital fraud now accounts for the vast majority of cybercrime in Spain, with police estimating that online scams increase by around 10 per cent every year.
The DGT admits it is constantly playing catch-up. Over the past five years, it has identified more than 830 phishing attempts using its name and branding. In 2025 alone, authorities have already requested the shutdown of 195 fake websites pretending to offer DGT services.
“For every fraudulent site that disappears, several more appear,” cybersecurity specialists working with the traffic authority have said. “Criminals are faster, more agile and completely anonymous.”
How to spot the warning signs
The advice from police and cybersecurity agencies is simple but important. Be sceptical of any offer that promises instant results, especially when it involves official documents. The DGT does not operate through social media, private WhatsApp numbers or unofficial payment methods.
Never send copies of your ID or personal documents to accounts you cannot verify. And if an advert claims it can bypass exams or official procedures, it is a scam – without exception.
For anyone hoping to get a Spanish driving licence, there is only one safe route: use an authorised driving school, follow the legal process and pass the exams.
As tempting as the shortcuts may seem, the DGT’s message is blunt. A licence in 24 hours is not a clever service – it is a trap.
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