A BBC investigation has discovered websites where HGV licences can be bought for as little as £250. The site, which maintains it sells ‘novelty’ driving licences, will send an almost perfect copy of a UK driving licence (with whatever categories you want on it) once you pay them £250.

Although the HGV entitlement on the licence is fake - and won’t show up if a police officer or employer checks with the DVLA - but concerns have been raised that the licences look real enough to pass roadside checks.

The licences can also be ordered with a paper counter-part if an extra £100 is added to the bill and this has raised concern amongst HGV operators. HGV training courses take a minimum of 5 days to complete, with a vigorous DSA driving test at the end.

Anyone thinking of buying a fake HGV licence could be in for a shock if they try and use it to get a job. Gary Benardout, Managing Director of AdvantageJobs said:

‘At Advantage we have over 5,000 HGV positions available at any time, if a potential employee were to arrive for a job interview with a fake licence, the consequences would be dire. 99% of employers will screen HGV licences via the DVLA hot-line - and if a fake licence holder is sitting in-front of them…they’ll call the police’.

The police can prosecute fake licence holders for fraud, and in the event of an accident, hefty jail terms can be handed down to non-insured, fraudulent licence holders.  The DVLA and the police have powers to enforce jail terms of 10 years for fake licence holders.