CMA orders the AA and BSM driving schools to refund ... - WiredGov
The AA Driving School and BSM Driving School – both of which are owned by the AA – must refund more than 80,000 customers and pay a fine of £4.2 million.
www.wired-gov.netDirect answer: The CMA has ordered the AA Driving School and BSM Driving School to refund over 80,000 learner drivers and fined the AA group £4.2 million for drip pricing, with total penalties near £5 million as of mid-April 2026. Expect refunds to start automatically for affected customers.
Details and context:
- What happened: The CMA found that more than 80,000 learners were not shown the total price upfront online; a mandatory booking fee was added later in the booking process, which breached consumer law. The action targets drip pricing practices in online lesson bookings. [Source: CMA press release and coverage from GOV.UK and major outlets]
- Financial impact: The AA Driving School and BSM Driving School must refund more than £760,000 to affected customers and the AA group is fined £4.2 million; combined penalties total around £5 million. The refund program is automatic for most customers; some may receive refunds by card or cheque.
- Who is affected: More than 80,000 learner drivers who booked online with AA Driving School or BSM Driving School. Individual refunds vary by the number of lesson packages purchased, with the average payout around £9.
- Next steps for customers: If you were an AA Driving School or BSM Driving School learner between the relevant dates, you should have seen communications about refunds; refunds should appear on the original payment method where possible. If you don’t see a refund, check your bank statements and the correspondence from the driving schools.
- Broader significance: This marks the CMA’s first use of its new enforcement powers under consumer protection rules to order refunds and levy a financial penalty for drip pricing online.
Illustration (example): A simple snapshot of the outcomes can be thought of as:
- Drip pricing violation → CMA investigation → £4.2m fine + £760k refunds → 80,000+ affected customers → automatic refunds issued.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to your location in Miami (your earlier context) or summarize the official CMA press release in plain language, or provide a quick checklist to verify if you’re eligible for a refund.