What happened
01
The fee was missing from the headline price from April to December 2025.
02
The CMA cut the fine from £7 million because the AA settled early.
03
More than £760,000 goes back to over 80,000 learner drivers.
04
In August 2026 the CMA opened drip pricing cases against Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and RED Driving School.
Why this is a design failure
A price that grows at checkout makes people compare the wrong numbers.
The fair alternative
Show the full price, including every mandatory fee, from the first screen.
Do
Include every mandatory fee in the first price people see.
Don’t
Don’t add mandatory fees at checkout.
Company response
The AA admitted the breach and settled. The CMA said it engaged constructively.