DVSA and DVLA · Great Britain
Get licensed to drive for a living
Qualified drivers earn up to £55,000 a year.
Answer three questions and we will tell you whether you can start, what it costs and what to do first. Every fee comes from DVSA and DVLA, not from us.
What do you want to drive?
How old are you?
Which of these do you already have?
Your route
Every route, in full
Open the one you need — most people only need theirs.
Car licence £157 to qualify · 4 steps
The standard full car licence, and the prerequisite for every lorry and bus route.
Open the full Car licence page
Total, standard slots£157
Total, premium slots£170
Of which statutory£119
- 1
Apply for your provisional licence
Apply online through gov.uk from 15 years and 9 months old.
- Apply at gov.uk. It costs £34 online or £43 by post, so the online route saves you £9 for the same outcome.
- You need an identity document, addresses for the last three years and your National Insurance number.
- It usually arrives within a week online. Do not use third-party sites — they charge a fee to fill in the same form.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Provisional licence (online) £34 — regulator Provisional licence (by post) alternative — not added to the total £43 — regulator Where people get stuck
- No valid identity document, which pushes you onto the slower postal route.
- 2
Start lessons
Learn with an approved driving instructor and, if you can, add private practice alongside.
- DVSA data suggests around 45 hours of professional instruction plus 22 hours of private practice is typical. Averages hide a lot of variation — some people need far fewer, some far more.
- Check your instructor holds a green ADI badge. A pink badge means a trainee instructor, which is legal but means they are still qualifying.
- A supervising driver for private practice must be over 21 and have held a full licence for that category for at least three years.
- You must display L plates, and you cannot use motorways unless you are with an approved instructor in a dual-control car.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Driving lessons estimate £30–£48 £38 — provider Where people get stuck
- Insurance for private practice. Learner cover is a separate product and is often forgotten.
- 3
Pass the theory test
One booking covering multiple choice and hazard perception.
- Multiple choice is 50 questions in 57 minutes with a pass mark of 43. Three of the 50 are now based on video clips testing real-world judgement.
- Hazard perception is 14 clips containing 15 developing hazards, scored out of 75 with a pass mark of 44.
- You must pass both parts in the same sitting. Passing one and failing the other means retaking both.
- The certificate is valid for two years from the date you sit it, not the date you book it. Book your practical straight away.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Theory test £23 — regulator Where people get stuck
- Letting the two-year certificate expire while sitting in the practical test queue. This is the most expensive avoidable mistake in the whole process.
- Turning up without a valid licence, which forfeits the fee.
- 4
Pass the practical test
About 40 minutes of driving assessed by a DVSA examiner.
- The test covers an eyesight check, one "tell me" safety question before you drive and one "show me" question while driving, general driving, one reversing manoeuvre, and roughly 20 minutes of independent driving.
- One in seven tests includes an emergency stop.
- You may accumulate up to 15 driving faults. A single serious or dangerous fault fails the test.
- The fee is £62 on weekdays and £75 in evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays.
- Cancel with fewer than three clear working days notice and you lose the fee.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Practical test £62 £75 regulator Where people get stuck
- Test centre waiting lists, which vary enormously by region.
- Using an instructor car on test day without confirming it meets DVSA requirements.
What it qualifies you for
- Car licence driver
Rigid lorry Class 2 £2,600 to qualify · earns up to £45,000 · 7 steps
Rigid lorries over 3,500 kg. The standard licence for supermarket, waste, utilities and construction work.
Open the full Rigid lorry page
Total, standard slots£2,600
Total, premium slots£2,634
Of which statutory£270
- 1
Pass the D4 medical
A doctor or approved provider completes form D4 confirming you meet the higher medical standard for large vehicles.
- The vocational medical standard is stricter than the car standard. It covers eyesight, blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, sleep apnoea, epilepsy and neurological conditions.
- Your own GP can do it, but many charge more and have long waits. Dedicated D4 medical providers are usually cheaper and can often see you within a week.
- The eyesight standard is at least 0.8 (6/7.5) in your better eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) in the other, with a horizontal visual field of at least 160 degrees. Glasses or contact lenses are fine.
- Take the completed D4 with your D2 application. The medical is valid for four months from the date of signing, so do not get it done too early.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to D4 medical examination estimate £50–£150 £80 — medical Where people get stuck
- Untreated or undeclared sleep apnoea — this is the single most common reason a D4 is refused.
- Blood pressure consistently at or above 180/100 mmHg.
- Insulin-treated diabetes requires a separate assessment, though it is no longer an automatic bar.
- 2
Apply for provisional category C entitlement
Send form D2 with your completed D4 medical to DVLA to get provisional category C on your licence.
- Form D2 is the application to add vocational entitlement. Form D4 is the medical report. They go to DVLA together, by post — there is no online route for a first vocational application.
- There is no DVLA fee to add provisional lorry or bus entitlement if you already hold a full Great Britain car licence.
- Turnaround is usually about three weeks. You cannot legally start on-road training until the provisional entitlement is on your record.
- You can check it has landed using the "view your driving licence" service on gov.uk rather than waiting for the plastic to arrive.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to D2 provisional vocational entitlement £0 — regulator Where people get stuck
- Posting D2 without D4, or with an unsigned D4 — DVLA returns the whole application.
- Points or a pending court date can delay or block the grant.
- 3
Driver CPC part 1 — theory
Two separately booked tests: multiple choice and hazard perception. You can sit both on the same day.
- Part 1a is 100 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 55 minutes. The pass mark is 85 out of 100.
- Part 1b is hazard perception: 19 clips containing 20 developing hazards. The pass mark is 67 out of 100.
- They are booked and paid for separately even though most people sit them back to back. Book both at once or you will end up making two trips.
- Book only through gov.uk. Third-party booking sites charge a markup for a service that is free to arrange yourself.
- Your theory pass is valid for two years. Every practical part must be completed inside that window or you start again.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 1a — multiple choice £26 — regulator Part 1b — hazard perception £11 — regulator Where people get stuck
- Booking part 1a but forgetting part 1b, then having to return on another day.
- Treating hazard perception as intuitive. It scores a five-second window and punishes clicking rhythmically.
- 4
Driver CPC part 2 — case studies
A computer-based test of seven real-world scenarios covering safety, regulation and problem solving.
- You work through seven case studies, answering roughly six to eight questions on each, in 1 hour 15 minutes.
- The pass mark is 40 out of 50.
- It is scenario-based rather than recall-based: drivers hours, load security, tachograph rules, incident handling and vulnerable road users.
- Part 2 can be taken before or after the practical parts, but taking it early is sensible because it shares content with part 1.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 2 — case studies £23 — regulator - 5
Take practical training
Practical training with a DVSA-recognised provider, usually sold as an intensive block that includes the vehicle and test bookings.
- Most people take a five to ten day intensive course. Some providers spread it over weekends if you are training around a current job.
- The course price normally covers the vehicle, fuel, insurance and instructor time. Confirm whether DVSA test fees are included — headline prices often exclude them.
- Ask about the retest policy in writing before you pay. A failed part 3b is £115 to rebook plus whatever the provider charges for the vehicle.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Practical training course estimate £1,500–£3,000 £2,250 — provider Where people get stuck
- Headline prices that exclude DVSA test fees, then add them later.
- Retest costs. Ask what a failed 3b costs you before you book.
- 6
Driver CPC part 3 — driving ability
Split into 3a off-road exercises and 3b on-road driving in a rigid lorry.
- Part 3a covers the off-road exercises: the reversing manoeuvre, and for trailer categories the coupling and uncoupling procedure. Since November 2021 an approved training provider can conduct 3a, not just a DVSA examiner.
- Part 3b is the on-road driving test with a DVSA examiner and lasts about an hour.
- 3b includes roughly ten minutes of independent driving, vehicle safety questions, and driving on a mix of roads chosen by the examiner.
- You must pass 3a before you can take 3b.
- You are allowed up to 15 driving faults. One serious or dangerous fault fails the test.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 3a — off-road exercises £40 — regulator Part 3b — on-road driving £115 £141 regulator Where people get stuck
- Test availability. In some regions the 3b queue is the longest single delay in the whole process.
- Losing the two-year theory window while waiting for a 3b slot.
- 7
Driver CPC part 4 — practical demonstration
A vehicle-side test where you demonstrate load security, safety checks and emergency procedure.
- Five topics are assessed: loading the vehicle within safe limits, preventing trafficking of illegal immigrants, assessing emergency situations, reducing physical risk to yourself and others, and carrying out a walk-round safety check.
- Each topic is scored out of 20. You need at least 15 in each topic and 80 out of 100 overall.
- It lasts around 30 minutes and is practical rather than written — you handle the vehicle and equipment.
- Pass all four parts and DVSA issues your Driver Qualification Card. You must carry it whenever you drive professionally.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 4 — practical demonstration £55 £63 regulator
What it qualifies you for
- Class 2 driver — typically £28,000–£45,000 a year. Starting £28,000–£35,000. Varies sharply by sector and shift pattern. Nights, tramping and ADR work pay materially more than day-shift multi-drop.
Articulated lorry Class 1 £3,250 to qualify · earns up to £55,000 · 7 steps
The full artic licence. Highest earning potential, and since 2021 you can go straight to it from a car licence.
Open the full Articulated lorry page
Total, standard slots£3,250
Total, premium slots£3,284
Of which statutory£270
- 1
Pass the D4 medical
A doctor or approved provider completes form D4 confirming you meet the higher medical standard for large vehicles.
- The vocational medical standard is stricter than the car standard. It covers eyesight, blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, sleep apnoea, epilepsy and neurological conditions.
- Your own GP can do it, but many charge more and have long waits. Dedicated D4 medical providers are usually cheaper and can often see you within a week.
- The eyesight standard is at least 0.8 (6/7.5) in your better eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) in the other, with a horizontal visual field of at least 160 degrees. Glasses or contact lenses are fine.
- Take the completed D4 with your D2 application. The medical is valid for four months from the date of signing, so do not get it done too early.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to D4 medical examination estimate £50–£150 £80 — medical Where people get stuck
- Untreated or undeclared sleep apnoea — this is the single most common reason a D4 is refused.
- Blood pressure consistently at or above 180/100 mmHg.
- Insulin-treated diabetes requires a separate assessment, though it is no longer an automatic bar.
- 2
Apply for provisional category C+E entitlement
Send form D2 with your completed D4 medical to DVLA to get provisional category C+E on your licence.
- Form D2 is the application to add vocational entitlement. Form D4 is the medical report. They go to DVLA together, by post — there is no online route for a first vocational application.
- There is no DVLA fee to add provisional lorry or bus entitlement if you already hold a full Great Britain car licence.
- Turnaround is usually about three weeks. You cannot legally start on-road training until the provisional entitlement is on your record.
- You can check it has landed using the "view your driving licence" service on gov.uk rather than waiting for the plastic to arrive.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to D2 provisional vocational entitlement £0 — regulator Where people get stuck
- Posting D2 without D4, or with an unsigned D4 — DVLA returns the whole application.
- Points or a pending court date can delay or block the grant.
- 3
Driver CPC part 1 — theory
Two separately booked tests: multiple choice and hazard perception. You can sit both on the same day.
- Part 1a is 100 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 55 minutes. The pass mark is 85 out of 100.
- Part 1b is hazard perception: 19 clips containing 20 developing hazards. The pass mark is 67 out of 100.
- They are booked and paid for separately even though most people sit them back to back. Book both at once or you will end up making two trips.
- Book only through gov.uk. Third-party booking sites charge a markup for a service that is free to arrange yourself.
- Your theory pass is valid for two years. Every practical part must be completed inside that window or you start again.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 1a — multiple choice £26 — regulator Part 1b — hazard perception £11 — regulator Where people get stuck
- Booking part 1a but forgetting part 1b, then having to return on another day.
- Treating hazard perception as intuitive. It scores a five-second window and punishes clicking rhythmically.
- 4
Driver CPC part 2 — case studies
A computer-based test of seven real-world scenarios covering safety, regulation and problem solving.
- You work through seven case studies, answering roughly six to eight questions on each, in 1 hour 15 minutes.
- The pass mark is 40 out of 50.
- It is scenario-based rather than recall-based: drivers hours, load security, tachograph rules, incident handling and vulnerable road users.
- Part 2 can be taken before or after the practical parts, but taking it early is sensible because it shares content with part 1.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 2 — case studies £23 — regulator - 5
Take practical training
Practical training with a DVSA-recognised provider, usually sold as an intensive block that includes the vehicle and test bookings.
- Training in an articulated vehicle costs more than a rigid because of fuel, insurance and maintenance on a larger unit.
- Since 15 November 2021 the staged testing requirement is gone, so you can train directly for C+E from a car licence. Passing C+E gives you category C automatically.
- Some people still take C first because the jump from a car to an artic is large. It costs more overall but spreads the difficulty. Ask a provider to be honest with you about which suits your experience.
- The 3a exercises for C+E include coupling and uncoupling the trailer, which is not part of the rigid test.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Practical training course estimate £2,000–£3,800 £2,900 — provider Where people get stuck
- Headline prices that exclude DVSA test fees, then add them later.
- Retest costs. Ask what a failed 3b costs you before you book.
- 6
Driver CPC part 3 — driving ability
Split into 3a off-road exercises and 3b on-road driving in a articulated lorry.
- Part 3a covers the off-road exercises: the reversing manoeuvre, and for trailer categories the coupling and uncoupling procedure. Since November 2021 an approved training provider can conduct 3a, not just a DVSA examiner.
- Part 3b is the on-road driving test with a DVSA examiner and lasts about an hour.
- 3b includes roughly ten minutes of independent driving, vehicle safety questions, and driving on a mix of roads chosen by the examiner.
- You must pass 3a before you can take 3b.
- You are allowed up to 15 driving faults. One serious or dangerous fault fails the test.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 3a — off-road exercises £40 — regulator Part 3b — on-road driving £115 £141 regulator Where people get stuck
- Test availability. In some regions the 3b queue is the longest single delay in the whole process.
- Losing the two-year theory window while waiting for a 3b slot.
- 7
Driver CPC part 4 — practical demonstration
A vehicle-side test where you demonstrate load security, safety checks and emergency procedure.
- Five topics are assessed: loading the vehicle within safe limits, preventing trafficking of illegal immigrants, assessing emergency situations, reducing physical risk to yourself and others, and carrying out a walk-round safety check.
- Each topic is scored out of 20. You need at least 15 in each topic and 80 out of 100 overall.
- It lasts around 30 minutes and is practical rather than written — you handle the vehicle and equipment.
- Pass all four parts and DVSA issues your Driver Qualification Card. You must carry it whenever you drive professionally.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 4 — practical demonstration £55 £63 regulator
What it qualifies you for
- Class 1 driver — typically £32,000–£55,000 a year. Starting £32,000–£40,000. Tramping, nights and ADR-endorsed work sit at the top of the range. Agency day rates can beat salaried roles but without sick pay or holiday.
Bus and coach £2,850 to qualify · earns up to £40,000 · 7 steps
Buses and coaches carrying more than eight passengers. Steadier hours than freight, and most operators train you free.
Open the full Bus and coach page
Total, standard slots£2,850
Total, premium slots£2,884
Of which statutory£270
- 1
Pass the D4 medical
A doctor or approved provider completes form D4 confirming you meet the higher medical standard for large vehicles.
- The vocational medical standard is stricter than the car standard. It covers eyesight, blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, sleep apnoea, epilepsy and neurological conditions.
- Your own GP can do it, but many charge more and have long waits. Dedicated D4 medical providers are usually cheaper and can often see you within a week.
- The eyesight standard is at least 0.8 (6/7.5) in your better eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) in the other, with a horizontal visual field of at least 160 degrees. Glasses or contact lenses are fine.
- Take the completed D4 with your D2 application. The medical is valid for four months from the date of signing, so do not get it done too early.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to D4 medical examination estimate £50–£150 £80 — medical Where people get stuck
- Untreated or undeclared sleep apnoea — this is the single most common reason a D4 is refused.
- Blood pressure consistently at or above 180/100 mmHg.
- Insulin-treated diabetes requires a separate assessment, though it is no longer an automatic bar.
- 2
Apply for provisional category D entitlement
Send form D2 with your completed D4 medical to DVLA to get provisional category D on your licence.
- Form D2 is the application to add vocational entitlement. Form D4 is the medical report. They go to DVLA together, by post — there is no online route for a first vocational application.
- There is no DVLA fee to add provisional lorry or bus entitlement if you already hold a full Great Britain car licence.
- Turnaround is usually about three weeks. You cannot legally start on-road training until the provisional entitlement is on your record.
- You can check it has landed using the "view your driving licence" service on gov.uk rather than waiting for the plastic to arrive.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to D2 provisional vocational entitlement £0 — regulator Where people get stuck
- Posting D2 without D4, or with an unsigned D4 — DVLA returns the whole application.
- Points or a pending court date can delay or block the grant.
- 3
Driver CPC part 1 — theory
Two separately booked tests: multiple choice and hazard perception. You can sit both on the same day.
- Part 1a is 100 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 55 minutes. The pass mark is 85 out of 100.
- Part 1b is hazard perception: 19 clips containing 20 developing hazards. The pass mark is 67 out of 100.
- They are booked and paid for separately even though most people sit them back to back. Book both at once or you will end up making two trips.
- Book only through gov.uk. Third-party booking sites charge a markup for a service that is free to arrange yourself.
- Your theory pass is valid for two years. Every practical part must be completed inside that window or you start again.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 1a — multiple choice £26 — regulator Part 1b — hazard perception £11 — regulator Where people get stuck
- Booking part 1a but forgetting part 1b, then having to return on another day.
- Treating hazard perception as intuitive. It scores a five-second window and punishes clicking rhythmically.
- 4
Driver CPC part 2 — case studies
A computer-based test of seven real-world scenarios covering safety, regulation and problem solving.
- You work through seven case studies, answering roughly six to eight questions on each, in 1 hour 15 minutes.
- The pass mark is 40 out of 50.
- It is scenario-based rather than recall-based: drivers hours, load security, tachograph rules, incident handling and vulnerable road users.
- Part 2 can be taken before or after the practical parts, but taking it early is sensible because it shares content with part 1.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 2 — case studies £23 — regulator - 5
Take practical training
Practical training with a DVSA-recognised provider, usually sold as an intensive block that includes the vehicle and test bookings.
- Most large bus operators run their own training and will fund it in exchange for a contract commitment, typically 12 to 18 months. This is the cheapest route into the industry by a wide margin.
- If you train privately you pay the full cost, but you keep the freedom to take any job at the end.
- Bus training includes passenger-specific handling: smooth braking, kerb positioning at stops, wheelchair ramp operation and passenger safety.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Practical training course estimate £1,800–£3,200 £2,500 — provider Where people get stuck
- Headline prices that exclude DVSA test fees, then add them later.
- Retest costs. Ask what a failed 3b costs you before you book.
- 6
Driver CPC part 3 — driving ability
Split into 3a off-road exercises and 3b on-road driving in a bus or coach.
- Part 3a covers the off-road exercises: the reversing manoeuvre, and for trailer categories the coupling and uncoupling procedure. Since November 2021 an approved training provider can conduct 3a, not just a DVSA examiner.
- Part 3b is the on-road driving test with a DVSA examiner and lasts about an hour.
- 3b includes roughly ten minutes of independent driving, vehicle safety questions, and driving on a mix of roads chosen by the examiner.
- You must pass 3a before you can take 3b.
- You are allowed up to 15 driving faults. One serious or dangerous fault fails the test.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 3a — off-road exercises £40 — regulator Part 3b — on-road driving £115 £141 regulator Where people get stuck
- Test availability. In some regions the 3b queue is the longest single delay in the whole process.
- Losing the two-year theory window while waiting for a 3b slot.
- 7
Driver CPC part 4 — practical demonstration
A vehicle-side test where you demonstrate load security, safety checks and emergency procedure.
- Five topics are assessed: loading the vehicle within safe limits, preventing trafficking of illegal immigrants, assessing emergency situations, reducing physical risk to yourself and others, and carrying out a walk-round safety check.
- Each topic is scored out of 20. You need at least 15 in each topic and 80 out of 100 overall.
- It lasts around 30 minutes and is practical rather than written — you handle the vehicle and equipment.
- Pass all four parts and DVSA issues your Driver Qualification Card. You must carry it whenever you drive professionally.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 4 — practical demonstration £55 £63 regulator
What it qualifies you for
- Bus and coach driver — typically £26,000–£40,000 a year. Starting £26,000–£32,000. Lower headline pay than freight but far more predictable hours, and most drivers are home every night. London and coach tour work pay above the range.
Minibus £1,700 to qualify · earns up to £32,000 · 7 steps
Minibuses up to 16 passengers. The usual route for care, school, community and airport transfer work.
Total, standard slots£1,700
Total, premium slots£1,734
Of which statutory£270
- 1
Pass the D4 medical
A doctor or approved provider completes form D4 confirming you meet the higher medical standard for large vehicles.
- The vocational medical standard is stricter than the car standard. It covers eyesight, blood pressure, diabetes, heart conditions, sleep apnoea, epilepsy and neurological conditions.
- Your own GP can do it, but many charge more and have long waits. Dedicated D4 medical providers are usually cheaper and can often see you within a week.
- The eyesight standard is at least 0.8 (6/7.5) in your better eye and at least 0.1 (6/60) in the other, with a horizontal visual field of at least 160 degrees. Glasses or contact lenses are fine.
- Take the completed D4 with your D2 application. The medical is valid for four months from the date of signing, so do not get it done too early.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to D4 medical examination estimate £50–£150 £80 — medical Where people get stuck
- Untreated or undeclared sleep apnoea — this is the single most common reason a D4 is refused.
- Blood pressure consistently at or above 180/100 mmHg.
- Insulin-treated diabetes requires a separate assessment, though it is no longer an automatic bar.
- 2
Apply for provisional category D1 entitlement
Send form D2 with your completed D4 medical to DVLA to get provisional category D1 on your licence.
- Form D2 is the application to add vocational entitlement. Form D4 is the medical report. They go to DVLA together, by post — there is no online route for a first vocational application.
- There is no DVLA fee to add provisional lorry or bus entitlement if you already hold a full Great Britain car licence.
- Turnaround is usually about three weeks. You cannot legally start on-road training until the provisional entitlement is on your record.
- You can check it has landed using the "view your driving licence" service on gov.uk rather than waiting for the plastic to arrive.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to D2 provisional vocational entitlement £0 — regulator Where people get stuck
- Posting D2 without D4, or with an unsigned D4 — DVLA returns the whole application.
- Points or a pending court date can delay or block the grant.
- 3
Driver CPC part 1 — theory
Two separately booked tests: multiple choice and hazard perception. You can sit both on the same day.
- Part 1a is 100 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 55 minutes. The pass mark is 85 out of 100.
- Part 1b is hazard perception: 19 clips containing 20 developing hazards. The pass mark is 67 out of 100.
- They are booked and paid for separately even though most people sit them back to back. Book both at once or you will end up making two trips.
- Book only through gov.uk. Third-party booking sites charge a markup for a service that is free to arrange yourself.
- Your theory pass is valid for two years. Every practical part must be completed inside that window or you start again.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 1a — multiple choice £26 — regulator Part 1b — hazard perception £11 — regulator Where people get stuck
- Booking part 1a but forgetting part 1b, then having to return on another day.
- Treating hazard perception as intuitive. It scores a five-second window and punishes clicking rhythmically.
- 4
Driver CPC part 2 — case studies
A computer-based test of seven real-world scenarios covering safety, regulation and problem solving.
- You work through seven case studies, answering roughly six to eight questions on each, in 1 hour 15 minutes.
- The pass mark is 40 out of 50.
- It is scenario-based rather than recall-based: drivers hours, load security, tachograph rules, incident handling and vulnerable road users.
- Part 2 can be taken before or after the practical parts, but taking it early is sensible because it shares content with part 1.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 2 — case studies £23 — regulator - 5
Take practical training
Practical training with a DVSA-recognised provider, usually sold as an intensive block that includes the vehicle and test bookings.
- Minibus training is the shortest and cheapest vocational course, commonly three to five days.
- If you only drive a minibus voluntarily and not for hire or reward, you may be able to use a section 19 permit instead of a full D1 with CPC. Check this first — it can save you the entire cost.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Practical training course estimate £900–£1,800 £1,350 — provider Where people get stuck
- Headline prices that exclude DVSA test fees, then add them later.
- Retest costs. Ask what a failed 3b costs you before you book.
- 6
Driver CPC part 3 — driving ability
Split into 3a off-road exercises and 3b on-road driving in a minibus.
- Part 3a covers the off-road exercises: the reversing manoeuvre, and for trailer categories the coupling and uncoupling procedure. Since November 2021 an approved training provider can conduct 3a, not just a DVSA examiner.
- Part 3b is the on-road driving test with a DVSA examiner and lasts about an hour.
- 3b includes roughly ten minutes of independent driving, vehicle safety questions, and driving on a mix of roads chosen by the examiner.
- You must pass 3a before you can take 3b.
- You are allowed up to 15 driving faults. One serious or dangerous fault fails the test.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 3a — off-road exercises £40 — regulator Part 3b — on-road driving £115 £141 regulator Where people get stuck
- Test availability. In some regions the 3b queue is the longest single delay in the whole process.
- Losing the two-year theory window while waiting for a 3b slot.
- 7
Driver CPC part 4 — practical demonstration
A vehicle-side test where you demonstrate load security, safety checks and emergency procedure.
- Five topics are assessed: loading the vehicle within safe limits, preventing trafficking of illegal immigrants, assessing emergency situations, reducing physical risk to yourself and others, and carrying out a walk-round safety check.
- Each topic is scored out of 20. You need at least 15 in each topic and 80 out of 100 overall.
- It lasts around 30 minutes and is practical rather than written — you handle the vehicle and equipment.
- Pass all four parts and DVSA issues your Driver Qualification Card. You must carry it whenever you drive professionally.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Part 4 — practical demonstration £55 £63 regulator
What it qualifies you for
- Minibus driver — typically £22,000–£32,000 a year. Starting £22,000–£27,000. Often part-time or split-shift, particularly school and care contracts.
Driver CPC periodic training £445 to qualify · 3 steps
The 35 hours every qualified lorry, bus and coach driver must complete every five years to stay legal.
Open the full Driver CPC periodic training page
Total, standard slots£445
Total, premium slots£445
Of which statutory£0
- 1
Choose National or International Driver CPC
Since December 2024 there are two tracks. Picking the wrong one can lock you out of European work.
- International Driver CPC is the original scheme, renamed. It covers driving professionally in the UK and the EU. It requires 35 hours every five years in courses of at least 7 hours, or 2 × 3.5 hours on consecutive days.
- National Driver CPC is the newer, more flexible UK-only track. Courses can be as short as 3.5 hours.
- The two do not mix. If you include any National course hours in your 35, you get a National Driver CPC and you cannot drive professionally in the EU.
- A National Driver CPC card is printed with "DOMESTIC UK USE ONLY" on the front.
- Up to 12 of the 35 hours can be e-learning on either track.
- When you first pass the qualifying tests you automatically hold International Driver CPC for the first five years.
Where people get stuck
- Drivers taking whatever course is cheapest and locally available, then discovering they have lost EU entitlement.
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Complete 35 hours of periodic training
Spread across the five-year cycle, or blocked into a single week.
- Courses are booked through JAUPT-approved training centres. The hours are recorded against your driving licence number automatically.
- Do not leave it to the final months. Course availability tightens sharply near common expiry dates.
- Driving professionally without a valid Driver CPC carries a fine of up to £1,000, and the operator can be penalised too.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to 35 hours periodic training estimate £250–£450 £350 — provider - 3
If your CPC has already expired — return to driving
Since February 2025 there is a fast route back if you lapsed less than two years ago.
- If your Driver CPC expired more than 60 days ago but less than two years ago, you can take a single 7-hour "Return to Driving" course and start driving professionally in the UK as soon as your provider records it.
- You then have 12 months to complete a further 28 hours to stay qualified.
- To regain EU entitlement, those 28 hours must all be International Driver CPC courses.
- If your CPC expired more than two years ago, there is no shortcut — you need the full 35 hours before you can drive professionally again.
Fees at this step Item Standard Premium slot Paid to Return to Driving module (7 hours) estimate £70–£130 £95 — provider
What it qualifies you for
- Driver CPC periodic training driver
What is coming
In build: talk to an instructor now, ask us to ring you, practise before you pay, watch a live lesson. Ask on the form and we will tell you when yours is ready.
Work out your own total Retakes, evening and weekend test slots
Totals come from the same figures as the routes. Change anything and the number changes with it.
About these figures
Fees checked against DVSA and DVLA on July 2026. They change without much notice — confirm before you book.
Northern Ireland is run by the DVA, not DVSA/DVLA. Fees, forms and rules differ, and new NI drivers must display R plates and stay under 45 mph for a year after passing. Check nidirect.gov.uk before booking anything.
Questions people actually ask
Do I need to pass Category C before C+E?
No. SI 2021/1251 removed staged testing, so a full car licence is enough to go straight to C+E.
Who sets these fees?
DVSA and DVLA set the statutory ones under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Training prices are set by providers and vary.
Does any of this apply in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland is run by the DVA, not DVSA/DVLA. Fees, forms and rules differ, and new NI drivers must display R plates and stay under 45 mph for a year after passing. Check nidirect.gov.uk before booking anything.
Talk to someone
Leave your number and we will call you back with a plan for your route.