FAQ
- How do I get my licence?
Driving tests to get your professional driving licence. What you will need before taking your lorry driving tests?
Before you can apply for provisional entitlement to drive a lorry, you must pass your theory and driving test to drive a car - category B licence.
You must meet the minimum age requirements for the type of vehicle you want to drive. See our guide.
You will also need to have a medical assessment from a doctor to assess your fitness to drive before the provisional entitlement can be granted. Your doctor will normally charge you for completing the report however if you speak to us we may be able to give you details of Doctors that we use on a regular basis. If you hold a valid full photo card driving licence and want to apply for a provisional licence to drive larger vehicles, complete the application form D2 and medical report form D4. Send these and your photo card driving licence, along with the D740 paper counterpart, to:DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BR
Once you have done this and received your provisional entitlement to drive LGV C, you can take lessons and the necessary theory and practical driving tests to drive a lorry. If you want to drive a lorry for a living, you will also need to pass the Driver CPC Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) initial qualification tests. See our FAQ on Driver CPC for more information or call 01302 337530 - How old must I be and what do I need to drive LGVs?
Introduction
To drive a lorry, you will usually need to have a vocational driving licence for that category of vehicle. To get this, you will first need to apply to add provisional entitlement to drive larger vehicles to your current licence, and then pass the theory and practical driving tests. If you want to drive a lorry for a living, you will also need to pass initial qualification tests to gain a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC). These can be taken at the same time as your vocational theory and practical tests. Existing lorry drivers will have until 2014 to accumulate the 35 hours of Periodic Training which will entitle them to hold a Driver Qualification Card and put them on the same status as newly qualified drivers who have completed the four modules needed to drive LGVs professionally after 10thSeptember 2009
Euro1 Training Ltd will be able tell you how to book a theory and driving test. We can provide your assessment drive and from that we can quote you an approximate cost for your LGV training.
So what can I drive and what licence do I need
Minimum ages for driving different vehicles
The minimum ages for driving a medium and large-sized vehicles on British Roads is 21 however this can be reduced to 18 with certain qualifications which are listed below.
This guide lists vehicle category descriptions for driving tests passed after 1 January 1997 and the minimum ages for driving them. All weights refer to maximum authorised mass unless stated otherwise. This is the total weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load it can carry.
This guide will help you understand how vehicle weights affect the type of vehicle(s) you can drive and the legal age you must reach before you can apply for a driving licence.
Vehicle weights explained
As well as your age, the different vehicle categories on your driving licence govern the type of vehicle you can drive. These categories are also determined by the weight of the vehicle your licence enables you to drive.
Unladen weight
The unladen weight of your vehicle is its weight when not carrying goods. The unladen weight:
• includes the body and all parts necessary for your vehicle to operate normally on a road
• excludes water, fuel or other substances used to power the vehicle
Maximum authorised mass
Maximum authorised mass (MAM) - also known as gross weight and permissible maximum weight - is the maximum weight of the vehicle that may be used on the road, including the maximum load the vehicle may safely carry. This is normally shown on a plate fitted to the vehicle.
If your vehicle is unlikely to be used at its potential maximum weight, you can have your vehicle 'down plated'. In practice, this means modifying your vehicle's springs and other components so that only a lighter load can be carried.
MAM affects entitlements you need on your licence to legally drive a vehicle.
Plated weight
The MAM should be shown on the manufacturing plate fitted to the vehicle. This means the marking on a goods vehicle, by ministry plate, showing the maximum weights for that particular vehicle - e.g. MAM, and in certain cases, train weight.
Train weight
Train weight is the combined MAM of the vehicle and the trailer it is pulling.
Further information
If you have any questions on the maximum weights of rigid vehicles, trailers and articulated combinations - but not driving licence categories - you can contact:
Transport, Technology and Standards
Department for Transport
Zone 2/01 Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DRAge restrictions for driving medium-sized and large vehicles with or without trailers
The minimum age requirement for driving a medium-sized vehicle with a light trailer in the UK is 18. To drive a medium-sized vehicle with a heavier trailer or a large vehicle with any type of trailer, you must be at least 21 - or 18 if the combination weight is under 7,500 kilograms.
You must hold a category 'C1' entitlement, or a 'C1+E' entitlement for trailers heavier than 750 kilograms.
Minimum ages for driving medium vehicles
Description
Category
Minimum age
Vehicles between 3,500 kilograms and 7,500 kilograms with a trailer up to 750 kilograms
C1
18*
Combinations of vehicles where the towing vehicle is in subcategory C1 and its trailer has a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of more than750 kilograms provided that the MAM of the combination thus formed does not exceed 12,000 kilograms and the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. (If you passed your category B test prior to 1 January 1997 you will be restricted to a total weight not more than 8,250 kilograms)
C1+E
21*, **
* Age 17 if a member of the armed services.
* Age 18 if the driving licence was obtained before 10 September 2009 and the combination weight is under 7,500 kilograms, e.g. the vehicle weight is 5500 kilograms and the trailer weight is 1999 is kilograms - total weight is 7499 kilograms.
** Age 18:
• after passing a driving test for this category and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) initial qualification
• while learning to drive or taking a driving test for this category or Driver CPC initial qualification
• while undergoing a national vocational training course to obtain a Driver CPC initial qualification
• if the driving licence was obtained before 10 September 2009.
Minimum ages for driving large vehicles
Description
Category
Minimum age
Vehicles over 3,500 kilograms with a trailer up to 750 kilograms
C
21*
Vehicles over 3,500 kilograms with a trailer over 750 kilograms
C+E
21*
* Age 17 if member of armed forces.
* Age 18:
• after passing a driving test for this category and Driver CPC initial qualification
• while learning to drive or taking a driving test for this category or Driver CPC initial qualification
• while undergoing a national vocational training course to obtain a Driver CPC initial qualification
• if the driving licence was obtained before 10 September 2009
Driving Standards Agency Helpline
0115 901 2500
- HOW MUCH DOES IT COST IN TEST FEES TO COMPLETE MODULES 1 TO 4 FOR THE DRIVERS INITIAL QUALIFICATION I.E DRIVERS WHO PASSED THEIR CAR TEST AFTER 1997?
Module 1 Theory and Hazard Perception, currently £50
Module 2 Case Study Theory Test, currently £30
Module 3 Practical Driving Test, currently *£115
Module 4 DCPC Practical “Show me” Test *£55
* Practical tests taken on Saturday are more expensive.
Total for those tests taken Monday - Friday £250
Plus Medical approximately £50
Plus Assessment and lessons,currently £40/hour.
We would recommend that you budget £950 - HOW MUCH TO PASS MY TEST IF I PASSED MY CAR DRIVING TEST BEFORE 1ST JAN.1997?
You will need to complete Modules 1 and 3 only. You have “grandfather” rights for Driver CPC although you will have to complete 35 hours of periodic training by the 5 anniversary of passing your LGV test.
A ball park figure for someone with average ability would be £850 - HOW LONG DOES THE DRIVING TEST LAST?
The LGV practical driving test is conducted over a route of about 25 miles, covering a variety of road and traffic conditions. Routes used could include Dual Carriageway, Motorway, Main 'A' roads, Country Lanes and congested City Centre roads. Euro1 Training conduct their tests at the DSA Test Centre at Wetherby.
The driving test lasts approximately 60 minutes and includes some special exercises. The reversing and controlled braking exercise takes place at the Test Centre usually before going out on the road. There are other exercises whilst out on test. Candidates for C+E (Lorry and trailer) tests also have to physically un-couple and re-couple the trailer; this is usually done on their return to the Test Centre - IF I AM OVER 21 DO I NEED TO TAKE THE CAT.C1 (7.5 TONNE)TEST BEFORE TAKING THE CAT.C TEST?
No. If you are 21 or over we would advise you to skip Category CI and go directly to Category C . The course costs and difficulty levels are the same and you will end up with two licence categories for the price of one.
- IS THERE A WAITING PERIOD BETWEEN PASSING MY CAT.C AND TAKING MY CATC+E?
No. As soon as you have passed your Category C test you will need to send your Provisional licence along with your pass certificate to DVLA, they will update your licence and return it, as soon as it is returned you can start to train and take your Category C+E
