Has Driver CPC Been Scrapped? What Actually Changed in 2024 and 2025

No. Driver CPC has not been scrapped. It was reformed on 3 December 2024, and a further change followed on 1 February 2025. If you drive professionally you still need a valid Driver Qualification Card, and you still need 35 hours of periodic training every five years. That requirement did not change.

The confusion is understandable. The reforms were significant, they were reported in a hurry, and "Driver CPC changes" became "Driver CPC scrapped" somewhere along the way. Here is what actually happened.

What changed on 3 December 2024

The single biggest change is that Driver CPC split into two qualifications.

National Driver CPC covers you for driving within the UK only. International Driver CPC covers you for driving in the EU and beyond. If all your work is domestic, the National route is now an option that did not previously exist.

Alongside the split came two practical changes to how National periodic training can be taken. Training can now be delivered in 3.5-hour blocks rather than only in full 7-hour days. And the requirement for multi-day courses to be taken on consecutive days was removed.

For a working driver those two changes matter more than they sound. Losing five full days of earnings to periodic training is a real cost. Half-days, spread out, are far easier to fit around shifts.

What changed on 1 February 2025

A streamlined Return to Driving route was introduced for drivers whose Driver CPC had lapsed. If you let your card expire and stepped away from professional driving, getting back is now a clearer process than it was.

What did not change

This is the part that gets lost. You still need 35 hours of periodic training every five years. You still need a valid Driver Qualification Card to drive professionally. Driving without one is still an offence.

If you are a new driver, the initial qualification is unchanged too: Part 1 theory and hazard perception, Part 2 case studies, Part 3 practical driving, and Part 4 the practical demonstration.

Do I need National or International Driver CPC?

If every job you do starts and ends in the UK, National is enough. If you take work into the EU, or you might want to, you need International.

The honest advice: if you are unsure which way your career will go, International keeps the door open. If you know you are staying domestic, National is the simpler route.

How do I check how many CPC hours I have?

Use the official DVSA service at gov.uk/check-your-driver-cpc-periodic-training-hours. You will need your driving licence number. It shows the hours recorded against you and when your current five-year period ends.

Check it before you assume you are short. Training providers upload hours, and there is sometimes a lag between sitting a course and it appearing.

Frequently asked questions

Has Driver CPC been abolished?

No. It was reformed on 3 December 2024 into National and International routes. The 35-hours-every-five-years requirement and the Driver Qualification Card both remain.

Do I still need 35 hours of CPC training?

Yes. Every five years, unchanged by the reforms. What changed is how flexibly those hours can be taken for National Driver CPC.

Can I do CPC training in half days now?

For National Driver CPC, yes. Periodic training can be delivered in 3.5-hour blocks, and multi-day courses no longer have to be on consecutive days.

What happens if my Driver CPC has expired?

You cannot drive professionally until it is valid again. Since 1 February 2025 there is a streamlined Return to Driving route for exactly this situation.

Is Module 4 still required?

Yes. Module 4 is the practical demonstration part of the initial qualification and it is still required for new drivers. We run Module 4 training and the test in a single half-day session at our Kent centre.

Where this leaves you

If you were hoping Driver CPC had gone away, it has not. If you were worried the rules had changed so much that your existing qualification was worthless, it has not done that either. The requirement is the same size it always was, and the flexibility around meeting it has improved.

Learn2Pass trains Category C, C+E, C1 and PCV drivers from our Sittingbourne centre with full-size vehicles and DVSA-approved instructors, and we test at the Gillingham DVSA test centre. If you need Module 4, or you are starting from scratch, see our courses and pricing or call 01795 667 008 and we will tell you exactly which route applies to you.

Regulations change. This page reflects the position as at July 2026 — always confirm current requirements on gov.uk before making a decision.