How Much Does an HGV Licence Cost in 2026?

HGV training with us costs between £875 and £2,826 all in, depending on which licence you need. That figure includes your training and your DVSA test fees. Your medical and theory test are the only extras, and they come to around £110.

Below is every price we charge, every fee the DVSA charges, and an honest explanation of why some providers advertise a much lower number than they will actually take from you.

What each HGV course costs

Two figures for each course: the training price, and the all-in price including the DVSA tests we book for you.

Class 2 (Category C) — £1,295 + VAT training, or £1,764 all in. Rigid lorries over 3.5 tonnes. The usual starting point.

Class 1 upgrade (Category C+E) — £1,395 + VAT training, or £1,829 all in. Articulated lorries. Requires an existing Class 2.

Car to Class 1 — £2,180 + VAT training, or £2,826 all in. Both stages run back to back as one programme.

C1 (7.5 tonne) — £600 + VAT training, or £875 all in. Ambulances, couriers, horseboxes.

PCV Category D — £1,395 + VAT training, or £1,829 all in. Buses and coaches.

D1 minibus — £1,395 + VAT training, or £1,829 all in. Up to 16 passenger seats.

Driver CPC Module 4 — £235 + VAT for the course. For drivers who hold a licence but never completed their initial CPC.

Refresher training — £355 + VAT for a one-to-one session. No test involved.

Not sure which licence you need? Our Class 1 vs Class 2 comparison walks through it. For what each licence lets you drive, see our guides to the Class 2 licence, Class 1 licence, C1 licence, PCV licence and D1 licence.

What the DVSA charges

These are government fees, identical at every training school in the country. Nobody can discount them, and anybody claiming to has simply buried them in their price.

Provisional HGV or PCV licence application — free. If a provider charges you an admin fee for this, ask what it is for. Our D2 form guide shows how to apply.

Theory test, multiple choice — £26.

Theory test, hazard perception — £11.

Driver CPC Part 2, case studies — £23. Our guide to what Driver CPC means explains all four parts.

Part 3a, off-road exercises — £40.

Part 3b, on-road driving test — £115 on a weekday, £141 evenings and weekends.

Part 4, practical demonstration — £55 on a weekday, £63 evenings and weekends.

Our all-in prices cover the practical test fees we book on your behalf. The theory tests you book yourself, which is why they sit outside the package.

One detail worth knowing: DVSA fees are not VAT-rated. So when you see "£1,295 + VAT" become "£1,764 all in", the VAT applies to our training only — the test fees are added afterwards at face value.

What about the medical?

Every professional driver needs a D4 medical before they can apply for provisional entitlement. Most drivers pay £70 to £80 for this.

It is £50 when you train with us. We arrange it, so you are not ringing round surgeries trying to find someone who does them.

Add your theory tests at £60 for all three parts, and the realistic extra on top of any package is around £110.

Why do some schools advertise £999?

Because a training price and a licence price are not the same thing, and the gap between them is where people get caught out.

A headline figure like "from £999" is usually the training days only, on the shortest possible course, excluding every DVSA fee. By the time the tests, the medical and often a booking fee are added, the number has moved considerably — and by then you have paid a deposit.

Three questions that expose it quickly. Does this include the DVSA test fees? How many training days is that, and what happens if I need more? Do you own the vehicles, or are you booking me into someone else's school?

That last one matters more than people realise. National brokers advertise low prices, take your money, then subcontract you to a local school — who receive a fraction of what you paid and have no relationship with you. We are a training school in Kent with our own fleet and our own DVSA-approved instructors. There is no middle layer.

Is HGV training worth the money?

Class 2 drivers in Kent typically earn around £42,000 a year. Class 1 drivers earn over £40,000, rising to £55,000–£60,000 with experience on artics.

Against a £1,764 Class 2 course, that is a payback measured in weeks of work rather than years. It is one of the few qualifications in the UK where the sums are that straightforward.

Can I spread the cost?

Yes. You can spread the cost with Snap Finance, subject to status. Check your eligibility before you commit to anything.

There are also routes where you may not be paying the full amount yourself. If you are claiming Universal Credit or Jobseeker's Allowance, ask your Jobcentre work coach about funding for an HGV licence — vocational training is a recognised outcome and the funding is paid directly. Some employers also sponsor training in exchange for a work commitment, usually 12 to 24 months with a clawback if you leave early.

Call us before you assume you have to fund it yourself. It costs nothing to ask.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get an HGV licence in total?

For Class 2, around £1,874 including everything: £1,764 for training and practical tests, £50 for the medical and £60 for the theory tests. For Class 1 from a car licence, around £2,936 on the same basis.

Is the price different for Class 1 and Class 2?

Yes. Class 2 is £1,764 all in. The Class 1 upgrade is £1,829 all in on top of an existing Class 2, or £2,826 all in if you are starting from a car licence and doing both stages together.

Do I pay VAT on HGV training?

Yes, on the training element. DVSA test fees are not VAT-rated, so they are added after VAT rather than before it. Our all-in figures already account for this.

What happens if I fail a test?

You pay the DVSA fee again for the retest, and we will discuss additional training if you need it. No school can guarantee a pass, and any that claims to is selling you something that does not exist. What we can do is make sure you are properly prepared — you train on the routes used at the Gillingham DVSA test centre, so nothing on test day is unfamiliar.

Are there any hidden costs?

No. The all-in price is the all-in price. Your medical and theory tests are the only additions, and they are listed above with the actual figures.

Do you price match?

If you have a written quote from a genuine training school — not a broker — bring it to us and we will look at it honestly.

Next step

See every course and what is included on our courses and pricing page, or call 01795 667 008.

Tell us which licence you are after and we will give you the full number, including the DVSA fees, before you commit to anything. If a cheaper route gets you to the same place, we will tell you that too.