How to Get an HGV Licence: The Five Steps, Costs and Timeline

To get an HGV licence you need a full car licence, a D4 medical, free provisional entitlement from the DVLA, a pass in the theory tests, and a pass in the practical test after a short one-to-one course. Most people go from first phone call to licence in six to twelve weeks. The training itself is three to eight days, depending on the licence.

HGV and LGV mean exactly the same thing. HGV is heavy goods vehicle, LGV is large goods vehicle, and both mean any goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes. The DVLA says LGV and the industry says HGV. If a job advert uses both, it means one licence.

First, which HGV licence do you want?

There are four goods licences, and the right one depends on the job you're after.

• C1 (7.5 tonne) covers vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes: ambulances, courier and removals vans, horseboxes.
• Class 2 (Category C) covers rigid lorries over 3.5 tonnes. It's the licence most local employers ask for.
• Class 1 (Category C+E) covers artics up to 44 tonnes, and it includes everything Class 2 covers.
• C1+E is a 7.5 tonner towing a heavier trailer. It's a niche licence and most people don't need it.

If you want to carry passengers instead, that's a PCV licence (buses and coaches) or D1 (minibuses).

Since November 2021 you no longer have to pass Class 2 before Class 1. You can go straight from a car licence to Class 1, which is what our Car to Class 1 course does. Still not sure? Our Class 1 vs Class 2 comparison settles it in five minutes.

Step 1: check you qualify

You need a full UK car licence, and you need to be 18 or over if you're getting Driver CPC to drive for a living (21 without it). You don't need years of van experience first, and you don't need to own a lorry or know anyone in the industry.

Points on your licence don't automatically stop you. Our guide to training with points explains where the line is.

Step 2: the D4 medical and the D2 form

Every lorry driver needs a D4 medical. It's a health and eyesight check with a doctor, not a fitness test, and it costs about £50 when we arrange it for you.

The completed D4 goes to the DVLA with a D2 form, which asks for provisional lorry entitlement on your licence. The D2 itself is free. Tick C and the DVLA adds provisional C1, C1+E, C and C+E together. It usually takes around three weeks to come back, and it's the slowest step in the whole process, so it's worth sending early.

Step 3: the theory tests

There are three short tests, booked separately on GOV.UK:

• Multiple choice: 100 questions in 1 hour 55 minutes, pass mark 85. Costs £26.
• Hazard perception: 19 video clips, pass mark 67 out of 100. Costs £11.
• Driver CPC case studies: 7 case studies, pass mark 40 out of 50. Costs £23. You need this one if you'll be driving for a living.

That's £60 all together. You can sit the first two on the same day. A theory pass lasts two years, so don't pass it and then leave it for eighteen months. Our theory test guide covers how to prepare.

Step 4: practical training and the driving test

This is the part people picture: one-to-one training in a real lorry, then the DVSA practical test. The test comes in two parts, the off-road exercises (£40) and the on-road drive (£115).

With us, training is at our Sittingbourne yard in full-size vehicles, and you test at the Gillingham DVSA test centre on the roads you've trained on. How long it takes depends on the licence:

• C1 (7.5 tonne): 3 days, £875 all in
• Class 2 (Category C): 5 days, £1,764 all in
• Class 1 upgrade from Class 2: 5 days, £1,829 all in
• Car to Class 1: 8 days, £2,826 all in

All in means training, the vehicle, the DVSA practical test fees and VAT. The medical and theory tests are the only extras, and they come to around £110.

Step 5: Driver CPC Module 4, then work

To drive a lorry for a living you also need the Driver CPC. For a new driver that means the case studies (Step 3) plus Module 4, a practical demonstration where you show an examiner how you'd load a vehicle safely, do a walkaround check and handle an emergency. There's no driving in it. Our Class 2 price already includes Module 4.

Once you've passed, you get your Driver Qualification Card and you're ready to work. We can point you towards suitable roles with local employers once you've passed, though no job is ever guaranteed.

How much does an HGV licence cost altogether?

With us, somewhere between about £985 and £2,936 in total, depending on the licence. That's the all in course price plus around £110 for the medical and theory tests. The full line by line breakdown is in our HGV licence cost guide.

If paying up front is the problem, there are two routes worth knowing about. Snap Finance lets you spread the cost monthly, subject to status. And if you're on Universal Credit or working with the Jobcentre, ask your work coach about a Lower Value Provision application. They can sometimes fund the whole course, and we deal with them directly on the paperwork. Our funding guide explains both.

How long does it take?

For most people, six to ten weeks for Class 2 and eight to twelve weeks for Car to Class 1, from first phone call to licence. The training days are the quick part. Most of the time goes on waiting for the D2 to come back and for DVSA test dates.

Frequently asked questions

Can I go straight from a car licence to Class 1?

Yes. Since November 2021 you don't need to pass Class 2 first.

How old do I need to be to get an HGV licence?

18, if you're getting Driver CPC to drive professionally. 21 without it.

Is the HGV provisional licence free?

Yes. The D2 application costs nothing. You pay for the medical and the tests, not the entitlement.

How hard is the HGV test?

It's a different skill from driving a car rather than a harder one. The reversing exercise catches most people out, which is why we practise it on the same kind of layout you'll be tested on.

Can I do HGV training at weekends?

Yes. Weekend and Saturday starts are possible for a £100 + VAT daily surcharge. Ring us and we'll check dates.

Where to start

The easiest first step is a phone call. Ring 01795 667 008 and we'll tell you honestly which licence the job you want actually needs, then send out your medical and D2 forms the same week. Or see every course and price.