I am 25 years old and have a full car license. Recently lost my job as a estate agents so I was thinking to become a bus driver What qualification I need to become a bus driver ?

To become a lorry, bus or coach driver you need to:

Become a qualified lorry or bus driver

Getting qualified

have a full car licence

be over 18 - but there are some exceptions

get a professional driving qualification called the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

Who needs the full Driver CPC

You must have the full Driver CPC if you drive a lorry, bus or coach as the main part of your job.

You usually need to pass 4 tests to get it, unless you have ‘acquired rights’ because of your existing driving experience.

Who does not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver CPC if you:

do not want to drive for a living, for example you want to drive for a hobby or carry passengers or goods non-commercially for personal use

drive in certain other situations, such as taking your vehicle for a pre-booked annual test (MOT)

You still need to pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests of the qualification.

How to get and keep the full Driver CPC

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the 4 tests that make up Driver CPC to qualify.

Take 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to stay qualified.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years, and every year when you reach 65.

If you’re taking an NVT course

If you’re taking an approved National Vocational Training (NVT) course you can drive professionally for up to 12 months without taking the Driver CPC part 2 and part 4 tests.

Applying for a provisional lorry or bus licence

The category of provisional licence you need depends on the type of vehicle you want to drive.

How to apply

To apply, order forms D2 and D4 from DVLA.

The D4 form has to be filled in by a doctor. This could be either:

your GP - but an optician might need to fill in the section about your eyesight

a private firm specialising in drivers’ medical exams

Your doctor, optician or a private firm can charge you.

You can only apply for a provisional trailer (+E) licence when you’ve got the full licence for the vehicle you’ll be driving.

Order the forms online

Order now

Send the forms

Send both forms and your photocard driving licence to DVLA. There’s no application fee.

You only need to include a passport-style colour photo and original identity documents if you have a paper driving licence.

How long it takes

You should get your driving licence within 3 weeks of DVLA getting your application. It can take longer if your health or personal details need to be checked.

You automatically lose your lorry or bus licence if you lose your car licence.

When you do not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification if you’re using the vehicle for:

non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods

carrying material or equipment you use for your job, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly working time

driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC

driving to or from pre-booked appointments at official vehicle testing centres

driving within 62 miles (100 kilometres) of your base - but the vehicle cannot be carrying passengers or goods, and driving a lorry, bus or coach cannot be your main job

maintaining public order - and the vehicle is being used or controlled by a local authority

rescue missions or in states of emergency

driving for an agriculture, horticulture, forestry, farming or fisheries business, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly working time

You also do not need the full Driver CPC if the vehicle is:

limited to a top speed of 28mph

being used or controlled by the armed forces, police, fire and rescue service, emergency ambulance service, prison service or people running a prison or young offender institution

You can read detailed examples of Driver CPC exemptions.

If you are not sure if you need the Driver CPC, you should seek legal advice.

What you need to do

If you want to become a lorry, bus or coach driver in these situations you need to:

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years when you reach 45 and every year when you reach 65.

Driver CPC part 1 test: theory

You can book the part 1 theory test of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) as soon as you’ve got your provisional licence.

The test is made up of 2 parts - multiple choice and hazard perception. You have to book both parts separately, but you can take them on the same day.

It does not matter which one you take first but you need to pass both within 2 years of each other to get your theory test certificate.

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

You need to say why you cannot wear a face covering when you book your test. If you do not, and you come to your test without a face covering, your test will be cancelled.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

Multiple-choice questions part

You can take a practice test to find out how the test works.

The multiple-choice questions part lasts for 1 hour and 55 minutes, and the pass mark is 85 out of 100 questions.

Hazard perception part

Watch a video about how the hazard perception part works.

You’ll watch 19 videos, and there are 20 developing hazards to spot.

The pass mark is 67 out of 100. You cannot review your answers.

Your test result

You’ll be given a letter at the test centre with the results for the part of the theory test you’ve just taken.

When you’ve passed both parts, your theory test certificate will be posted to you. You need this when you book your Driver CPC part 3 driving test.

Your theory test certificate is valid for 2 years from when you passed the first part of the test.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 3 driving test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 1 theory test again.

If you fail the theory tests

You’ll get a results letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another theory test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if the DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 2 test: case studies

You can book the part 2 case studies test of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) as soon as you’ve got your provisional licence. You do not need to have passed the Driver CPC part 1 theory test.

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

The test is made up of 7 case studies you work through on a computer. The case studies are short stories based on situations that you’re likely to come across in your working life.

You’ll be asked between 6 and 8 multiple-choice questions on each case study.

The test lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the pass mark is 40 out of 50.

Your test result

You’ll get a letter with the results at the test centre.

You need the test pass reference number when you book your Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test.

The pass letter is valid for 2 years.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 2 case studies test again.

If you fail the test

You’ll get a result letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another case studies test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 3 test: driving ability

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 1 theory test before you can book the Driver CPC part 3 test.

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you come for your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

When you must not go to your test

You must not come for your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

How the test works

Your practical test will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:

vehicle safety questions

practical road driving

off-road exercises

Vehicle safety questions

During your test you’ll be asked vehicle safety questions on either:

lorries, buses and coaches

lorries, buses and coaches towing trailers

Practical road driving

During your practical road driving, the examiner will see how you:

use the vehicle controls

move away at an angle, uphill and downhill

do a controlled stop

use the mirrors

give appropriate signals

show awareness and anticipation of other road users’ intentions

manage your progress and control your vehicle speed

deal with hazards

select a safe place to stop

There will also be 10 minutes of independent driving, designed to test your ability to drive safely while making independent decisions.

Off-road exercises

The off-road exercises will include:

an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay

showing the uncoupling and recoupling procedure if you’re taking a test with a trailer

During the test

You can carry on if you make a mistake during your driving test.

If you make a mistake which means you’ve failed, your driving examiner will direct you back to the driving test centre. The test will end early.

Test result

After you’ve taken the practical test your examiner will tell you if you’ve passed and explain how you did.

You’ll pass your test if you make:

15 or fewer driving faults

no serious or dangerous faults

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 4 test: practical demonstration

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 2 test before you can book the Driver CPC part 4 test.

Book your test

You can either:

arrange a test with your trainer

book a test yourself

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you go to your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

How the test works

You’re tested on being able to:

load the vehicle following safety rules and to keep it secure

stop trafficking in illegal immigrants

assess emergency situations

reduce physical risks to yourself or others

do a walkaround vehicle safety check

The test is made up of 5 topics from the Driver CPC syllabus. You can score up to 20 points for each topic.

To pass you have to score at least 15 out of 20 in each topic area and have an overall score of at least 80 out of 100.

Test result

At the end of your test the examiner will tell you if you’ve passed.

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

After you’ve qualified

After you’ve passed all 4 of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) tests, you’ll be sent a Driver CPC card. This is sometimes called a ‘driver qualification card’ or ‘DQC’.

You must carry your Driver CPC card while driving a lorry, bus or coach professionally. If you drive a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) outside the UK, check what documents you need to carry.

You can get a £50 fixed penalty for driving professionally without your Driver CPC card.

Getting your Driver CPC card

The card will be sent to the address on your driving licence. You need to change this address first if it’s wrong.

The photograph and signature on your photocard licence will be used on your Driver CPC card.

Waiting for your card

You can drive professionally if you’ve passed all the tests and you’re waiting for your Driver CPC card to arrive.

If your card does not arrive

You should get your Driver CPC card within 20 days of passing the final test. Contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if you do not receive it.

You have to pay £25 if:

you take longer than 3 months to tell DVSA it has not arrived

it’s sent to an old address because you have not updated your licence

Replace your card

You must replace your Driver CPC card if it’s lost or stolen.

The Driver CPC card does not have your address on it, so you do not have to get a new one if your address changes.

Staying qualified

Every 5 years you must:

take 35 hours of Driver CPC training to keep driving professionally

renew your lorry or bus driving licence

If you’re 65 or over you must renew your lorry or bus driving licence every year.

Fees

Provisional licence

| Cost

Application for a provisional lorry or bus licence | No charge

Test costs

| Weekday | Evening, weekend and bank holiday

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (multiple-choice) | £26 | £26

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (hazard perception) | £11 | £11

Driver CPC part 2 - case studies | £23 | £23

Driver CPC part 3 - driving ability | £115 | £141

Driver CPC part 4 - practical demonstration | £55 | £63

These are the prices to book your tests using the official service. Unofficial websites may charge more.

Driver CPC card costs

| Cost

Driver CPC card (non-UK driving licences only) | £25

Replacement for lost, stolen or damaged card | £25

NVT concession fees

| Cost

National Vocational Training (NVT) concession card | £25

have a full car licence

Become a qualified lorry or bus driver

Getting qualified

To become a lorry, bus or coach driver you need to:

have a full car licence

be over 18 - but there are some exceptions

get a professional driving qualification called the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

Who needs the full Driver CPC

You must have the full Driver CPC if you drive a lorry, bus or coach as the main part of your job.

You usually need to pass 4 tests to get it, unless you have ‘acquired rights’ because of your existing driving experience.

Who does not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver CPC if you:

do not want to drive for a living, for example you want to drive for a hobby or carry passengers or goods non-commercially for personal use

drive in certain other situations, such as taking your vehicle for a pre-booked annual test (MOT)

You still need to pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests of the qualification.

How to get and keep the full Driver CPC

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the 4 tests that make up Driver CPC to qualify.

Take 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to stay qualified.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years, and every year when you reach 65.

If you’re taking an NVT course

Applying for a provisional lorry or bus licence

The category of provisional licence you need depends on the type of vehicle you want to drive.

How to apply

To apply, order forms D2 and D4 from DVLA.

The D4 form has to be filled in by a doctor. This could be either:

your GP - but an optician might need to fill in the section about your eyesight

a private firm specialising in drivers’ medical exams

Your doctor, optician or a private firm can charge you.

You can only apply for a provisional trailer (+E) licence when you’ve got the full licence for the vehicle you’ll be driving.

Order the forms online

Order now

Send the forms

Send both forms and your photocard driving licence to DVLA. There’s no application fee.

You only need to include a passport-style colour photo and original identity documents if you have a paper driving licence.

How long it takes

You automatically lose your lorry or bus licence if you lose your car licence.

When you do not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification if you’re using the vehicle for:

non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods

carrying material or equipment you use for your job, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly working time

driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC

driving to or from pre-booked appointments at official vehicle testing centres

maintaining public order - and the vehicle is being used or controlled by a local authority

rescue missions or in states of emergency

You also do not need the full Driver CPC if the vehicle is:

limited to a top speed of 28mph

You can read detailed examples of Driver CPC exemptions.

If you are not sure if you need the Driver CPC, you should seek legal advice.

What you need to do

If you want to become a lorry, bus or coach driver in these situations you need to:

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years when you reach 45 and every year when you reach 65.

Driver CPC part 1 test: theory

You can book the part 1 theory test of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) as soon as you’ve got your provisional licence.

It does not matter which one you take first but you need to pass both within 2 years of each other to get your theory test certificate.

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

Multiple-choice questions part

You can take a practice test to find out how the test works.

The multiple-choice questions part lasts for 1 hour and 55 minutes, and the pass mark is 85 out of 100 questions.

Hazard perception part

Watch a video about how the hazard perception part works.

You’ll watch 19 videos, and there are 20 developing hazards to spot.

The pass mark is 67 out of 100. You cannot review your answers.

Your test result

You’ll be given a letter at the test centre with the results for the part of the theory test you’ve just taken.

When you’ve passed both parts, your theory test certificate will be posted to you. You need this when you book your Driver CPC part 3 driving test.

Your theory test certificate is valid for 2 years from when you passed the first part of the test.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 3 driving test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 1 theory test again.

If you fail the theory tests

You’ll get a results letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another theory test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if the DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 2 test: case studies

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

You’ll be asked between 6 and 8 multiple-choice questions on each case study.

The test lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the pass mark is 40 out of 50.

Your test result

You’ll get a letter with the results at the test centre.

You need the test pass reference number when you book your Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test.

The pass letter is valid for 2 years.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 2 case studies test again.

If you fail the test

You’ll get a result letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another case studies test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 3 test: driving ability

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 1 theory test before you can book the Driver CPC part 3 test.

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you come for your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

When you must not go to your test

You must not come for your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

How the test works

Your practical test will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:

vehicle safety questions

practical road driving

off-road exercises

Vehicle safety questions

During your test you’ll be asked vehicle safety questions on either:

lorries, buses and coaches

lorries, buses and coaches towing trailers

Practical road driving

During your practical road driving, the examiner will see how you:

use the vehicle controls

move away at an angle, uphill and downhill

do a controlled stop

use the mirrors

give appropriate signals

show awareness and anticipation of other road users’ intentions

manage your progress and control your vehicle speed

deal with hazards

select a safe place to stop

There will also be 10 minutes of independent driving, designed to test your ability to drive safely while making independent decisions.

Off-road exercises

The off-road exercises will include:

an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay

showing the uncoupling and recoupling procedure if you’re taking a test with a trailer

During the test

You can carry on if you make a mistake during your driving test.

If you make a mistake which means you’ve failed, your driving examiner will direct you back to the driving test centre. The test will end early.

Test result

After you’ve taken the practical test your examiner will tell you if you’ve passed and explain how you did.

You’ll pass your test if you make:

15 or fewer driving faults

no serious or dangerous faults

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 4 test: practical demonstration

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 2 test before you can book the Driver CPC part 4 test.

Book your test

You can either:

arrange a test with your trainer

book a test yourself

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you go to your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

How the test works

You’re tested on being able to:

load the vehicle following safety rules and to keep it secure

stop trafficking in illegal immigrants

assess emergency situations

reduce physical risks to yourself or others

do a walkaround vehicle safety check

The test is made up of 5 topics from the Driver CPC syllabus. You can score up to 20 points for each topic.

To pass you have to score at least 15 out of 20 in each topic area and have an overall score of at least 80 out of 100.

Test result

At the end of your test the examiner will tell you if you’ve passed.

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

After you’ve qualified

You can get a £50 fixed penalty for driving professionally without your Driver CPC card.

Getting your Driver CPC card

The card will be sent to the address on your driving licence. You need to change this address first if it’s wrong.

The photograph and signature on your photocard licence will be used on your Driver CPC card.

Waiting for your card

You can drive professionally if you’ve passed all the tests and you’re waiting for your Driver CPC card to arrive.

If your card does not arrive

You have to pay £25 if:

you take longer than 3 months to tell DVSA it has not arrived

it’s sent to an old address because you have not updated your licence

Replace your card

You must replace your Driver CPC card if it’s lost or stolen.

The Driver CPC card does not have your address on it, so you do not have to get a new one if your address changes.

Staying qualified

Every 5 years you must:

take 35 hours of Driver CPC training to keep driving professionally

renew your lorry or bus driving licence

If you’re 65 or over you must renew your lorry or bus driving licence every year.

Fees

Provisional licence

| Cost

Application for a provisional lorry or bus licence | No charge

Test costs

| Weekday | Evening, weekend and bank holiday

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (multiple-choice) | £26 | £26

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (hazard perception) | £11 | £11

Driver CPC part 2 - case studies | £23 | £23

Driver CPC part 3 - driving ability | £115 | £141

Driver CPC part 4 - practical demonstration | £55 | £63

These are the prices to book your tests using the official service. Unofficial websites may charge more.

Driver CPC card costs

| Cost

Driver CPC card (non-UK driving licences only) | £25

Replacement for lost, stolen or damaged card | £25

NVT concession fees

| Cost

National Vocational Training (NVT) concession card | £25

be over 18 - but there are some exceptions

Become a qualified lorry or bus driver

Getting qualified

To become a lorry, bus or coach driver you need to:

have a full car licence

get a professional driving qualification called the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

Who needs the full Driver CPC

You must have the full Driver CPC if you drive a lorry, bus or coach as the main part of your job.

You usually need to pass 4 tests to get it, unless you have ‘acquired rights’ because of your existing driving experience.

Who does not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver CPC if you:

do not want to drive for a living, for example you want to drive for a hobby or carry passengers or goods non-commercially for personal use

drive in certain other situations, such as taking your vehicle for a pre-booked annual test (MOT)

You still need to pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests of the qualification.

How to get and keep the full Driver CPC

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the 4 tests that make up Driver CPC to qualify.

Take 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to stay qualified.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years, and every year when you reach 65.

If you’re taking an NVT course

Applying for a provisional lorry or bus licence

The category of provisional licence you need depends on the type of vehicle you want to drive.

How to apply

To apply, order forms D2 and D4 from DVLA.

The D4 form has to be filled in by a doctor. This could be either:

your GP - but an optician might need to fill in the section about your eyesight

a private firm specialising in drivers’ medical exams

Your doctor, optician or a private firm can charge you.

You can only apply for a provisional trailer (+E) licence when you’ve got the full licence for the vehicle you’ll be driving.

Order the forms online

Order now

Send the forms

Send both forms and your photocard driving licence to DVLA. There’s no application fee.

You only need to include a passport-style colour photo and original identity documents if you have a paper driving licence.

How long it takes

You automatically lose your lorry or bus licence if you lose your car licence.

When you do not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification if you’re using the vehicle for:

non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods

carrying material or equipment you use for your job, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly working time

driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC

driving to or from pre-booked appointments at official vehicle testing centres

maintaining public order - and the vehicle is being used or controlled by a local authority

rescue missions or in states of emergency

You also do not need the full Driver CPC if the vehicle is:

limited to a top speed of 28mph

You can read detailed examples of Driver CPC exemptions.

If you are not sure if you need the Driver CPC, you should seek legal advice.

What you need to do

If you want to become a lorry, bus or coach driver in these situations you need to:

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years when you reach 45 and every year when you reach 65.

Driver CPC part 1 test: theory

You can book the part 1 theory test of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) as soon as you’ve got your provisional licence.

It does not matter which one you take first but you need to pass both within 2 years of each other to get your theory test certificate.

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

Multiple-choice questions part

You can take a practice test to find out how the test works.

The multiple-choice questions part lasts for 1 hour and 55 minutes, and the pass mark is 85 out of 100 questions.

Hazard perception part

Watch a video about how the hazard perception part works.

You’ll watch 19 videos, and there are 20 developing hazards to spot.

The pass mark is 67 out of 100. You cannot review your answers.

Your test result

You’ll be given a letter at the test centre with the results for the part of the theory test you’ve just taken.

When you’ve passed both parts, your theory test certificate will be posted to you. You need this when you book your Driver CPC part 3 driving test.

Your theory test certificate is valid for 2 years from when you passed the first part of the test.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 3 driving test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 1 theory test again.

If you fail the theory tests

You’ll get a results letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another theory test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if the DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 2 test: case studies

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

You’ll be asked between 6 and 8 multiple-choice questions on each case study.

The test lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the pass mark is 40 out of 50.

Your test result

You’ll get a letter with the results at the test centre.

You need the test pass reference number when you book your Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test.

The pass letter is valid for 2 years.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 2 case studies test again.

If you fail the test

You’ll get a result letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another case studies test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 3 test: driving ability

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 1 theory test before you can book the Driver CPC part 3 test.

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you come for your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

When you must not go to your test

You must not come for your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

How the test works

Your practical test will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:

vehicle safety questions

practical road driving

off-road exercises

Vehicle safety questions

During your test you’ll be asked vehicle safety questions on either:

lorries, buses and coaches

lorries, buses and coaches towing trailers

Practical road driving

During your practical road driving, the examiner will see how you:

use the vehicle controls

move away at an angle, uphill and downhill

do a controlled stop

use the mirrors

give appropriate signals

show awareness and anticipation of other road users’ intentions

manage your progress and control your vehicle speed

deal with hazards

select a safe place to stop

There will also be 10 minutes of independent driving, designed to test your ability to drive safely while making independent decisions.

Off-road exercises

The off-road exercises will include:

an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay

showing the uncoupling and recoupling procedure if you’re taking a test with a trailer

During the test

You can carry on if you make a mistake during your driving test.

If you make a mistake which means you’ve failed, your driving examiner will direct you back to the driving test centre. The test will end early.

Test result

After you’ve taken the practical test your examiner will tell you if you’ve passed and explain how you did.

You’ll pass your test if you make:

15 or fewer driving faults

no serious or dangerous faults

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 4 test: practical demonstration

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 2 test before you can book the Driver CPC part 4 test.

Book your test

You can either:

arrange a test with your trainer

book a test yourself

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you go to your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

How the test works

You’re tested on being able to:

load the vehicle following safety rules and to keep it secure

stop trafficking in illegal immigrants

assess emergency situations

reduce physical risks to yourself or others

do a walkaround vehicle safety check

The test is made up of 5 topics from the Driver CPC syllabus. You can score up to 20 points for each topic.

To pass you have to score at least 15 out of 20 in each topic area and have an overall score of at least 80 out of 100.

Test result

At the end of your test the examiner will tell you if you’ve passed.

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

After you’ve qualified

You can get a £50 fixed penalty for driving professionally without your Driver CPC card.

Getting your Driver CPC card

The card will be sent to the address on your driving licence. You need to change this address first if it’s wrong.

The photograph and signature on your photocard licence will be used on your Driver CPC card.

Waiting for your card

You can drive professionally if you’ve passed all the tests and you’re waiting for your Driver CPC card to arrive.

If your card does not arrive

You have to pay £25 if:

you take longer than 3 months to tell DVSA it has not arrived

it’s sent to an old address because you have not updated your licence

Replace your card

You must replace your Driver CPC card if it’s lost or stolen.

The Driver CPC card does not have your address on it, so you do not have to get a new one if your address changes.

Staying qualified

Every 5 years you must:

take 35 hours of Driver CPC training to keep driving professionally

renew your lorry or bus driving licence

If you’re 65 or over you must renew your lorry or bus driving licence every year.

Fees

Provisional licence

| Cost

Application for a provisional lorry or bus licence | No charge

Test costs

| Weekday | Evening, weekend and bank holiday

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (multiple-choice) | £26 | £26

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (hazard perception) | £11 | £11

Driver CPC part 2 - case studies | £23 | £23

Driver CPC part 3 - driving ability | £115 | £141

Driver CPC part 4 - practical demonstration | £55 | £63

These are the prices to book your tests using the official service. Unofficial websites may charge more.

Driver CPC card costs

| Cost

Driver CPC card (non-UK driving licences only) | £25

Replacement for lost, stolen or damaged card | £25

NVT concession fees

| Cost

National Vocational Training (NVT) concession card | £25

get a professional driving qualification called the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

Become a qualified lorry or bus driver

Getting qualified

To become a lorry, bus or coach driver you need to:

have a full car licence

be over 18 - but there are some exceptions

Who needs the full Driver CPC

You must have the full Driver CPC if you drive a lorry, bus or coach as the main part of your job.

You usually need to pass 4 tests to get it, unless you have ‘acquired rights’ because of your existing driving experience.

Who does not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver CPC if you:

do not want to drive for a living, for example you want to drive for a hobby or carry passengers or goods non-commercially for personal use

drive in certain other situations, such as taking your vehicle for a pre-booked annual test (MOT)

You still need to pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests of the qualification.

How to get and keep the full Driver CPC

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the 4 tests that make up Driver CPC to qualify.

Take 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to stay qualified.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years, and every year when you reach 65.

If you’re taking an NVT course

Applying for a provisional lorry or bus licence

The category of provisional licence you need depends on the type of vehicle you want to drive.

How to apply

To apply, order forms D2 and D4 from DVLA.

The D4 form has to be filled in by a doctor. This could be either:

your GP - but an optician might need to fill in the section about your eyesight

a private firm specialising in drivers’ medical exams

Your doctor, optician or a private firm can charge you.

You can only apply for a provisional trailer (+E) licence when you’ve got the full licence for the vehicle you’ll be driving.

Order the forms online

Order now

Send the forms

Send both forms and your photocard driving licence to DVLA. There’s no application fee.

You only need to include a passport-style colour photo and original identity documents if you have a paper driving licence.

How long it takes

You automatically lose your lorry or bus licence if you lose your car licence.

When you do not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification if you’re using the vehicle for:

non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods

carrying material or equipment you use for your job, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly working time

driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC

driving to or from pre-booked appointments at official vehicle testing centres

maintaining public order - and the vehicle is being used or controlled by a local authority

rescue missions or in states of emergency

You also do not need the full Driver CPC if the vehicle is:

limited to a top speed of 28mph

You can read detailed examples of Driver CPC exemptions.

If you are not sure if you need the Driver CPC, you should seek legal advice.

What you need to do

If you want to become a lorry, bus or coach driver in these situations you need to:

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years when you reach 45 and every year when you reach 65.

Driver CPC part 1 test: theory

You can book the part 1 theory test of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) as soon as you’ve got your provisional licence.

It does not matter which one you take first but you need to pass both within 2 years of each other to get your theory test certificate.

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

Multiple-choice questions part

You can take a practice test to find out how the test works.

The multiple-choice questions part lasts for 1 hour and 55 minutes, and the pass mark is 85 out of 100 questions.

Hazard perception part

Watch a video about how the hazard perception part works.

You’ll watch 19 videos, and there are 20 developing hazards to spot.

The pass mark is 67 out of 100. You cannot review your answers.

Your test result

You’ll be given a letter at the test centre with the results for the part of the theory test you’ve just taken.

When you’ve passed both parts, your theory test certificate will be posted to you. You need this when you book your Driver CPC part 3 driving test.

Your theory test certificate is valid for 2 years from when you passed the first part of the test.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 3 driving test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 1 theory test again.

If you fail the theory tests

You’ll get a results letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another theory test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if the DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 2 test: case studies

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

You’ll be asked between 6 and 8 multiple-choice questions on each case study.

The test lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the pass mark is 40 out of 50.

Your test result

You’ll get a letter with the results at the test centre.

You need the test pass reference number when you book your Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test.

The pass letter is valid for 2 years.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 2 case studies test again.

If you fail the test

You’ll get a result letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another case studies test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 3 test: driving ability

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 1 theory test before you can book the Driver CPC part 3 test.

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you come for your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

When you must not go to your test

You must not come for your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

How the test works

Your practical test will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:

vehicle safety questions

practical road driving

off-road exercises

Vehicle safety questions

During your test you’ll be asked vehicle safety questions on either:

lorries, buses and coaches

lorries, buses and coaches towing trailers

Practical road driving

During your practical road driving, the examiner will see how you:

use the vehicle controls

move away at an angle, uphill and downhill

do a controlled stop

use the mirrors

give appropriate signals

show awareness and anticipation of other road users’ intentions

manage your progress and control your vehicle speed

deal with hazards

select a safe place to stop

There will also be 10 minutes of independent driving, designed to test your ability to drive safely while making independent decisions.

Off-road exercises

The off-road exercises will include:

an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay

showing the uncoupling and recoupling procedure if you’re taking a test with a trailer

During the test

You can carry on if you make a mistake during your driving test.

If you make a mistake which means you’ve failed, your driving examiner will direct you back to the driving test centre. The test will end early.

Test result

After you’ve taken the practical test your examiner will tell you if you’ve passed and explain how you did.

You’ll pass your test if you make:

15 or fewer driving faults

no serious or dangerous faults

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 4 test: practical demonstration

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 2 test before you can book the Driver CPC part 4 test.

Book your test

You can either:

arrange a test with your trainer

book a test yourself

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you go to your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

How the test works

You’re tested on being able to:

load the vehicle following safety rules and to keep it secure

stop trafficking in illegal immigrants

assess emergency situations

reduce physical risks to yourself or others

do a walkaround vehicle safety check

The test is made up of 5 topics from the Driver CPC syllabus. You can score up to 20 points for each topic.

To pass you have to score at least 15 out of 20 in each topic area and have an overall score of at least 80 out of 100.

Test result

At the end of your test the examiner will tell you if you’ve passed.

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

After you’ve qualified

You can get a £50 fixed penalty for driving professionally without your Driver CPC card.

Getting your Driver CPC card

The card will be sent to the address on your driving licence. You need to change this address first if it’s wrong.

The photograph and signature on your photocard licence will be used on your Driver CPC card.

Waiting for your card

You can drive professionally if you’ve passed all the tests and you’re waiting for your Driver CPC card to arrive.

If your card does not arrive

You have to pay £25 if:

you take longer than 3 months to tell DVSA it has not arrived

it’s sent to an old address because you have not updated your licence

Replace your card

You must replace your Driver CPC card if it’s lost or stolen.

The Driver CPC card does not have your address on it, so you do not have to get a new one if your address changes.

Staying qualified

Every 5 years you must:

take 35 hours of Driver CPC training to keep driving professionally

renew your lorry or bus driving licence

If you’re 65 or over you must renew your lorry or bus driving licence every year.

Fees

Provisional licence

| Cost

Application for a provisional lorry or bus licence | No charge

Test costs

| Weekday | Evening, weekend and bank holiday

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (multiple-choice) | £26 | £26

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (hazard perception) | £11 | £11

Driver CPC part 2 - case studies | £23 | £23

Driver CPC part 3 - driving ability | £115 | £141

Driver CPC part 4 - practical demonstration | £55 | £63

These are the prices to book your tests using the official service. Unofficial websites may charge more.

Driver CPC card costs

| Cost

Driver CPC card (non-UK driving licences only) | £25

Replacement for lost, stolen or damaged card | £25

NVT concession fees

| Cost

National Vocational Training (NVT) concession card | £25

You must have the full Driver CPC if you drive a lorry, bus or coach as the main part of your job.

Become a qualified lorry or bus driver

Getting qualified

To become a lorry, bus or coach driver you need to:

have a full car licence

be over 18 - but there are some exceptions

get a professional driving qualification called the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

Who needs the full Driver CPC

You usually need to pass 4 tests to get it, unless you have ‘acquired rights’ because of your existing driving experience.

Who does not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver CPC if you:

do not want to drive for a living, for example you want to drive for a hobby or carry passengers or goods non-commercially for personal use

drive in certain other situations, such as taking your vehicle for a pre-booked annual test (MOT)

You still need to pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests of the qualification.

How to get and keep the full Driver CPC

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the 4 tests that make up Driver CPC to qualify.

Take 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to stay qualified.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years, and every year when you reach 65.

If you’re taking an NVT course

Applying for a provisional lorry or bus licence

The category of provisional licence you need depends on the type of vehicle you want to drive.

How to apply

To apply, order forms D2 and D4 from DVLA.

The D4 form has to be filled in by a doctor. This could be either:

your GP - but an optician might need to fill in the section about your eyesight

a private firm specialising in drivers’ medical exams

Your doctor, optician or a private firm can charge you.

You can only apply for a provisional trailer (+E) licence when you’ve got the full licence for the vehicle you’ll be driving.

Order the forms online

Order now

Send the forms

Send both forms and your photocard driving licence to DVLA. There’s no application fee.

You only need to include a passport-style colour photo and original identity documents if you have a paper driving licence.

How long it takes

You automatically lose your lorry or bus licence if you lose your car licence.

When you do not need the full Driver CPC

You do not need the full Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification if you’re using the vehicle for:

non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods

carrying material or equipment you use for your job, as long as driving is less than 30% of your rolling monthly working time

driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC

driving to or from pre-booked appointments at official vehicle testing centres

maintaining public order - and the vehicle is being used or controlled by a local authority

rescue missions or in states of emergency

You also do not need the full Driver CPC if the vehicle is:

limited to a top speed of 28mph

You can read detailed examples of Driver CPC exemptions.

If you are not sure if you need the Driver CPC, you should seek legal advice.

What you need to do

If you want to become a lorry, bus or coach driver in these situations you need to:

Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.

Pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years when you reach 45 and every year when you reach 65.

Driver CPC part 1 test: theory

You can book the part 1 theory test of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) as soon as you’ve got your provisional licence.

The test is made up of 2 parts - multiple choice and hazard perception. You have to book both parts separately, but you can take them on the same day.

It does not matter which one you take first but you need to pass both within 2 years of each other to get your theory test certificate.

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

Multiple-choice questions part

You can take a practice test to find out how the test works.

The multiple-choice questions part lasts for 1 hour and 55 minutes, and the pass mark is 85 out of 100 questions.

Hazard perception part

Watch a video about how the hazard perception part works.

You’ll watch 19 videos, and there are 20 developing hazards to spot.

The pass mark is 67 out of 100. You cannot review your answers.

Your test result

You’ll be given a letter at the test centre with the results for the part of the theory test you’ve just taken.

When you’ve passed both parts, your theory test certificate will be posted to you. You need this when you book your Driver CPC part 3 driving test.

Your theory test certificate is valid for 2 years from when you passed the first part of the test.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 3 driving test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 1 theory test again.

If you fail the theory tests

You’ll get a results letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another theory test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if the DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 2 test: case studies

What to take to your test

You must bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring the right documents.

Wearing a face covering at your test

You must wear a face covering at your test. If you do not wear one, you must have a good reason, for example:

you have a physical or mental illness, impairment or disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

Wearing glasses does not count as a good reason.

If you’ve already booked your test and did not say that you cannot wear a face covering, contact DVSA.

When you must not go to your test

You must stay at home (self-isolate) if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Change your theory test appointment for free if you need to self-isolate on the day of your test.

How the test works

You’ll be asked between 6 and 8 multiple-choice questions on each case study.

The test lasts for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the pass mark is 40 out of 50.

Your test result

You’ll get a letter with the results at the test centre.

You need the test pass reference number when you book your Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test.

The pass letter is valid for 2 years.

You need to pass the Driver CPC part 4 practical demonstration test within 2 years, otherwise you’ll have to pass the part 2 case studies test again.

If you fail the test

You’ll get a result letter with feedback telling you why you’ve failed.

You can book another case studies test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 3 test: driving ability

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 1 theory test before you can book the Driver CPC part 3 test.

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you come for your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

When you must not go to your test

You must not come for your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

How the test works

Your practical test will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:

vehicle safety questions

practical road driving

off-road exercises

Vehicle safety questions

During your test you’ll be asked vehicle safety questions on either:

lorries, buses and coaches

lorries, buses and coaches towing trailers

Practical road driving

During your practical road driving, the examiner will see how you:

use the vehicle controls

move away at an angle, uphill and downhill

do a controlled stop

use the mirrors

give appropriate signals

show awareness and anticipation of other road users’ intentions

manage your progress and control your vehicle speed

deal with hazards

select a safe place to stop

There will also be 10 minutes of independent driving, designed to test your ability to drive safely while making independent decisions.

Off-road exercises

The off-road exercises will include:

an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay

showing the uncoupling and recoupling procedure if you’re taking a test with a trailer

During the test

You can carry on if you make a mistake during your driving test.

If you make a mistake which means you’ve failed, your driving examiner will direct you back to the driving test centre. The test will end early.

Test result

After you’ve taken the practical test your examiner will tell you if you’ve passed and explain how you did.

You’ll pass your test if you make:

15 or fewer driving faults

no serious or dangerous faults

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

Driver CPC part 4 test: practical demonstration

You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 2 test before you can book the Driver CPC part 4 test.

Book your test

You can either:

arrange a test with your trainer

book a test yourself

What to take to your test

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must bring a face covering, unless you have a good reason not to wear one.

You must also bring one of the following:

a Great Britain photocard driving licence

a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart

an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)

If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.

When you must not go to your test

You must not go to your driving test if:

you or someone you live with has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms

you’ve been told by the NHS Test and Trace service that you’ve been in contact with a person who has COVID-19

you’re self-isolating because you recently entered the UK

Wearing a face covering

You must wear a face covering for your test, unless you have a good reason not to. Good reasons are things like:

having a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability

wearing it would cause you severe distress

You need to say if you have a good reason not to wear a face covering when you book your test.

You can take it off during your test if you need to avoid harm or injury.

Your test will be cancelled if you go to your test without a face covering and you did not say that you could not wear one when you booked it.

How the test works

You’re tested on being able to:

load the vehicle following safety rules and to keep it secure

stop trafficking in illegal immigrants

assess emergency situations

reduce physical risks to yourself or others

do a walkaround vehicle safety check

The test is made up of 5 topics from the Driver CPC syllabus. You can score up to 20 points for each topic.

To pass you have to score at least 15 out of 20 in each topic area and have an overall score of at least 80 out of 100.

Test result

At the end of your test the examiner will tell you if you’ve passed.

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.

Cancelled tests

You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if DVSA cancels your test at short notice.

After you’ve qualified

You can get a £50 fixed penalty for driving professionally without your Driver CPC card.

Getting your Driver CPC card

The card will be sent to the address on your driving licence. You need to change this address first if it’s wrong.

The photograph and signature on your photocard licence will be used on your Driver CPC card.

Waiting for your card

You can drive professionally if you’ve passed all the tests and you’re waiting for your Driver CPC card to arrive.

If your card does not arrive

You have to pay £25 if:

you take longer than 3 months to tell DVSA it has not arrived

it’s sent to an old address because you have not updated your licence

Replace your card

You must replace your Driver CPC card if it’s lost or stolen.

The Driver CPC card does not have your address on it, so you do not have to get a new one if your address changes.

Staying qualified

Every 5 years you must:

take 35 hours of Driver CPC training to keep driving professionally

renew your lorry or bus driving licence

If you’re 65 or over you must renew your lorry or bus driving licence every year.

Fees

Provisional licence

| Cost

Application for a provisional lorry or bus licence | No charge

Test costs

| Weekday | Evening, weekend and bank holiday

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (multiple-choice) | £26 | £26

Driver CPC part 1 - theory - (hazard perception) | £11 | £11

Driver CPC part 2 - case studies | £23 | £23

Driver CPC part 3 - driving ability | £115 | £141

Driver CPC part 4 - practical demonstration | £55 | £63

These are the prices to book your tests using the official service. Unofficial websites may charge more.

Driver CPC card costs

| Cost

Driver CPC card (non-UK driving licences only) | £25

Replacement for lost, stolen or damaged card | £25

NVT concession fees

| Cost

National Vocational Training (NVT) concession card | £25


I was getting income support until last month. I have got a full time now and will be joining next week. Also, I want some money to cover my house costs. Previously I was claiming support for mortgage interest. As I am moving to a full time role, will I be eligible to apply for Mortgage Interest Run On?

Mortgage Interest Run On is extra money you can get towards your housing costs if certain other benefits are stopping because you’re:

Mortgage Interest Run On

Overview

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

You can get this help for 4 weeks.

What you'll get

If you’re eligible and were getting Support for Mortgage Interest before your work situation changed, you’ll usually continue to get the same amount as you were getting before your benefits stopped.

Payments for your mortgage or loan interest will be paid direct to you instead of to your lender.

Eligibility

You can claim Mortgage Interest Run On if you’ve stopped getting income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support or income-related Employment and Support Allowance because you’re:

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

All of the following must also apply:

you’ve been claiming the benefit continuously for at least 26 weeks

you expect the work (or more money) to last for 5 weeks or more

you were entitled to help with your housing costs before your work started and you’ll still have these costs when you start work

How to claim

You don’t need to apply - you should get Mortgage Interest Run On automatically. You just need to let your Jobcentre Plus office know as soon as you’re starting work.

returning to work full-time

Mortgage Interest Run On

Overview

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

You can get this help for 4 weeks.

What you'll get

Eligibility

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

All of the following must also apply:

How to claim

Mortgage Interest Run On

Overview

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

You can get this help for 4 weeks.

What you'll get

Eligibility

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

All of the following must also apply:

How to claim

Mortgage Interest Run On

Overview

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

You can get this help for 4 weeks.

What you'll get

Eligibility

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

All of the following must also apply:

How to claim

All of the following must also apply:

Mortgage Interest Run On

Overview

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

You can get this help for 4 weeks.

What you'll get

Eligibility

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

All of the following must also apply:

How to claim

Mortgage Interest Run On

Overview

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

You can get this help for 4 weeks.

What you'll get

Eligibility

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

All of the following must also apply:

How to claim

Mortgage Interest Run On

Overview

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

You can get this help for 4 weeks.

What you'll get

Eligibility

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

All of the following must also apply:

How to claim

Mortgage Interest Run On

Overview

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

You can get this help for 4 weeks.

What you'll get

Eligibility

returning to work full-time

working more hours

earning more money

All of the following must also apply:

How to claim