Book a courseGet your licence

HGV Driver Licence Training

Booking training for your team or for yourself? We can help!

Training or licence upgrades for your staff

Enquire here

Renewing or upgrading your own licence

Enquire here

Want to gain your first professional driving licence

Enquire here

Which licence do I need?

Whatever level of professional driving licence you need, we can help you every step of the way.

Category C (HGV Class 2)

A Class 2 driver is qualified to drive a truck over 3,500kg, including a trailer weighing up to 750kg. This could look like most haulage trucks, fire engines, bin collection vehicles and large removal vans. Suitable for anyone with a car licence (category B) over the age of 18, who is medically fit to drive.

Price includes: 4-5 days of learning with the test on the last day. Also includes medical, forms, online theory test, test fees, vehicle hire, instructor and fuel – as well as full support from our team

HGV driver salary up to £35,000-£38,000 per annum

Find out more

Category C+E (HGV Class 1)

A Class 1 driver is qualified to drive a truck over 3,500kg (C) with a trailer over 750kg (+E). Examples are: drawbar or artic vehicles, Category C trucks, vehicles above 7.5 tonnes or tractors with a long trailer unit. Anyone who holds a Cat. C (Class 2) licence can upgrade to a Cat. C+E (Class 1) licence. (Fast track option below if you do not already hold a Cat. C licence).

Price includes: 4-5 days of learning with the test on the last day. Also includes all test fees and vehicle hire – as well as full support from our team.

HGV driver salary up to £39,000-£42,000 per year

Learn more

Category C1 (7.5 tonne)

A 7.5 tonne, or C1 driver, is qualified to drive a vehicle over 3,500kg (C) but below 7,500kg. This could be home/supermarket delivery vehicles, ambulances, removal trucks or small horsebox. Suitable for anyone with a car licence (Category B), over the age of 18, who is medically fit to drive.

Price includes: 3-4 days of learning with the test on the last day. Also includes medical, forms, online theory test, test fees, vehicle hire, instructor and fuel – as well as full support from our team.

HGV driver salary up to £27,000 per year (16.07 per hour)

Find out more

Fast-Track Cat. C & C+E

Why not complete these two licences at the same time? One of our most popular courses, this licence allows you to go straight from driving a car to all HGV vehicles.

Includes two training courses to obtain your Cat. C and Cat. C+E licence, taking around 6-8 days to complete.

Price includes: 6-8 days of learning with the test on the last day. Also includes medical, forms, online theory test, test fees, vehicle hire, instructor and fuel – as well as full support from our team.

Find out more

Professional Driving

There’s huge demand for high-quality professional drivers. From skilled multi-drop drivers carrying out final-mile deliveries, to long distance HGV drivers – these are the people that keep the UK moving. We can help you gain your licence, or for employers, we can help you upskill your current staff to fill any gaps.

The process for gaining an HGV licence, or any licence upgrade, can look quite complicated. However we’re here to help, every step of the way.

Rest assured – with Driver Hire’s help, this is not a difficult process to complete. We can supply all relevant forms and take drivers through each stage.

We’ll also set up an online portal, which outlines the process and also contains links to useful learning resources, so that the new driver can use the time taken by DVLA to complete their process (often up to two weeks) to study and prepare for the various tests.

Once you or your colleagues are booked, our step by step process begins:

Step 1:

A medical will be booked on your behalf by our team. A licence upgrade pack will be sent out in the post, which will include the paperwork that needs to be completed. A online delegate study or revision portal will also be set up to access all learning materials.

Once the medical is completed, you’re ready for Step 2.

Step 2:

The next step is to complete relevant medical and licence forms. These need to be sent to the DVLA, using the envelope provided in the licence upgrade pack. Again, our team are on hand to help.

The paperwork could take 2 weeks to be returned – during this time we recommend using the online training/revision portal to study and prepare.

Step 3:

Theory test. Once the licence has been sent back, please contact us to let us know, so we can book the relevant theory tests needed.

Step 4:

Our team can now book all practical HGV training, tests and any other relevant CPC training needed.

Finding work:

If you are getting your licence to change career and join the logistics industry, once you have qualified we can put you in contact with your local Driver Hire office, who will be able to help you start your new career.

Driver CPC:

Driver CPC is a requirement for new drivers, you can find more information here. Or if you have your licence and require Driver CPC training, you can find more information about the modules we deliver here.

Looking to Upskill

ADR

Once ADR qualified, you will be entitled to drive a vehicle with tanks or vehicles carrying dangerous goods in containers, packages and other configurations.

Expected salary of £32,000 per annum (19.04 per hour) or more

Find out more

HIAB

Once you complete your HIAB training you will be qualified to operate a lorry-mounted crane, a really useful skill for drivers delivering building materials to sites.

Find out more

PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle)

A PCV licence (Category D) is required when carrying passengers. There are two PCV licence categories, depending on how many passengers you need to transport.

These are:

  • Category D1 – for minibuses with between 9 & 16 passenger seats
  • Category D – for buses and coaches with more than 16 passenger seats

Expected salary of up to £25,000 per annum (£14.88 per hour)

find out more

Other career development options

There are many opportunities for professional drivers to move into other roles in transport and logistics – and Driver Hire Training can help.

For information on Transport Manager CPC and other career development qualifications, visit our manager training page.

Meet the team

Our team of licence acquisition experts are here to help!

Sam Pepper:

Sam Pepper

I have over 11 years industry experience and have loved every minute of it. From running HGV training companies to managing individuals’ training.  I love anything with an engine and have always had a big interest in motorsport and machines. My hobbies include fishing, cars, mountain biking, gaming, photography, ice hockey and football.

  • What is your dream car?
    Ferrari F40
  • Which songs are on your driving playlist?
    80s/90s Rock and Hip-hop
  • What are your must have snacks on a road trip?
    Cake/biscuits – all kinds, I have a sweet tooth
  • A road trip you’d love to complete
    I have driven all over UK and Europe, but would love to drive the Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps

Paul Jowett:

  • What is your dream car?
    Koenigsegg Jesko Attack
  • Which songs are on your driving playlist?
    Papa Roach – Last Resort, Eminem – Abracadabra, Limp Bizkit – My Generation, Moby – Flowers and AC/DC – Shoot to Thrill
  • What are your must have snacks on a road trip?
    Irn-Bru, Walkers Quavers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups & pork scratchings
  • A road trip you’d love to complete
    Prudhoe Bay to Ushuaia

Get started today

So what are you waiting for? Contact our team today to get your or your team’s training booked today:

Request callback  Quote me now  Enquiry form

FAQs

It usually takes around 6-7 weeks to learn to drive an HGV. This will cover everything from applying for your provisional to having your medical, studying the theory and learning all the practical skills you need to pass the four tests that are part of gaining a professional driver’s licence.

The cost varies depending on the licence that you are looking to acquire and where you do the training. We’ll be able to give you all the information you need about pricing when we know more about your needs.

The good news is, HGV training doesn’t have to be expensive, especially if you opt for a fast-tracked training route. This will get you on the road quickly, for a competitive price.

The amount a HGV driver in the UK can earn varies depending on employer, but typically the starting salary for a newly qualified driver is anywhere between £19-24k. If you have more experience, like multiple licence categories, then you could certainly earn up to £40k. Have a look at our driving careers page for more info.

If you’ve taken a standard driving test in the past, then you will already know how to interact with other traffic and know the rules of the road. Professional drivers are highly skilled, but if you’ve trained properly, with a good school, you should find your practical and theory tests fairly straightforward. All you need to be able to do is concentrate, stay calm, and be confidence in your knowledge and experience.

Yes, you can. Traditionally you had to have a Cat. C licence (for rigid trucks) before you could take your Class 1 (Cat. C+E, or artic) test. Some people would choose to complete the training in one course, with the Cat. C taken first, followed by the C+E shortly after.

Changes introduced by the Government in November 2021 mean that it is now possible to go straight to your Cat. C+E test without first having to pass a separate Cat. C test. You will still learn to drive both rigid and articulated trucks, but those elements relating to the Cat. C will be tested by your driving school rather than by a DVSA examiner.

It is still possible to choose to train and take just the Cat. C test if you do not want to drive articulated vehicles. And remember, you need your Driver CPC for all licences of Category C1 (7.5t) and above.

Class 1 and Class 2 are two different categories of LGV vehicles. Class 1 refers to large trucks that weigh over 3,500kg, including those above 7.5 tonnes, like national and long-haul lorries. They generally have a tractor unit and trailer, in an articulated or drawbar configuration. These are the largest vehicles that you can drive in the logistics industry, weighing up to 44 tonnes. A Class 1 HGV licence is also called a Cat C+E licence.

Class 2 refers to smaller trucks that weigh over 3,500kg, but no heavier than 32 tonnes. This may include a trailer weighing up to 750kg. These vehicles are often referred to as ‘rigids’ and include fire engines, bin collection vehicles and large removal trucks. They are usually used for making local and domestic deliveries. A Class 2 HGV licence is also called a Cat. C licence.

LGV Class 1, also referred to as Cat C+E, refers to a category of large vehicles that weigh over 3,500kg, including those above 7.5 tonnes. It is the same as HGV Class 1. If you have your Class 1 licence, you can drive most national/international haulage vehicles, drawbar or artic vehicles, and tractors with a long trailer unit. It is an upgrade on the Class 2, or Category C licence.

To become a Class 1 HGV driver, you need to take a Class 1/Cat C+E training course.

The course is four days long and includes all the safety information and training that you will need to be able to obtain your Class 1 licence and drive goods vehicles weighing up to 44 tonnes.

In order to take the course, you need to already have a Cat. B (ordinary car) licence, or a Cat. C1 (7.5 tonnes) licence.

If you already have a Class 2 (Cat. C) licence, you can upgrade it to a Class 1 (Cat. C+E) licence.

Class 2 drivers can earn up to £32,000 per year or £19.04 per hour. The types of vehicles you might drive with a Class 2 (Cat. C) licence include most haulage trucks, fire engines, bin collection vehicles and large removal trucks.

Find out how to get your Class 2 licence with Driver Hire today.

A PCV is a Passenger Carrying Vehicle, like a minibus or coach. Category D1 PCVs have between 9 and 16 passenger seats, whereas Category D PCVs have more than 16 seats. To be able to drive these types of vehicles professionally, you will need to obtain a PCV licence.

You can gain a PCV licence by doing a short training course with Driver Hire. The length of the course will depend on what category of PCV licence you need, and what previous driving experience you have, but it will be no longer than 7 days. At the end of the course, you will need to take a test to qualify for your licence.

There is no difference between a PSV and a PCV licence – they are the same thing. PSV is an older term meaning Public Service Vehicle, and PCV is a newer term meaning Passenger Carrying Vehicle. Before 1992, it was called a PSV licence, but since then its name has changed and now you would get a PCV licnece.

Your PCV licence must be renewed every five years, otherwise it is not legally up to date. If you are over the age of 65, it must be renewed every year. You will also need to sign a self-declaration to confirm that you are medically and physically fit to continue driving every time your PCV licence expires.

To drive a minibus “for hire and reward” (i.e. you are getting paid for it), you will need a category D1 PCV licence. This will allow you to drive PCV vehicles with 9 to 16 passenger seats. If you want to drive a passenger-carrying vehicle with over 16 passenger seats, you will need a Category D PCV licence.

If you are a driver with an existing automatic PCV licence, since 2015 you can upgrade it to a manual PCV licence, but only if you already have a manual vehicle licence. Furthermore, if you are planning to take your automatic PCV test to get your licence, you will automatically get a manual entitlement if you already hold a manual licence for another class of vehicle e.g. car or HGV. You can upgrade your licence by contacting the DVLA.

This will depend on the weight of your converted bus. If you passed your standard driving test (car) before 1997, you will be allowed to drive vehicle weighing up to 7.5 tonnes. But if you passed your driving test after 1997, you can only drive vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes.

If your vehicle weighs over 7.5 tonnes, you will need a Category C, Class 2, HGV licence, which you can obtain with a short training course. In some circumstances, it might be possible to reclassify the weight of your vehicle by contacting the DVLA, if during the conversion you have made the vehicle lighter. You will not need a PCV licence unless you are planning to use the vehicle to carry passengers commercially.

With a Category D1 licence, you can drive Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCVs) with up to 16 passenger seats. This includes most minibuses too. Adding the ‘+E’ suffix to your Category D1 licence entitles you to tow a trailer weighing more than 750kg behind the minibus. If you want to drive a PCV with more than 16 passenger seats, you will need a Category D PCV licence.

If you are not driving a minibus for hire and reward (i.e. if there is no payment from the passengers), and it has no more than 16 passengers, then you may be able to operate it with your ordinary car licence.

If you want to drive a minibus commercially you will need a PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) There are two categories of PCV licence: Category D1 covers vehicles with between 9 and 16 passenger seats, whereas Category D covers larger buses and coaches with over 16 passenger seats.

 

You can get your minibus licence by doing a PCV training course with Driver Hire. We offer courses for Category D and Category D1 qualifications, the length of which will depend on your previous driving experience – but it will not be longer than seven days.

To drive a bus or coach you need a Category D PCV licence, which covers you to drive commercial vehicles with over 16 passenger seats. It also covers you to drive smaller, Category D1 vehicles such as minibuses.

PCV licence costs vary, depending on where in the country you do your training. It can also vary depending on what qualifications you already have, e.g. an HGV licence. Get in touch with us to get a quote for PCV licence training.