Provisional licences, medicals and other things you need to think about right away

If you never driven anything other than his trusty Car / Van and you are looking to get a Category C1 C CE (vehicle over 3.5 tonnes) licence.

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HGV licence holders (by the way, you’ll often hear HGV and LGV used interchangeably; they are the same thing, although some people mistakenly think LGV means light goods vehicle) must be at least 18 years of age.

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Quick whistle-stop tour through the jargon: HGV driver training breaks down into 4 modules which, when put together, form the Initial Driver CPC qualification. Two of the modules, 1 and 3, relate to the actual process of getting the licence entitlement. The other two modules, 2 and 4, relate to the professional driver qualification (the CPC bit). Drivers aged 18-21 and drivers who want to drive professionally for a living must complete all 4 modules. Anyone over 21 who just wants an HGV licence so that they can drive the vehicle for personal use only (not for a job) needs modules 1 and 3.

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The other thing to think about before filling out the provisional licence application is health. Before he does anything else, You will need to sort out a medical – you will need D4 form when you go to your medical. Have a look at DVLA leaflet INF4D for more on D4 and the medical. The medical will cost between £50-£150.

Once the medical is completed, You will need to fill in a (D2) and send it to DVLA Swansea, along with his completed D4 and photo card driving licence. The application process can take 10-14 days, so it’s a good time to start getting stuck into the theory needed for Modules 1 and 2.

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Module 1

The first part of the licence acquisition process is a good old fashioned theory test and hazard perception test. These tests can only be booked once a provisional licence has been issued. Some training providers refer to the two parts of Module 1 as 1a and 1b, but quite frankly, adding any more letter and number combinations to the process just adds confusion.

The theory test consists of 100 questions. You will have 1 hour 45 minutes to complete the test and will need 85 correct answers to pass. This part of the test costs £26. The hazard perception test consists of 20 clips. You will need to spot hazards as they occur. You need 67 out of 100 to pass. This part of the test costs £11.

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We’ll look at training options later, but it is generally accepted that drivers will have to take on a bit of self-study to prep for these tests. Many training providers offer revision-style training to help prepare drivers for the tests. The DVSA’s official “LGV Theory Book” (£13-£25) and “Hazard Perception DVD-ROM” (£15) are recommended learning aids. Booking for these tests is completed online. You can book them yourself.

Once Bob has his Module 1 certificate, it’s valid for 2 years. You must complete Module 3 (the Practical Driving test) in that time. We mentioned earlier that driver training is a big investment. At this point in the process, with one module complete, Your HGV training cost is around £200.

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Module 2

This test can be booked at the same time as Module 1. It is a theory test, but it’s separate from the Module 1 Theory test because it is the first part of the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification that drivers must have to drive professionally, so it’s almost a separate issue to Modules 1 and 3.

During the Case Study test, You will be asked a series of questions based around several case studies. There are 7 case studies in the test, each with 6-8 questions. Case studies might include video, audio, text or diagrams. The test must be taken at an official DVSA Test Centre and costs £23.

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Module 3

The final part of the licence acquisition test. This is where you gets behind the wheel and takes the actual driving test. This test must be taken within 2 years of passing Module 1.

Naturally, this is where the majority of your investment will go. Training a brand new driver will typically take around 5 days. It’s an intense learning experience with a big test at the end, so you need to be sure your candidate is up to the task. Training for Module 3 will cost approximately £800-£1500

The test itself lasts around 90 minutes and you will need to carry out a reversing exercise and prove what he can do on a number of different road types. The test is conducted by a DVSA Examiner and costs £115.

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Module 4

The final part of the CPC Initial qualification (needed by all 18-21 year olds and professional drivers). Often this part of the process is conducted straight after the Practical Driving test, but approaches may vary. Module 4 is also a practical test, but it’s not a driving test; it’s a “practical assessment of associated knowledge”. In other words, You will have to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of certain vehicle-related issues like daily inspection, safety, load restraints, etc. The important thing is that this test is about demonstrating, not talking or explaining. The examiner wants to see that the candidate knows how to actually do the job not just talk about it.

It is recommended that candidates receive some training for this test because it is quite particular in its structure and marking. You will need to score 80% overall, but in each subject area he must score at least 75%. This test will cost £55.

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Qualified​