What Are The Licensing Requirements for HGV/LGV Drivers?

The term HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) or LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) refers to vehicles which are in excess of 3.5 tonnes.

Here at Euro 1 Training, we go through the requirements for a HGV.LGV Lorry Driver Licence.

These vehicles, such as lorries, fire engines and buses are all far more difficult to drive due to their heavier nature and require special training to build a driver’s skill from car driving to HGV/LGV driving.

These vehicles are often used for long haul journeys and the transportation of heavy goods. Many long haul drivers often find themselves driving throughout Europe in varying conditions with different cargo each time.

Categories C and C+E account for LGV and HGV vehicles, with the difference being that C vehicles are fixed carriages while C+E licenses are for articulated vehicles.

Getting your HGV Lorry Driver licence

There are three stages to gaining a license to drive these vehicles. The first of these stages is the theory and hazard perception. The test is split into two halves: one part is a multiple choice test in which you select answers, the other half is a hazard perception test.

The second stage to getting your license is a practical test. There are three aspects to this part of the test which should take around 90 minutes combined.

Firstly, you will be required to answer some vehicle safety questions and then you will be taken for the road driving portion of the test. Finally, you will be made to perform off-road exercises to test your ability.

Driver CPC

To round off your license application you will need to have a certificate of professional competence (Driver CPC) which requires a total of 35 hours of training every 5 years to maintain. If you are already a professional bus or lorry driver then it’s possible that you could request a CPC via your acquired rights.

If you are a driver who has passed their regular driving test before 1997 then you might be granted special rights to drive a C1 category vehicle, this is because of a change in the law after this period. However, it is not recommended that you drive such vehicles unless you have undergone refresher training.

Here at Euro 1 Training we provide a comprehensive range of HGV and LGV training courses, we cover everything from practical experience to knowledge of driver rules and regulations – we can even help you gain your CPC with training modules.

Eventually you will be able to go further and gain more qualifications for different vehicles if you would like to diversify your skills.

If you’d like to learn more about our services and how they can benefit you then please don’t hesitate to contact us today.