HGV test cost: £115 DVSA fee, £1,500-£3,500 to fully qualified.
The practical test is £115 weekday, £141 weekend. The full path to a working HGV driver costs much more: medical, theory, CPC modules, training, plus the test itself. Most learners spend £1,500-£3,500 depending on category and whether they need Driver CPC.
- £115Practical fee
- £100D4 medical avg
- £60All theory
- 56%Pass rate
Cat C end-to-end bill
- D4 medical (GP)£100
- Theory multiple choice£26
- Theory hazard perception£11
- CPC module 2 (case studies)£23
- 5-day training course (avg)£1,650
- Practical test (weekday)£115
- CPC module 4 (practical demo)£55
- Total to Cat C + Driver CPC£1,980
Cat C, Cat C1, Cat C+E and Cat C1+E.
Cat C is the main HGV category, covering rigid lorries over 3.5 tonnes (typical examples: 18-tonne and 26-tonne rigid lorries) with a trailer up to 750 kg. Cat C1 covers medium lorries 3.5 to 7.5 tonnes; this category existed automatically on car licences issued before 1 January 1997, so many older drivers already hold it. Cat C+E (sometimes called HGV class 1) adds the right to tow a trailer over 750 kg, which is required for articulated lorries. Cat C1+E is the medium-lorry equivalent.
The DVSA practical test fee is £115 weekday for all four categories. Training cost differs substantially. Cat C training (a rigid lorry) is typically £900-£1,800 for a 35-40 hour week-long course. Cat C+E training is £1,500-£2,500 because the articulated handling is a different skill and the training tractor and trailer cost the school more per day to run. Cat C1 and Cat C1+E training costs sit between the two extremes.
You must hold Cat C before applying for Cat C+E. Most learners going for the full articulated qualification do Cat C and Cat C+E back-to-back over two consecutive weeks, paying for each separately. Some training schools offer combined Cat C plus Cat C+E packages at a discount of £200-£400 versus booking each separately.
DVSA fees verified at gov.uk/driving-test-cost. Eligibility and application steps at gov.uk/become-lorry-bus-driver.
Required for paid HGV work.
The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) is required for anyone using HGV qualifications for paid work in the UK. The qualification has four modules. Modules 1 and 2 are theory: module 1 is the standard LGV theory test (multiple choice £26 plus hazard perception £11), module 2 is a case-studies test (£23). Module 3 is the practical driving test (£115 weekday). Module 4 is a 30-minute practical demonstration test covering vehicle checks, safe loading, and emergency procedures (£55 weekday).
Total DVSA fee spend across the four modules: £230. That is on top of training costs. Most training schools include modules 3 and 4 fees in the practical course package; some include all four. Always confirm what is and is not included.
After initial qualification, Driver CPC requires 35 hours of periodic training every five years. The training is delivered by approved providers (often the same schools that ran your initial qualification) at typical rates of £180-£300 for a 7-hour module. Many employers pay for periodic training as part of their fleet compliance budget. Self-employed drivers typically budget £1,000-£1,500 every five years for the 35 hours plus admin.
Confirmation of all Driver CPC fees at gov.uk/driver-cpc-training.
Why most new HGV drivers do not pay out of pocket.
The UK has had a structural HGV driver shortage since 2020, peaking during the post-COVID supply chain crisis of late 2021. Most of the largest fleet operators (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, the major hauliers DHL, Wincanton, GXO) and the supermarket distribution centres now run sponsored training schemes that cover the full £2,000-£3,500 qualification cost in exchange for a 12-24 month employment commitment.
The two largest funded routes in 2026 are: the Large Goods Vehicle Driver Apprenticeship (Level 2), funded by the Apprenticeship Levy and accessible to people aged 16+ working at an LGV-using employer; and the Department for Education's Skills Bootcamp scheme, which offers fully funded 8-week HGV training to jobseekers and career-changers in selected English regions.
The Apprenticeship route typically pays a small training wage (£6.40-£10 per hour) during the qualification period, with the qualification fees paid by the apprenticeship levy budget. The Skills Bootcamp route pays no wage during training but the qualification is fully funded and most providers help with onward job placement on completion. Both routes typically produce a fully qualified Cat C plus Driver CPC holder within 8-16 weeks.
If you are paying for HGV qualification out of pocket because you want to drive part-time, for a specific small operator, or for personal interest (vintage HGV ownership, livestock haulage for your own farm), the £2,000-£3,500 figure applies. If you are looking at HGV driving as a new career, the funded routes are almost always the better economic choice.
Apprenticeship details at gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship. Skills Bootcamps at gov.uk/guidance/find-a-skills-bootcamp.
HGV test cost FAQ.
How much is the HGV practical test?+
The DVSA charges £115 on weekdays and £141 on evenings, weekends and bank holidays for the LGV practical test. This applies to Cat C (rigid lorry over 3.5 tonnes), Cat C1 (medium lorry 3.5-7.5 tonnes), Cat C+E (lorry with trailer) and Cat C1+E. The fee is the same regardless of category.
What is the total cost to get an HGV licence?+
Budget £1,500-£3,500 for Cat C from start to qualified. Breakdown: D4 medical £80-£120, provisional Cat C entitlement free (added to existing car licence), theory multiple choice £26, theory hazard perception £11, CPC module 2 case studies £23, training (10-20 hours with hire of HGV) £900-£2,500, practical test £115, CPC module 4 practical demonstration £55. Cat C+E typically £400-£800 more because of the trailer-handling training.
Do I need Driver CPC to drive an HGV professionally?+
Yes for paid work. Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) requires passing all four modules: theory multiple choice, theory hazard perception, theory case studies, and the practical demonstration. Then 35 hours of periodic training every five years to maintain it. If you only drive an HGV for personal or hobby reasons (some farm work, vintage vehicle rallies) you can get a Cat C licence without Driver CPC.
How long does HGV training take?+
Most learners book a 5-day intensive course (35-40 hours) with the practical test on day 5. The DVSA practical pass rate for HGV is around 56% per quarterly statistics, slightly above the car test average. Training schools include the test fee in the package price; a failed test means rebooking the fee and one or two days of additional training (£200-£500).
What is the difference between Cat C and Cat C+E?+
Cat C licences you to drive a rigid lorry over 3.5 tonnes with a trailer up to 750 kg. Cat C+E adds a trailer over 750 kg, which is required for articulated lorries (HGV class 1). You must hold Cat C before applying for Cat C+E. Most professional HGV jobs require Cat C+E; supermarkets, hauliers and waste contractors specifically.
Is the medical (D4) an ongoing cost?+
Yes, every five years up to age 45, then more frequently. The DVLA requires a D4 medical for all initial Cat C applications and renewals. GP practices typically charge £80-£120, occupational health providers £120-£180. The renewal frequency tightens as you age: every five years to 45, every five years to 65, every three years to 70, then annually.