Are you ready to learn to drive an HGV?
There’s a lot to learn about driving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV): are you ready for the challenge?
Learning to drive HGVs checklist
To learn to drive an HGV, you must:
- be 18 years old
- hold a full car licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland
- apply for the correct provisional entitlements on your licence
- provide a medical report showing you’re fit to drive an HGV
- make sure any vehicle you drive is roadworthy and properly taxed and insured
- display L plates on the front and rear of the vehicle where they can be clearly seen when you’re driving (L or D plates in Wales)
- be accompanied by a qualified driver who is over 21 and has held (and still holds) a full driving licence for the category of vehicle being driven for at least 3 years.
The Official DVSA Guide to Driving Goods Vehicles
Contains sections on Driver CPC and the national standard for driving lorries.
Next steps
To become a fully qualified professional driver you must pass every part of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
You can find out more about the Driver CPC on the following pages:
Vocational Instructors recognised and endorsed by DVSA
The time the training for the practical test takes depends on which category of licence you’re applying for, but many trainers offer intensive five-day courses for HGV licences.