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Driver CPC Training

Do you have questions about Driver CPC? Here’s Driver Hire’s quick summary of everything you need to know. You can also check out our Driver CPC FAQs for answers to more specific questions.

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The Basics

If you drive professionally, you’ll usually need Driver CPC. Here’s what you need to know:

35 Hours

You need to complete 35 hours of periodic training every five years to keep your Driver Qualification Card (DQC) valid.

Initial CPC

New professional drivers normally complete Initial CPC as part of gaining their professional licence. Either way, we can help.

Categories C, C1, C1+E & C+E

If you drive these vehicles professionally, Driver CPC rules will generally apply.

PCV drivers

Similar requirements apply to professional bus and coach drivers.

There are some exemptions, so if you’re unsure whether Driver CPC applies to you, check the requirements before booking.

Initial or Periodic Driver CPC – what’s the difference?

Here’s the simple version:

  • For drivers gaining their professional qualification
  • Part of the process of becoming qualified to drive professionally
  • Includes Modules 2 & 4
  • Usually relevant to new professional drivers
  • For drivers who already hold their DQC
  • 35 hours every five years
  • Keeps your DQC valid
  • Relevant to existing professional drivers

Already qualified? You probably need periodic training rather than Initial CPC.

Find out more about Initial vs Periodic Driver CPC →

Driver CPC is an ongoing requirement

35 hours every 5 years.

Your DQC is valid for five years. Before it expires, you need to complete 35 hours of Driver CPC periodic training. Your five-year period starts from the date your DQC was issued, so your renewal date will depend on when you received your card.

If you don’t complete your 35 hours in time, you won’t be able to drive professionally until you have completed the required training.

A simple way to keep on top of your training is to complete at least one day of Driver CPC training each year. This spreads your training out and helps make sure you don’t leave it all until the last minute.

You can check your Driver CPC training record on the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency website.

What happens if I don’t complete my training?

If you’re required to complete Driver CPC but don’t complete your required training, your Driver Qualification Card (DQC) will no longer be valid. You cannot drive professionally until you have completed the required training.

Fines of up to £1,000

Drivers and operators can face fines of up to £1,000 for driving without, or allowing driving without, a valid DQC.

Unable to drive

Drivers may be stopped from driving professionally until their training is complete.

Fewer drivers available

Missing drivers could disrupt day-to-day operational efficiency.

Lower OCRS rating

A conviction could negatively affect your operator’s OCRS rating.

Higher insurance costs

The operator’s insurance premiums could increase.

Need to manage Driver CPC for your business?

Keeping multiple drivers compliant doesn’t have to be difficult. Driver Hire can help businesses manage their drivers’ periodic CPC training across the five-year cycle, with a wide choice of courses and support from an experienced account manager.

Train your drivers
Book CPC training for individuals or groups.

Manage the five-year cycle
Plan training throughout the cycle rather than leaving it until the deadline.

Keep track of compliance
Use training records and licence checking tools to help keep your workforce compliant.

Talk to us about how our dedicated Training Portal can help you achieve this.

Book now  Enquiry form

What should I look for in Driver CPC training?

There are lots of Driver CPC courses available, so it’s worth choosing training that is relevant to you and your work.

Choose training that’s useful to your role and day-to-day driving.

Look for interactive elements such as videos, quizzes and feedback.

Many drivers prefer being able to interact with a trainer and other delegates rather than working through training alone.

Find out why you should choose Driver Hire Training for your Driver CPC training.

Not sure whether you need National or International Driver CPC? Find out here.

Book your Driver CPC training or get in touch with our team.

FAQs

Prices are shown next to each course listing. Our online Driver CPC training costs just £49, including VAT and JAUPT upload. (Correct at May 2025 and subject to change without notice at any time). Prices for classroom-based courses, when available, may vary.

Driver CPC is a legal requirement for all professional drivers of vehicles falling in scope of the regulations, driving for commercial purposes. If you do not complete the required training, or fail to produce your Driver Qualification Card (DQC) when required to do so, you could face a maximum fine of £1,000 for both the driver and the operator licence holder.

Failing to carry your DQC can attract a fixed penalty of £50. Offences under Driver CPC can be referred to the Traffic Commissioner, who could also suspend the driver or operator’s licence.

A single day’s Driver CPC training must last 7 hours to count towards the mandatory 35 hours that you must take to gain your Driver Qualification Card.

Almost all Driver Hire training days are made up of two separate 3½ hour modules. This gives you a wider range of learning and will keep you interested right through the day. Find out more about all of our Driver CPC modules here

Yes. We offer closed classroom-based Driver CPC courses, which are ideal for organisations looking to train a full group of drivers together.

We can arrange the course around your requirements, including the choice of modules and training location. Courses can be delivered at your premises or at a suitable venue.

Get in touch to discuss your group training requirements.

You will receive your DQC automatically once you have completed the required 35 hours’ training and this has been uploaded to the DVSA database. Find out more on the Government website at www.gov.uk/driver-cpc-training/

There is no mandatory end-of-course test for Driver CPC training so you cannot fail a course. However some courses may have an assessment at the end to check what you have learned and to help to reinforce the most important aspects of the course.

Yes. Driver CPC training can be completed online through live, interactive virtual classroom sessions, making it a convenient way to fit your training around work and other commitments.

Many of our Driver CPC courses are well suited to PCV drivers, but some are specifically targeted towards LGV drivers. if you’re a bus or coach driver, we’d recommend one of the following courses:

No, you don’t generally need a Driver CPC to drive a 3.5-tonne van. It is sensible to check the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of the vehicle you will be driving. If driving a vehicle over 3,500kg MAM for commercial purposes, you would need a valid Driver CPC.

Under the terms of the Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations, working hours are any time that an employee is “at the employer’s disposal”. Therefore if a driver is sent on a training course such as Driver CPC by their employer, then this does count as working time.

Prices are shown next to each course listing. Our online Driver CPC training costs just £49, including VAT and JAUPT upload. (Correct at May 2025 and subject to change without notice at any time). Prices for classroom-based courses, when available, may vary.

‘Grandfather rights’ (or sometimes ‘acquired rights’) is a legal term that is applied in various industries when a new law or standard is introduced, so that people who were qualified before that rule was introduced are allowed to continue working as they were, rather than having to undertake fresh training.

In logistics, the term is most commonly applied in two areas – Category C1 (7.5T) driving entitlement and Driver CPC.

Driver CPC

Drivers who gained their professional LGV licence (Cat C, C1, C+E and C1+E) prior to 10th September 2009 have grandfather rights in relation to Driver CPC and so were not required to undertake a full Driver CPC to be qualified. All drivers gaining their licence after that date, on the other hand, and who wish to drive professionally, have to do the full four-module Initial CPC.

But remember – all professional drivers are obliged to meet the ongoing ‘periodic training’ requirement of 35 hours’ Driver CPC training every five years, to keep their DQC valid.

Category C1

Drivers who hold a car driving licence (Category B) issued before January 1997 automatically have ‘grandfather rights’ to drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes. If you gained your car licence after that date, you cannot automatically drive Category C1 vehicles, so you will require the training to upgrade your licence.

Your joining link will be emailed to you the day before your session is due to take place. If you are booked on to an evening session, the link will be sent the same morning.

Please ensure that you check your spam/junk folder for these links.

Your hours will be uploaded to your DVSA record within 5 working days upon completion of your Driver CPC training session.

Driver CPC is a legal requirement for all professional HGV drivers. CPC stands for Certificate of Professional Competencerequires that 35 hours of training are completed every five years, to keep your DQC (Driver Qualification Card) up to date. You also need to complete an initial CPC course to obtain an LGV licence if you do not have one. Find out how to complete your CPC today.

In November 2024, the government announced changes to Driver CPC requirements, which are now in effect. As market leaders in Driver CPC training, we are proud to be among the first to offer training to meet the new National and International Driver CPC rules.

National Driver CPC

National CPC is required for drivers working in the UK only.

  • Drivers can still use the International Driver CPC or choose the new National Driver CPC.
  • Drivers need to complete 35 hours of training every 5 years, which can include shorter 3.5-hour sessions and up to 12 hours of e-learning.

International Driver CPC

International CPC is required for drivers who also work outside of the UK.

  • There is no change to the current Driver CPC requirements (apart from the name).
  • Drivers need to complete 35 hours of training every 5 years, in blocks of 7 hours.

Read General FAQs here.

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