All professional drivers of large goods vehicles must have a Driver Qualification Card, or DQC. There are a small number of exemptions, but essentially if you’re driving an HGV / LGV (licence categories C, C1, C1+E or C+E), then Driver CPC is a legal obligation. Professional PCV drivers with equivalent licences are also required to hold a DQC.
Whether the initial DQC was gained as part of the drivers’ initial licence acquisition or by attending Driver CPC training courses, Driver CPC is an ongoing requirement. It is mandated by EU law (Directive 2003/59) and is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of drivers, as well as enhancing safety on our roads. The requirement for Driver CPC has not changed as a result of Brexit and there are no Government plans to do so – the relevant regulations pass into UK law.
We believe that done well, Driver CPC training makes a positive contribution to the road transport industry, supporting the ongoing professional development of the drivers who make such a valuable contribution to our society.
Each DQC is valid for five years from the date of issue. This means that – unlike the 2014 deadline set when Driver CPC was introduced – each driver’s renewal date is unique to them.
All drivers must undertake 35 hours’ periodic training before the end of the five years following the issue date on their DQC. If the training is not undertaken during that time, they will not be permitted to drive professionally until they have completed their 35 hours.
The best way to ensure that a DQC doesn’t lapse is to carry out at least one day’s mandatory periodic training every year.
To check your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) training record, visit the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency website.
If a driver is caught driving commercially without their Driver Qualification Card:
When choosing your Driver CPC training provider, look for a wide range of relevant topics for drivers to choose from. This keeps the training useful, interesting and engaging. Look out for interactive elements, such as videos, quizzes and feedback sessions, which will benefit drivers, and add real value to the training. Many drivers report that they prefer tutor-led online classroom environments to self-paced online courses.
Find out why you should choose Driver Hire Training for your Driver CPC training.
National or International Driver CPC? Find out here.
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Yes. Since social distancing measures were introduced to help combat Coronavirus, the Government has permitted Driver CPC training to be delivered in a ‘virtual classroom’ via webinar or video conference platforms.
Driver Hire was a pioneer of this approach and our delegates love it! It’s an easy, enjoyable and convenient way to get the training you need. Find out more by watching this short video.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
International Driver CPC
International CPC is required for drivers who also work outside of the UK.
