UK motorists who drive certain types of vehicles are being warned about a potential £1,000 fine if they fail to comply with mandatory training requirements. The warning applies to drivers of lorries, buses, and coaches who must complete periodic training to maintain their Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
What is the Driver CPC Requirement?
According to GOV.UK, all professional drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), buses, or coaches must complete 35 hours of periodic training every five years to keep their Driver CPC. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to £1,000 for driving professionally without a valid Driver CPC. The government website states: "You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without Driver CPC."
Who Needs to Comply?
If you drive an HGV, bus, or coach as the main part of your job, you are required to hold a full Driver CPC. To qualify, you must have a full car licence, be over 18 (with some exceptions), and obtain the Driver CPC qualification. The qualification consists of five tests, though not all may be necessary if you have previously qualified as an HGV driver and wish to retrain.
How to Avoid the Fine
Drivers are urged to use the check your Driver CPC periodic training hours service on GOV.UK to keep track of completed training hours within the current five-year period. It is illegal to drive professionally if your training is not complete by your deadline. If you miss the deadline, you cannot drive professionally until you finish the training. However, any training already completed counts for five years from the course date, and you do not lose it even if you pass the deadline.
Additional Penalties
In addition to the £1,000 fine, drivers can receive a £50 fixed penalty for driving professionally without their Driver CPC card. The card, also called a driver qualification card or DQC, must be carried while driving a lorry, bus, or coach professionally. After completing 35 hours of periodic training or a Return to Driving CPC course, you will receive your card.
Booking Tests
For those needing to take tests, the costs are as follows: Part 1a (multiple-choice questions) costs £26, Part 1b (hazard perception) costs £11, and Part 2 (case studies) costs £23. Practical driving test costs vary depending on the vehicle type. When booking an upgrade test, such as moving from automatic to manual or from a medium-sized lorry to a large lorry, you must contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Further Information
Drivers can book theory tests and practical driving tests online via GOV.UK. For more details on becoming a qualified HGV or bus driver, and to find Driver CPC training courses, visit the official government website.
