Drive an HGV or bus professionally while you're training
Apply to drive an HGV, bus or coach professionally for up to 12 months before taking all the qualifying tests if you’re doing certain training courses.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
You normally need to pass 4 Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) tests before you’re allowed to start driving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), bus or coach professionally.
If you’re taking certain training courses, you can apply to start driving professionally after you pass all of these tests:
- Driver CPC part 1 (theory)
- Driver CPC part 3a (off-road exercises)
- Driver CPC part 3b (on-road driving)
You can then drive professionally for up to 12 months before you take both of these tests:
Doing this is called having a ‘national vocational training (NVT)(NVT) concession’.
Eligibility
To apply to defer taking the Driver CPC part 2 and 4 tests, you must have:
- passed the Driver CPC part 1 and part 3 tests
- not used an NVT concession before
- registered for an eligible training course or apprenticeship that lasts for at least 6 months and leads to a qualification
HGV driver training courses
These courses are currently eligible:
- Apprenticeship: Large goods vehicle (LGV) driver C and E (level 2)
- Apprenticeship: Urban driver (level 2)
- Highfield Level 2 Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles
- Highfield Level 3 Diploma in Driving Goods Vehicles
- ICQ Level 2 Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles
- Pearson Edexcel Level Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles
- ProQual Level 2 Certificate in Driving Goods Vehicles
- Qualifications
SQAScotlandLevelDiploma2Certificatein SVQinDrivingGoodsVehiclesat
Bus or coach driver training courses
TheThese onlycourses courseare thatcurrently iseligible:
HighfieldcurrentlyLeveleligible2isNVQHighfieldDiplomainPassengerCarryingVehicleDriving(BusandCoach)(RQF)ICQPearsonEdexcelLevel2NVQDiplomainPassengerCarryingVehicleDriving(BusandCoach)
Other training courses
Your course may also be eligible if it’s:
- at Level 2 or above on the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) register
- at Level 5 or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
- accredited by a national awarding body that’s externally regulated by either Ofqual,
theScottishAuthority,or the Department of Education
Contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to check if your course is eligible.
DVSA Driver CPC enquiries
jaupt-enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 01908 787 000
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
What it costs
It costs £25 to apply. If your application is unsuccessful you will not be refunded.
Apply for the concession
Download and fill in the application form.
When you send your application form, you’ll need to include this supporting evidence:
- a scan or photocopy of your Driver CPC part 1 (theory) certificate
- a scan or photocopy of your Driver CPC part 3 (driving ability) certificate
- proof of your registration on an eligible training course
Send the form by email
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Download and fill in the form.
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Save the form on your computer or device.
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Email the form and your supporting evidence to jaupt-enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk.
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Pay the £25 fee by credit or debit card (you’ll need to do this by phone after you have applied).
Send the form by post
You can also send the application and supporting evidence by post. You can pay by credit or debit card, or by cheque if you apply by post.
DVSA
Suite 208, Cubix
Noble House
Capital Drive
Linford Wood
Milton Keynes
MK14 6QP
What happens next
You’ll get an email that will tell you if your application has been approved or rejected. If it’s been approved you’ll be sent an approval letter and your concession card by post to your home address.
By law, you must carry your concession card when you’re working.
You can be fined £50 for driving professionally without your card.
The card will have a start date and an expiry date printed on it. The start date will begin from whichever of these is the latest:
- the start date of the training course you’re taking
- the date you passed the Driver CPC part 3 test
Your concession will last for 12 months from your start date. It will end sooner if you:
- stop taking your training course
- complete your training course
You must pass the Driver CPC part 2 and part 4 tests by the time your concession ends.
You must stop driving professionally if you have not passed the tests by then.
Replace your concession card if it’s lost, stolen or damaged
You must replace your concession card if it’s been lost, stolen or damaged. There’s no fee for this.
Email DVSA to get a replacement. You need to include your:
- full name as it appears on your driving licence
- address
- date of birth
DVSA Driver CPC enquiries
jaupt-enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk
You can keep driving professionally while you wait for your replacement card to arrive.
Updates to this page
Last updated 16
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Updated lists of courses.