What Are the Requirements For Driving a 7.5 Tonne Lorry in the UK?

Are you thinking about driving a 7.5-tonne lorry in the UK professionally? If so, then you’re going to need to ensure that your licence covers you for it. In this article, we take a look at those requirements to provide some clarity on the subject. It all starts by understanding what we mean when we’re discussing what a 7.5-tonne truck actually is.

Also referred to as a medium goods vehicle (MGV), a 7.5-tonne lorry is a popular choice for transporting goods that are too large for a van, but don’t require a full-sized heavy goods vehicle (HGV). These vehicles are popular choices for household removals, refrigerated transport, and other local commercial needs.

Do I Require a Special Licence to Drive a 7.5-Tonne Lorry?

Yes, for many people, driving a 7.5-tonne lorry requires a special licence as it falls outside the scope of a regular car licence. That said, this does not apply across the board. How so? Well, if you passed your category B (car) licence before 1st Jan 1997, extra training and testing may not be necessary.

Passed Your Driving Test Before 1 January 1997?

Did you obtain your full UK driving licence before January 1997? Then, the good news is that your standard car licence automatically includes an entitlement to drive category C1 vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes. This is often referred to as ‘grandfather rights’. However, there is a caveat attached to that statement.

If you intend to drive a 7.5-tonne truck like this professionally, then you must also pass a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). This involves taking a theory test, a practical driving test, a practical demonstration test on safety and vehicle checks, and the completion of 35 hours of periodic training every five years.

Passed Your Driving Test After 1 January 1997?

Should you have passed your driving test after 1st January 1997, then your licence will only cover you for vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes. If this applies to you and you want to drive a 7.5-tonne lorry, you must apply for a Category C1 licence, which involves the following steps:

• Download the HGVT APP and apply for your provisional C1 licence. We’ll send you the necessary D2 application form and D4 medical form to fill out. Once completed, send your driving licence to the DVLA.
• You can fill out the D2 application form yourself, but a registered doctor must complete the D4 medical form during your examination.
• Once you have your provisional C1 licence, you’ll need to pass the HGV theory test (hazard perception and multiple choice). Practice on our HGVT app.
• After passing the theory test, take your practical driving test. HGVT offers local training.
• If you’re training professionally to drive a 7.5-tonne truck, you’ll also need a Driver CPC qualification. Our team will help you with this.

7.5-Tonne Licence Renewals

Once you hold a category C1 licence, it must be renewed when you reach the age of 45 and every 5 years thereafter. Upon reaching 65, renewals are then required every 12 months. The same goes for your driver medicals, which you’ll refresh at the same time.

Helping You Get the Truck Licences You Require

So, in summary, if you got your full car licence before the start of 1997, then you’ll just have to pass your driver CPC in order to drive a 7.5-tonne lorry professionally. If you’re driving one for non-commercial reasons, there’s no additional testing or training necessary, although it’s not a bad idea to get some instruction before doing so – especially if you’re not used to vehicles this size.

Conversely, if you passed your car driving test after the 1st of January 1997, you’ll have to apply for a provisional C1 licence, as well as pass your driver medical, the HGV practical test, HGV theory test and Driver CPC. Whatever your requirements, the HGVT team is here to help you get the licences you seek, whether driving professionally or for personal reasons.

Get in touch to find out more about our or speak to us directly about your training plans, simply call us. Our experts are on hand to give you all the guidance and support you need to achieve your goals.