Are you thinking of obtaining a professional van driver training? In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about training, regulations, licence types and more, so you can think seriously about starting your training with us. 

What type of licence can I get?

We cover several different types of licence for professional HGV / LGV driving, and each gives you the permission and skills to drive different types of vehicle:

Cat C

With this licence, you can drive vehicles over 3,500kg with a trailer up to 750kg.

Cat C+E

With this licence, you can drive vehicles over 3,500kg with a trailer over 750kg.

Cat C1

With this licence, you can drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg with a trailer up to 750kg.

Cat C1+E / B+E

With this licence, you can drive vehicles over 3,500kg with a trailer over 750kg.

What licence do I need to drive a van?

You can drive a van with any of these licence types (except CAT B / B+E), but if you’re starting from the point of only having a UK car licence you can go for Cat C1 training and start driving a van as soon as you pass. With our specialised training experts now you can train in 5 Days. 

What does Cat C1 training involve?

Training for your Cat C1 licence / Van Driver Training is a five-step process, and we will guide you through each stage helping you along the way.

Medical check

The first part of your Van Driver training is a medical exam. All commercial UK drivers need to be medically fit to drive, because larger vehicles can be dangerous if a driver is not fully in control, and some health issues may prevent that. Not only will we give you the medical paperwork, but we’ll also refer you to the doctors can provide exams for the lowest prices.

Provisional licence

You can only start learning to drive once you have a provisional licence, just as you have when you start learning to drive a car. Just as with the medical exam, we’ll give you all the paperwork you need, and work with you to submit it. As soon as it’s been submitted, you can start your theory training right away.

Theory test

Again, as with your car licence, you need to undertake a theory test before you can go on to your practical exam. In the case of a Cat C1 licence, this means taking a two-part text with 100 multiple choice questions plus 19 hazard perception videos. If you prefer to train by yourself, that’s absolutely fine, but we do also provide training classes if you want them. With our online portal, you can take unlimited test to know if you’re ready to take the final assessment (DVLA approved theory test).

Practical training

Once you’ve passed your theory, you’re ready to start with the practical side of training. Our booking team will contact you and based on your availability we’ll book the dates for your practical training. This is where you learn the vital skills needed to operate your vehicle, and you can take advantage of our very well equipped training facilities.

Practical test

The final stage of your training is your driving practical exam. This involves two parts – a practical demonstration and a driving skills test. We’ll support you fully throughout this part too, sending an instructor along with you on the day. This kind of extra help is why we have such a high pass rate for our trainees.

Nationwide Coverage

Because we’re a national training provider, we have centres all over the country. This means we have a slightly different offer to that of smaller independent and local providers, and we think this brings several important advantages for you.

The advantages of our national reach are:

Top class instructors

Our national recruitment reach means we can find and employ the very best instructors from all over the country, and not simply from one small area. This brings the benefit of the best possible training to you. All our instructors are DVLA approved & certified. 

Wide-reaching placements

We can set you up with job placements all over the country and have a better chance of placing you in exactly the sort of company you want to work for.

Lower prices

With such large numbers of people training with us, we can afford to keep our prices low. What we save in operating costs, we pass to you in reduced cost training.

Are we a ‘cheap’ provider?

We believe there is a huge difference between being ‘cheap’ and being less expensive. Yes, our prices are lower, but the quality of our training is consistently high no matter which of our centres you train at. You can see this in our pass rates, and the amount of help and individual support we’re able to give trainees from helping with paperwork and medicals to helping find placements and jobs. Other things we don’t scrimp on, and which help our students, are our intensive crash courses, and new state-of-the-art training technology and software.

Further reading on Van Driving and LGV Licences

Please find below a list of our other articles covering all aspects of Van and LGV driving.

• Nationwide Low Cost Van Driver Training Schools
• Are You Thinking About Van Driving For A Living?
• Hiring A Van – Do You Need A Van Driving Licence?
• The UK’s Best Intensive Van Driving Training Courses Revealed
• Latest Van Licence Requirements for UK Drivers
• Top Quality Intensive Ambulance Driver Training Courses
• The Best LGV Driver Training Schools across the UK
• The Driver’s Guide to LGV Classes
• You’re Career as an LGV Driver Starts Here
• Find the Best LGV Driver Training In Your Local Area
• The Complete Guide to the LGV Licence
• The Real Costs of Getting an LGV Licence
• How Do I Get an LGV Provisional Licence?
• Everything You Need To Know About the LGV Test
• Facts and Top Tips on Passing the LGV Theory Test
• Find the Best UK LGV Training Course Deals Online
• How to Compare LGV Training Costs Like a Professional
• What is LGV? Driving Licence Requirements Explained.