35 hours every 5 years
Your Driver CPC lasts 5 years, and the deadline is printed on your card. Before it you must complete 35 hours of periodic training. Driving professionally without a valid Driver CPC can be fined up to £1,000. If you drive both lorries and buses you only do one set of 35 hours; if your card shows two deadlines, work to the earlier one.
You can check how many hours are on your record with the GOV.UK service "Check your Driver CPC periodic training hours". Training has to be done in the country where you work or normally live.
National or International Driver CPC
| You want to drive in | Training you need |
|---|---|
| The UK and Europe | 35 hours of International Driver CPC courses only. Any National course on your record gives you a National card, which is not valid in Europe. |
| The UK only | 35 hours of National courses, International courses or a mix. |
If you want to keep the International option, use the check-your-hours service to opt out of National courses so they cannot count. Once a National card has been issued, the International hours on it cannot be reused for an International card.
Who does not need the full Driver CPC
You do not need the full Driver CPC if, for example, you carry passengers or goods non-commercially, carry material or equipment for your own work and driving is under 30% of your rolling monthly working time, drive to pre-booked appointments at test centres, drive within 62 miles (100 km) of your base with no passengers or goods and driving is not your main job, or drive a vehicle limited to 28 mph. You still need the licence itself (theory and driving tests).
Acquired rights
Drivers who got their lorry licence (C, C1, C+E, C1+E) before 10 September 2009, or a bus licence (D, D1, D+E, D1+E) before 10 September 2008, did not have to take the initial Driver CPC tests. They still need periodic training. If you had a Driver CPC card before, you return by completing 35 hours of training; if you never had a card, you can instead pass Driver CPC parts 2 and 4.
Returning to driving
If your Driver CPC expired less than 2 years ago you can take a 7-hour Return to Driving course. To drive in the UK you can start as soon as the provider records it, but you must complete a further 28 hours within 12 months. To drive in Europe you need the full 35 hours of International training first. You can only take a Return to Driving course once every 5 years.
Counting ADR training
Up to 14 hours of dangerous goods (ADR) training can count towards the 35 hours.
Lost or damaged card
You can apply on GOV.UK to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Driver CPC card. After finishing your training, the new card is sent to the address on your driving licence.