CPC for existing lorry, bus and coach drivers
All professional lorry and bus drivers must carry out 35 hours periodic training every five years to maintain a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card (sometimes called a driver qualification card or DQC).
DQC or DQC expired before 1 February 2020
If you have acquired rights or your Driver CPC expired before 1 February 2020, you can carry out 35 hours of periodic CPC training to get your Driver CPC.
Driving professionally in the UK or for an EU company
You need Driver CPC to drive professionally in the UK. You must carry out your Driver CPC periodic training by your deadline.
The UK recognises Driver CPC qualifications from EU countries.
To work for an EU company, you will need an EU Driver CPC qualification.
What UK drivers need to drive when visiting the EU
If you are a lorry or goods vehicle driver, you can find updates at the following link:
If you are a bus or coach driver, you can find updates at the following link:
Acquired rights
Acquired rights (or grandfather rights) will apply to you if you held a full vocational licence to drive buses, coaches and lorries on the Driver CPC start date.
However, if you have a licence issued before January 1997 which has a D1 (not for hire or reward [nfhr]), D (nfhr) or 079 code, it does not qualify as acquired rights. They also do not give you any provisional entitlement.
Having Driver CPC through acquired rights
You’ll have acquired rights if you are a:
- lorry driver and got your vocational licence (C, C1, C+E and C1+E) before 10 September 2009
- bus or coach driver and got your vocational licence (D, D1, D+E and D1+E) before 10 September 2008 - this includes a restricted vocational licence D (079/ nfhr) issued on or after 1 April 1991 and D1 (nfhr/ 079) issued before January 1997
If you have acquired rights
If you have acquired rights you can either:
- complete 35 hours of Driver CPC periodic training by finding and taking training courses
- take and pass the Driver COC part 2 (case studies) and part 4 (practical demonstration) tests
For more information on acquired rights please visit: Driver CPC training for qualified drivers: When to take training - GOV.UK
You can only choose the test option once. After that, you must take periodic training to keep your qualification in the future.
Booking the tests
You have to book the tests by phone – you cannot book online.
Telephone: 0300 200 1122
Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 4.00 pm (Driver CPC part 2 – choose option 01)
Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 4.00 pm (Driver CPC part 4 – choose option 02)
Giving up driving professionally
If you give up driving professionally and let your Driver CPC expire, then you must carry out 35 hours of periodic training to regain CPC. You need to do this before you can resume driving in the freight, bus and coach industries professionally.
The existing Transport Manager’s CPC (also known as the Operator’s CPC) is a separate qualification. If you hold one and still drive professionally as part of your job, you will also need to hold a Driver CPC.
Find Driver CPC training courses
Only approved courses taken with approved training centres count towards periodic training. It’s up to you to decide which courses to do.
You only need to do one set of training every five years if you drive both lorries and buses professionally.
Driver CPC training
You need to keep your training up-to-date wherever possible. You can do training remotely from approved Driver CPC training providers, via online video platforms. You can only do up to 12 hours of e-learning (online courses that use interactive videos or presentations) as part of your 35 hours of training.
Details of all Driver CPC periodic training courses that have been approved for remote delivery are updated daily on the JAUPT website
How much training you need to do
You must do 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) to drive a lorry, bus or coach.
The deadline to do your training is shown on your card. If your card has 2 deadlines (one for lorries, one for buses), complete your training by the earliest deadline. The next card you get will have the same deadline for both.
It’s illegal to drive professionally if your training is not complete by your deadline, you cannot drive professionally until you’ve finished your training. Your next deadline will be set for 5 years after the date you finish your training.
You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without Driver CPC.
You can check how many hours of training you’ve done in the current 5-year period. Online Driver Enquiry login
For more information on training please visit: Driver CPC training for qualified drivers: Finding training courses - GOV.UK
What training to do
The training you need depends on where you want to drive.
Driving in the UK and Europe
You must complete 35 hours of only International Driver CPC training courses.
If you include any National training courses, you will get a National Driver CPC and will not be able to drive professionally in Europe (including Republic of Ireland)
Driving in the UK only
You must complete 35 hours of training. You can choose one of the following:
- National Driver CPC training courses only
- a mix of National and International Driver CPC training
For information on training in EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, visit:
If you have a licence from another country
If you have a licence from another country, there are 2 ways to get an NI Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card. You should either:
- complete your periodic training in NI
- exchange your driver’s licence for an NI licence - you must have a code 95 entitlement on your licence to do this
- To claim an NI DQC, your last 7 hours of training must have been done in NI
For more information visit: