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  2. Motoring
  3. Driving for a living
  4. Driver Certificate of Professional Competence

Exemptions and Driver CPC fees

There are exemptions for the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) to drive a lorry, bus or coach. Fees are listed below. It is recommended you book your lorry or bus driving theory test online. Book parts three and four by post at any Driver & Vehicle Agency test centre.

Exemptions

There are exceptions from the Driver CPC qualification for drivers of vehicles:

  • used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, for personal use
  • undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or of new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service
  • used during driving lessons for enabling that person to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC
  • carrying material or equipment to be used by that person during his or her work, if driving that vehicle does not make up the driver's principal activity*
  • with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 km/ h
  • used by, or under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order
  • used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions

*An example of a driver (also known as 'incidental driver') would be a brick layer who drives a load of bricks from the builder's yard to the building site and then spends their working day laying bricks. In this case, driving a lorry is incidental to their main occupation.

Drivers can move in and out of an exemption, depending on the circumstances in which they are driving. For example, a bus mechanic would be excused while driving a bus to check that it had been repaired, but would need to hold a Driver CPC if they also drove a bus on a passenger carrying service.

Driver CPC fees

When you book your theory or practical driving test direct with the Driver & Vehicle Agency, you only pay the cost of the test. There is no extra administration or booking fee.

Driver CPC  Fee
CPC Practical test (module four) £55
CPC Theory Test (module two) £23
Replace lost, stolen or damaged DQC £25
Request new DQC due to change of personal details £0
Add extra category to DQC £0
Renew the photo on your DQC £25
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Driver Certificate of Professional Competence

  • CPC for existing lorry, bus and coach drivers
  • CPC for new professional lorry, bus and coach drivers
  • Driver Qualification Card and Driver CPC
  • Exemptions and Driver CPC fees
  • National Vocational Training - guidance notes

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