Before You Start: What You Need to Be Eligible

You need to hold a full UK car driving licence (Category B) before you can apply for any HGV entitlement. You must also be at least 18 years old for a Class 2 (Cat C) licence, or 21 for a Class 1 (Cat CE), though some exceptions apply.

That’s it. No previous lorry experience is needed. Thousands of people start HGV training each year with nothing more than a car licence.

Step 1: Book Your D4 Medical Examination

This is the first thing to do — before you fill in any forms.

A D4 medical is a physical examination carried out by a registered doctor (GP or private provider). The DVLA requires it to confirm you are medically fit to drive a large goods vehicle. The examination covers:

  • Eyesight (you must meet minimum standards — glasses or contact lenses are fine)
  • Blood pressure and cardiovascular health
  • Diabetes (controlled diabetes is generally not a barrier)
  • Hearing
  • Sleep apnoea screening

The appointment takes around 20–30 minutes. Cost is typically £50–£120 depending on the provider.

You do not need to wait for your results before moving to the next step. Book the medical and start preparing for your theory test at the same time.

After 45: You repeat the medical every five years. After 65: It becomes annual.

Step 2: Apply for Your Provisional HGV Licence

Once you have your completed D4 form, you apply to the DVLA for a provisional HGV entitlement using Form D2 (application for a provisional driving licence). Both forms go to DVLA Swansea.

Costs:

  • £43 online or £58 by post

Allow three to four weeks for the DVLA to process your application. This is usually the longest wait in the whole process, so apply as early as possible. While you wait, use the time productively to study for your theory test.

Step 3: Pass the HGV Theory Test

The HGV theory test has two parts and you must pass both on the same day:

Part 1 — Multiple Choice
100 questions covering vehicle safety, regulations, load securing, tachographs, and road law. You need to score 85 out of 100 to pass.

Part 2 — Hazard Perception
19 video clips. You click when you see a developing hazard. You need to score 67 out of 100 to pass.

The test costs £26 and can be booked through the DVSA website once you have your provisional entitlement. Most candidates study for two to four weeks using a combination of official DVSA revision materials and practice apps.

Step 4: Pass CPC Module 2 (Case Studies)

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is a legal requirement for anyone driving an HGV professionally in the UK. It is made up of four modules — two theory and two practical. Module 2 is the second theory element.

Module 2 — Case Studies
A 1 hour 55 minute paper with seven case study questions about real-world driving scenarios: legislation, safety, loading, tachographs. You need 40 out of 50 marks to pass.

Cost: £23

Many people sit Module 2 and their multiple choice theory on the same day to save time and travel.

Step 5: Book Your Practical Training

With your theory passes in hand, you can now book your practical training course.

At Go Big Driving School in Sheffield, practical training is delivered one-to-one with a qualified DVSA-approved instructor. Courses are structured around your starting point and pace — whether you have any prior large vehicle experience or you’re starting from scratch.

A typical Class 2 (Cat C) course runs over four to five consecutive days. Class 1 (Cat CE) upgrade courses typically take three to four days if you already hold Cat C, or five to seven days for direct access from a car licence.

Training takes place on roads local to Sheffield, including routes that form part of the actual DVSA test, so the roads are familiar when test day comes.

Step 6: Pass CPC Module 4 — In-House at Go Big

Module 4 — Practical Safety Demonstration
A 30-minute assessment where you walk around a stationary vehicle with the examiner, demonstrating safety checks: tyres, lights, brakes, coupling, load security, and emergency equipment.

This is not a road test — it is a structured walkaround and question session. Most candidates find it very manageable once they know what the examiner is looking for.

Go Big is a DVSA-approved CPC Module 4 test centre, which means you take this test on-site at our Sheffield training base. You do not need to travel to a separate test centre, wait for an external appointment, or change location. This is one of the things that makes training with a smaller, local school more efficient than going through a national broker.

Step 7: Pass the DVSA Practical Driving Test

The practical driving test takes place at Sheffield Handsworth HGV Driving Test Centre. It consists of two parts:

Off-road exercise (reverse manoeuvre)
You will be asked to reverse the vehicle into a defined space. The exact exercise depends on the vehicle type.

On-road drive (approximately 60 minutes)
The examiner will ask you to carry out normal driving in traffic conditions, including dual carriageways, junctions, and residential roads. You will also be asked to demonstrate vehicle safety checks at the roadside.

Through Go Big’s DVSA trainer booking facility, we have access to short-notice test slots — useful if you want to get through the process quickly and a standard appointment slot would mean a long wait.

Step 8: Receive Your Licence and DQC Card

Once you have passed your practical test and both CPC modules, your HGV entitlement will be added to your driving licence. You will also receive your Driver Qualification Card (DQC) — a credit-card-sized document you must carry when driving professionally.

From this point, you are qualified to work as a professional HGV driver.

What Happens After You Pass?

South Yorkshire is one of the best regions in the country to start an HGV driving career. There are currently over 360 HGV driver vacancies within 20 miles of Sheffield, with salaries ranging from £34,000 for Class 2 to £50,000+ for specialist Class 1 roles.

Major local employers include Amazon (Rotherham), DHL, Royal Mail, Asda, DPD, Cemex, and dozens of regional haulage and logistics firms along the M1 and M18 corridors.

Summary: The Costs

Stage Typical cost
D4 medical £50–£120
Provisional licence (online) £43
Theory test £26
CPC Module 2 £23
Practical training (Cat C, ~20 hrs) £1,440–£1,600
CPC Module 4 test Included at Go Big
DVSA practical test £155 (road + reverse)
Total (Class 2 with CPC) £1,900–£2,400

Ready to Get Started?

Go Big Driving School is based in Sheffield S9, and we train students from across South Yorkshire — Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley, and beyond.

Call Dan on 0114 3570 000 for a no-pressure conversation about the right course for you, or visit our [Class 2 HGV training page](#) and [Class 1 HGV training page](#) for full course details.

Your licence. Your career. Let’s get moving.