Guidance

Drive an HGV or bus professionally while you're training

Apply to drive an HGV, bus or coach professionally for up to 12 months before taking all the qualifying tests if you’re doing certain training courses.

From:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Published
10 September 2008
Last updated
24 May 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

You normally need to pass 4 Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) tests before you’re allowed to start driving a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), bus or coach professionally.

If you’re taking certain training courses, you can apply to start driving professionally after you pass all of these tests:

You can then drive professionally for up to 12 months before you take both of these tests:

Doing this is called having a ‘national vocational training (NVT) concession’.

Eligibility

To apply to defer taking the Driver CPC part 2 and 4 tests, you must have:

  • passed the Driver CPC part 1 and part 3 tests
  • not used an NVT concession before
  • registered for an eligible training course or apprenticeship that lasts for at least 6 months and leads to a qualification

HGV driver training courses

These courses are currently eligible:

Bus or coach driver training courses

These courses are currently eligible:

Other training courses

Your course may also be eligible if it’s:

  • at Level 2 or above on the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) register
  • at Level 5 or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
  • accredited by a national awarding body that’s externally regulated by either Ofqual, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, or the Department of Education

Contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to check if your course is eligible.

DVSA Driver CPC enquiries
jaupt-enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 01908 787 000
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

What it costs

It costs £25 to apply. If your application is unsuccessful you will not be refunded.

Apply for the concession

Download and fill in the application form.

Apply for a Driver CPC National Vocational Training (NVT) concession

PDF, 415 KB, 2 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible-formats@dvsa-publishing.zendesk.com. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

When you send your application form, you’ll need to include this supporting evidence:

  • a scan or photocopy of your Driver CPC part 1 (theory) certificate
  • a scan or photocopy of your Driver CPC part 3 (driving ability) certificate
  • proof of your registration on an eligible training course

Send the form by email

  1. Download and fill in the form.

  2. Save the form on your computer or device.

  3. Email the form and your supporting evidence to jaupt-enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk.

  4. Pay the £25 fee by credit or debit card (you’ll need to do this by phone after you have applied).

Send the form by post

You can also send the application and supporting evidence by post. You can pay by credit or debit card, or by cheque if you apply by post.

DVSA
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Noble House
Capital Drive
Linford Wood
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MK14 6QP

What happens next

You’ll get an email that will tell you if your application has been approved or rejected. If it’s been approved you’ll be sent an approval letter and your concession card by post to your home address.

By law, you must carry your concession card when you’re working.

You can be fined £50 for driving professionally without your card.

The card will have a start date and an expiry date printed on it. The start date will begin from whichever of these is the latest:

  • the start date of the training course you’re taking
  • the date you passed the Driver CPC part 3 test

Your concession will last for 12 months from your start date. It will end sooner if you:

  • stop taking your training course
  • complete your training course

You must pass the Driver CPC part 2 and part 4 tests by the time your concession ends.

You must stop driving professionally if you have not passed the tests by then.

Replace your concession card if it’s lost, stolen or damaged

You must replace your concession card if it’s been lost, stolen or damaged. There’s no fee for this.

Email DVSA to get a replacement. You need to include your:

  • full name as it appears on your driving licence
  • address
  • date of birth

DVSA Driver CPC enquiries
jaupt-enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk

You can keep driving professionally while you wait for your replacement card to arrive.

Updates to this page

Published 10 September 2008
Last updated 24 May 2024 + show all updates

  1. Updated the list of training courses that are eligible. Updated form 'Apply for a Driver CPC National Vocational Training (NVT) concession'.

  2. Updated form 'Apply for a Driver CPC National Vocational Training (NVT) concession'.

  3. Updated the application form to apply for a Driver CPC National Vocational Training (NVT) concession.

  4. Updated the address for JAUPT if you want to send the form by post.

  5. Updated with the latest version of the application form.

  6. Updated the list of training courses that are eligible. Added new sections on what it costs, what happens after you have applied, and how to get a replacement concession card if it’s lost, stolen or damaged.

  7. Updated information about where applications need to be sent.

  8. First published.

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