Ian Markwick - Driver Training - LGV HGV - Nottingham and Leicester and throughout Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire

Can I drive a truck on my ordinary car driving licence?
At what age can I learn to drive a truck?
Can I learn to drive a truck using my car licence?
How can I get this provisional entitlement added to my licence?
They asked for a "Class 1" driver. Does category C1 mean Class 1?
I want to drive an artic. Can I go straight from car licence to artic licence?
Theory test?

Can I drive a truck on my ordinary car driving licence? If you passed your car driving test before 1st January 1997 you will automatically have "Grandfather rights" to categories C1, D1 and B+E entitlements which means you can drive goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, towing a trailer up to 750kg, a minibus up to 16 seats towing any trailer and a car towing any trailer. If you passed your test after 1st January 1997 you are allowed to drive vehicles up 3.5 tonnes (Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter sized vehicles but check the Gross Weight on the vehicles plate because some "Small vans" are not that small!) towing a trailer up to 750kg (but not exceeding a train weight of 3.5tonnes), a minibus up to 8 seats towing a trailer up to 750kg (not exceeding a train weight of 3.5tonnes) and a car towing a trailer up to 750kgs (again, not exceeding the 3.5 tonnes train weight).
At what age can I learn to drive a truck? 18 for category C1 and 21 for categories C & C+E (there are exceptions for members of the armed forces and those on the "Young Drivers Scheme").
Can I learn to drive a truck using my car licence? No. You will need to apply to the D.V.L.A. for provisional entitlement of the correct category to be added onto your licence.
How can I get this provisional entitlement added to my licence? By filling in the application pack for vocational driving licences that is available from the D.V.L.A. or our "Contact Us" page. The pack consists of a medical form to be filled in by a doctor after a medical examination. You can go to any doctor for this but many drivers use Cotswold Medicals at www.driversmedicals.com , telephone number 0870 609 1540, who charge less than most GPs. The pack also contains an application form to be filled in by you that includes an automatic up-grade to photo card driving licence if you haven't already got one. Send the completed pack (there’s no fee!) to the D.V.L.A. at Swansea - it takes about 10 days for your application to be processed. You can not drive an L.G.V. on the road without the correct entitlement actually being on your licence.
They asked for a "Class 1" driver. Does category C1 mean Class 1? No. Licence categories changed in the early 1990's to bring the U.K. into line with the rest of Europe. Here are the main categories:
Old Class	New Category	Description
Class 1	Category C+E	Any goods vehicle towing any trailer
Class 2	Category C	Any goods vehicle towing a trailer up to 750kgs
Class 3	Category C	Any goods vehicle towing a trailer up to 750kgs
7.5 tonne entitlement automatically given with car licence gained before 1997 under "Grandfather rights"	Category C1	Goods vehicle under 7.5 tonnes towing a trailer up to 750kgs
I want to drive an artic. Can I go straight from car licence to artic licence? No. Here is the process from Car (category B) to artic (category C+E):
1. Category B		(your full car licence)
2. Apply for category C provisional entitlement		(you must be over 21 and will have to pass a medical as part of the application process)
3. Pass L.G.V. Theory test		(well done!)
4. Pass category C practical test		(well done again! Your licence will be automatically issued to you by the DVLA with full category C entitlement and provisional C+E entitlement)
5. Pass category C+E practical test		(well done, you've done it - no more tests! Your licence with full LGV entitlements will be sent to you by the DVLA)


Theory test? Yes. It is a requirement of the Driving Standards Agency (D.S.A.) that an L.G.V. test candidate has passed their theory test before they can take any of their practical tests so hurry, hurry, hurry and get that theory test passed and under your belt! We recommend the purchase of the D.S.A. book “The Official Theory Test for Drivers of Large Goods Vehicles” and the CD or DVD “Hazard Perception – RoadSence The Official Guide to Hazard Perception” and study at your own pace. This book is available from all good bookshops or on line at www.tso.co.uk or www.amazon.co.uk . Help is available from Ian Markwick Driver Training on specific topics that may seem unclear - just ring or e mail. Your Theory test can be booked on 0870 0101372 or on-line at www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest Remember: No theory test = No practical test!