The HGV/LGV Driving Test
What practical tests do I need to take?
Since November 2021 the DVSA have split the LGV Practical Driving Test into two parts:
- Part 3a – Off Road Exercises Test
- Part 3b – On Road Driving Test
You must pass your Part 3a Test before you can take your 3b Test.
Furthermore you may also need to take a Module 4 CPC Test
DVSA Part 3a – Off Road Exercises Test:
You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 1 theory test before you can book the Driver CPC part 3a test.
Book your test
You can book your test with either:
- an approved private test provider (KJC Driver Training are an approved private test provider)
- the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Find approved test providers near you where you can book directly with them.
If the organisation that runs your training is also your test provider, your assessor must not have been involved in your training.
Alternatively you can book a test with DVSA.
What to take to your test
You must bring:
- a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or a bus or coach that meets the rules
- your theory test pass certificate, unless you are upgrading your licence to tow heavier trailers
The vehicle you bring must be in the driving licence category that you want to get a licence for. For example, if you want to get a licence for an articulated lorry (category CE), you must therefore use an articulated lorry for the test.
You must also bring one of the following:
- a Great Britain photocard driving licence
- a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart
- an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)
If you do not have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.
Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you do not bring these.
How the test works
Your test will last up to 30 minutes, and includes:
- an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay
- showing the uncoupling and recoupling procedure if you’re taking a test with a trailer
During the test
You can carry on if you make a mistake during your driving test.
If you’re in Scotland, your driving examiner will end the test early if you make a mistake which means you’ve failed.
In England and Wales, your driving examiner will only stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to others.
Test result
If you pass the test, you’ll get a test certificate. You’ll need to take the certificate to your Driver CPC part 3b (on-road driving) test.
You need to pass the Driver CPC part 3b test within 6 months of getting your certificate. If you do not, you’ll need to pass part 3a again.
If you fail you can book another test straight away, but you must leave at least 24 hours before you take the test again.
DVSA Part 3b – On Road Driving Test:
You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) part 1 theory test before you can book the Driver CPC part 3b test.
You must also have passed the Driver CPC part 3a (off-road exercises) test before you can take the part 3b test.
What to take to your test
You must bring:
- a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or a bus or coach that meets the rules
- your part 3a pass certificate
- your theory test pass certificate, unless you are upgrading your licence to tow heavier trailers
The vehicle you bring must also be in the same driving licence category as you used for your part 3a test. For example, if you passed the part 3a test in an articulated lorry (category CE), you must therefore use an articulated lorry for the part 3b test.
You must also bring one of the following:
- a Great Britain photocard driving licence
- a Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart
- an EU photocard driving licence (and paper counterpart, if you have one)
If you do not have a photocard driving licence you must therefore bring your paper licence and a valid passport.
Your test will however be cancelled and you’ll also lose your fee if you do not bring these.
How the test works
Your test will include:
- vehicle safety questions
- 1 hour of practical road driving
Vehicle safety questions
During your test you’ll be asked vehicle safety questions. Check the:
- list of questions for HGVs, buses and coaches without a trailer
- list of questions for HGVs, buses and coaches towing trailers
Practical road driving
During your practical road driving, the examiner will see how you:
- use the vehicle controls
- move away at an angle, uphill and downhill
- do a controlled stop
- use the mirrors
- give appropriate signals
- show awareness and anticipation of other road users’ intentions
- manage your progress and control your vehicle speed
- deal with hazards
- select a safe place to stop
There will also be 10 minutes of independent driving, designed to test your ability to drive safely while making independent decisions.
During the test
You can carry on if you make a mistake during your driving test.
If you’re in Scotland and you make a mistake which means you’ve failed, your driving examiner will direct you back to the driving test centre. The test will end early.
In England or Wales, your driving examiner will only stop your test if they think your driving is a danger to other road users therefore compromising the safety of the public.
Test result
You’ll pass your test if you make:
- 12 or fewer driving faults
- no serious or dangerous faults
If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away. You cannot take the test for another 3 working days, not including the day you took the first test.
Cancelled tests
You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) cancels your test at short notice.