HGV Training & LGV Training

There are two categories of Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence entitlement and one Medium Goods Vehicle (MGV). Categories C1 (MGV) (7.5 tonnes), C (rigid, class 2) and CE (class 1, artic or drawbar). Knowing your categories will help determine which training option is best for you. The table below gives more information on age entitlement, vehicle weights and restrictions. For more information please contact your local independent HGV training

Category C1 - Age 18 These are vehicles that weigh more than 3.5 tonnes but do not exceed 7.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (G.V.W.). A trailer may be towed as long as it does not exceed 750 KG Gross Vehicle Weight (G.V.W.). If you passed your car test before 1997 you will have gained C1 automatically and be exempt from requiring the Initial Driver CPC qualification.

Category C - Age 18 (Driver CPC) Category C is required to drive vehicles with a gross weight in excess of 7.5 tonnes yet not exceeding 32 tonnes GVW (construction and use regulations.) Category C, (known formerly as a class 2 or HGV 2) is best described as a rigid vehicle, meaning the cab and trailer are permanently fixed together.

Category CE - Age 18 (Driver CPC) If you want to drive articulated or drawbar type vehicles, then you must gain category CE licence entitlement. The letter E represents the trailer element. Having cat CE (formerly known as class 1 or HGV 1) means you can drive any type of large goods vehicle. Also Passing the Cat CE practical test will retrospectively give you the B+E and C1+E entitlement. Gaining C+E HGV entitlement is done via stage testing. Before you can take a class 1 (CE) test you must have already passed the class 2 (Category C) practical test. However new entrants who want category C entitlement are not required to pass the C1 driving test first.