Changes to HGV and bus driving tests from autumn 2021

There will be changes to the way driving tests work for heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers later in 2021.

Find out how the changes affect you, the changes affect:

• what you’re allowed to learn to drive and take your driving test in
• how the driving test works

What you can learn to drive and take your driving test in Lorries

You currently have to learn to drive and pass a driving test in a large rigid lorry (category C) before you can learn to drive and take a test in a large articulated lorry (category C+E).

The law is going to change so that you’ll be able to:

• learn to drive in an articulated lorry when you get your first provisional lorry licence
• take your test in a large articulated lorry without having to pass one in a large rigid lorry first

You’ll still be able to learn to drive and take a driving test in a large rigid lorry (category C) if you do not want to drive anything larger.

When you pass your test in a large articulated lorry, you’ll then be allowed to drive:

• a medium-sized lorry (C1)
• a medium-sized lorry towing a trailer (C1+E)
• a large rigid lorry (C)
• a large articulated lorry (C+E)

The law will change as soon as possible, but the date has not yet been confirmed. Sign up for email alerts to be told when the date is confirmed.

Medium-sized lorries

This change will also apply to medium-sized lorries towing a trailer (category C1+E).

This means you’ll be able to learn to drive a medium-sized lorry towing a trailer (category C1+E) and take your test in one, without having to pass a test in a medium-sized lorry (category C1) first.

When you pass your test in a medium-sized lorry towing a trailer, you’ll then be allowed to drive:

• a medium-sized lorry (C1)
• a medium-sized lorry towing a trailer (C1+E)

For more information, please see below link: Changes to HGV and bus driving tests from autumn 2021 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)