Are you thinking of getting a Cat C licence? Wanting to upgrade your professional driver status? Are you interested in starting your own HGV (heavy goods vehicle) driving career?
Whether you’re looking for a career in transportation and logistics or to be able to operate specialised vehicles, you will need a Cat C licence first. As exciting as this new window of opportunity is, it’s also completely normal to have many questions and concerns. You may be finding yourself with several questions at the moment (which is completely expected) such as:
- What is a C class licence? / What is a Cat C licence?
- What will a C class licence allow me to do?
- What will a Cat C licence driver’s salary be in the UK?
- How much will a Cat C driving licence cost to obtain?
- Do I need a Category C licence to drive a lorry?
What Is a C Class Licence?
What is a C class licence? A C class licence is often called by several names, such as ‘a commercial driver’s license’, ‘CDL’, or a Class 2 licence. However, these all refer to the same thing, which is the specific type of driver’s licence required to drive commercial motor vehicles.
But what exactly does this C class licence allow you to do?
Well, in short this license allows the driver to drive not only commercial vehicles (including those carrying 16 or more passengers) but also vehicles which are transporting hazardous materials.
A Cat C licence covers HGV’s (heavy goods vehicles) over 3500kg and trailers up to 750kg. The vehicles that the C class licence covers are also sometimes referred to as ‘rigid body vehicles’ and these rigid body vehicles are what you can often see transporting goods across the country and Europe.
What Are the Advantages of Having a Cat C Licence?
So what are the benefits of having a Cat C licence? If you have to go through extra training and take tests for this licence is it really worth it? In short, yes; there are several benefits of having a Category C Licence, including but not limited to:
- It opens a door to a wide range of career options for you.
- Being able to work both local and long-distance delivery jobs.
- Giving you the opportunity to work for transportation and logistics companies.
- Gaining the ability to operate specialised vehicles, such as refuse collection trucks or construction site vehicles.
- Getting an edge over your competitors in the job market due to your specialised training and qualifications.
- Allowing you to unlock a higher earning potential.
Cat C Driver Salary UK
Now we’ve shown how having a Cat C driver’s licence allows you to have a higher earning potential and that a wide range of career options will open up for you; what is a Cat C driver’s salary in the UK?
Well, in the UK the average salary for a HGV driver starts at around £26,436 annually, but specialised Cat C drivers (such as crane operators) can make up to £66,000 a year.
Furthermore, thanks to the current high demand for HGV drivers, there has been a dramatic increase in the salary ranges for HGV drivers. So although you may not start making anything spectacular, there is high scalability in this industry, with becoming a specialised vehicle operator allowing you to reach the highest earnings.
How Can I Get a Cat C Licence?
So, seeing all the advantages of having a Cat C driving licence, you will probably be wondering how easy it is to get one. Don’t worry, although there are a few requirements for a Cat C licence, we can provide you with all the training you need, so there’s no reason to worry.
So without any further introduction, let’s go through the requirements you’ll have to meet and the steps you will have to take.
- You must be at least 18 years of age.
- You will need to pass a medical exam with a doctor, who will complete a D4 medical form for you (this just means that the doctor will have to check your eyesight, general health and fitness to ensure that you are able to safely drive a LGV).
- You will need to apply for a provisional Cat C by filling out the D2 application form (and then submit it).
- You will then need to pass your LGV theory test (which includes multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception test). These tests are to assess your knowledge of large vehicles and to test your understanding of them.
- If you are interested in driving professionally, you will need a driver’s CPC (a certificate of professional competence). A driver’s CPC assesses your ability to handle various situations related to vehicle safety and efficiency, including what to do in an emergency.
- You will then continue to a more hands-on approach, with taking practical training with one of our approved training providers. They will help mentor you to pass the Cat C practical driving test (which will include common vehicle safety questions, on-road driving requirements and how to manoeuvre off-road).
What Does Your LGV Theory Test Consist Of?
An LGV / HGV theory test is made of three separate parts.
- Multiple-choice questions:
The first part of your LGV test involves a total of 100 multiple choice questions on topics such as (but not limited to) general traffic laws, the rules on working conditions (such as allowed working hours and the necessary rest periods), details on documentation, the proper techniques drivers must have for loading and unloading their vehicles and the responsibility drivers have for their cargo.
- A Hazard Perception Test
The second part of the HGV test is testing you on hazard perception by assessing your ability to spot and react to potential dangers you may face on the road. This will be examined by presenting you with 19 different video clips (each one being around a minute long) where they show various hazards arising that may require you to take an immediate action. These potential hazards could include an emergency vehicle approaching, poor visibility such as fog, and hazardous conditions like icy or wet roads - conditions that you may encounter as part of your day-to-day professional driving experience.
- The CPC case study
The final element of your LGV theory test is the CPC case studies. This is where you’ll be shown 7 different case studies and will be given 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete the test which consists of 6-8 multiple choice questions about each of the 7 different case studies.
And there is always the option to upgrade! If you want to drive vehicles with even larger trailers then you can continue on to your C+E licence. The steps to get this licence will consist of some additional training and another test (but it's all worth it, we promise).
Once you pass the requirements mentioned above, you will receive your Cat C driving licence and you will be able to drive a wide range of heavy goods vehicles both professionally and privately.
How Much Does a Cat C Licence Cost?
As we can see, there are many monetary benefits to be had from having a Cat C licence so as we’ve explained that and all the steps you’ll have to take to get your C class licence, it just leaves the question; how much does a Cat C licence cost?
Please note: the costs of the training vary depending on several factors, including your current level of experience. However, a Cat C driving licence will cost you approximately £1,500 to £2,500. These costs however are dependent on two factors:
- How long your training will take. This is affected by the training you already have with heavy goods vehicles and your own personal experience.
- The licence you already have.
If you contact us for a quote we will be able to provide you with more information and will be more than happy to help let you know how much it will cost for you to reach your C class licence with our training and support!
Summary:
So to recap, a Cat C licence is the specific driver’s licence that you will need to operate HGV’s (heavy goods vehicles) that weigh over 3500kg and to drive with trailers up to 750kg.
The Cat C licence has several advantages, including allowing you to have a more competitive edge over others in the job market, opening a door for you to a broad range of career options, allowing you to work both short and long distance delivery jobs and allowing you to drive specialised vehicles, including (but not limited to) those that transport hazardous materials.
There are several requirements to being able to get this licence, such as your age, passing a health test, applying for a provisional Cat C licence, passing the various required tests (such as the LGV theory test and the practical Cat C driving test).
If you have any further questions you can call us for free at 0330 818 3333
