HGV CPC Test 2026: Part 2 Case Studies and Part 4 Explained

How does the HGV CPC test fit into the 5 tests?

Test	What it is
Part 1	Theory test, in two parts
Part 2	Case studies on a computer
Part 3a	Off-road exercises
Part 3b	On-road driving
Part 4	Practical demonstration

GOV.UK’s guide says 5 tests in some places and 4 parts in others. The difference is only that part 3 is split into 3a and 3b.

The theory test →The driving tests →

The LGV CPC theory test: part 2 case studies

If you’re looking for the CPC theory test for a large goods vehicle (LGV), this is the extra one. You work through 7 case studies on a computer, each a short story about something you’re likely to meet at work. Each has between 5 and 10 multiple-choice questions.

You get 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the pass mark is 40 out of 50. You don’t need part 1 first, and you can book as soon as you have your provisional licence.

Your pass letter lasts 2 years, and you have to pass part 4 within that time or take part 2 again. If you fail, you can take it again after 3 clear working days.

Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for Great Britain show 63.1% of lorry drivers and 50.2% of bus and coach drivers passed part 2 between April 2025 and March 2026.

Part 4 practical demonstration

The test covers 5 topics from the Driver CPC syllabus, and you bring a vehicle that meets the test rules. You’re tested on being able to:

load the vehicle safely and keep it secure
stop trafficking in illegal immigrants
assess emergency situations
reduce physical risks to yourself and others
do a walkaround vehicle safety check

Each topic is worth up to 20 points. You need at least 15 in every topic and at least 80 overall, and the examiner tells you the result at the end. If you fail, you can take it again after 3 clear working days.

DVSA’s pass rates for part 4 between April 2025 and March 2026 were 94.8% for lorries and 92.9% for buses. They count DVSA’s own tests and not those by outside assessors.

Driver CPC syllabus ↗

When you don’t need the full Driver CPC

You only take parts 1, 3a and 3b if you’re using the vehicle for things like:

carrying passengers or goods non-commercially
carrying equipment for your job, when driving is under 30% of your monthly working time
driving lessons for a licence or Driver CPC
driving to pre-booked appointments at vehicle test centres
driving within 62 miles of your base, with no passengers or goods, when driving isn’t your main job

The vehicle itself can also be exempt, if it’s limited to 28mph or used by the armed forces, police or other listed services. GOV.UK suggests legal advice if you’re not sure.

Examples of exemptions ↗

Driving while you train

On an approved National Vocational Training (NVT) course, you can drive professionally for up to 12 months without taking part 2 and part 4. A concession card costs £25 to apply for.

Apply for the concession ↗

Your card, and 35 hours of periodic training

Your Driver CPC card, sometimes called a driver qualification card or DQC, should arrive within 20 days of your final test. Once it’s arrived you must carry it while driving professionally, or face a £50 fixed penalty.

To keep it, you do 35 hours of training every 5 years, by the deadline on the card. There’s no exam at the end. One set of training covers you if you drive both lorries and buses. You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without Driver CPC.

International courses only will keep you qualified for the UK and Europe. Any National course in the mix gives you a National Driver CPC, which is for the UK only. E-learning can make up no more than 12 of the 35 hours.

Check your training hours ↗Driver CPC training guide ↗

If you’re returning to driving

If you qualified before, you don’t repeat the whole process. You bring your Driver CPC up to date with 35 hours of training. There’s one exception. Drivers with ‘acquired rights’, who got a lorry licence before 10 September 2009 or a bus licence before 10 September 2008, and who have never had a card, can choose to pass part 2 and part 4 instead, once only.

A 7-hour Return to Driving course is open if your Driver CPC expired less than 2 years ago. It gets you driving in the UK, with 28 more hours to do within 12 months, and you can take it once every 5 years.

Returning to HGV or bus driving ↗Safe Driving for Life’s case study mocks →Book part 2 or part 4 →

Sources: GOV.UK · DVSA and 6 more. Checked November 2026.