Around £300 of an HGV licence is fixed DVSA and medical cost that everybody pays. The rest is training, and that depends on the licence class, your area and how much of the process you have already completed - so the only accurate figure is your own quote.
The short answer
- Fixed costs: DVSA test fees and the D4 medical, the same wherever you train
- Variable costs: your training hours, which depend on the licence class, your area and what you have already completed
- Your price: shown when you build a quote, with VAT and DVSA test fees included
Going straight to Class 1 is usually cheaper overall than passing Class 2 first and upgrading later, because you only pay for one set of practical tests and one block of training.
DVSA fees and the medical
These are set by the DVSA and your medical provider, so they are the same wherever you train. Figures below are the standard weekday rates published on gov.uk.
| Item | Typical cost | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Theory — multiple choice | £26 | DVSA |
| Theory — hazard perception | £11 | DVSA |
| Driver CPC Module 2 (case studies) | £23 | DVSA |
| Practical Modules 3a and 3b (weekday) | £115 | DVSA |
| Driver CPC Module 4 (practical demonstration) | £55 | DVSA |
| D4 medical examination | £50 – £100 | Medical provider |
| Provisional entitlement (D2 application) | Free | DVLA |
Weekend and evening practical tests cost more. HGV Academy packages include these DVSA fees, so there is nothing to pay on test day.
More detail on the medical is on the HGV medical page, and the theory stage is broken down on the theory tests page.
What you are paying for in training
Training is the largest part of the bill because it covers an instructor's time and a lorry. A typical course includes:
- Instructor-led driving hours in a lorry of the class you are testing in
- Vehicle hire and fuel for training and for both practical tests
- Off-road manoeuvring practice on a DVSA-standard area
- Driver CPC Module 4 preparation and the vehicle for that demonstration
- Theory learning materials and mock tests
Beware of headline prices that exclude test fees, exclude the medical, or quote only a handful of driving hours. Our packages are built on 18 training hours as standard, and extra hours are priced openly in the course builder.
What changes your price
We don't publish a fixed price list, because the right figure depends on you. Your quote is built around these factors, and every package price includes VAT and DVSA test fees:
- The licence you want - Class 2 (Category C), Class 1 (C+E) from a car licence, or a Class 2 to Class 1 upgrade
- Whether your D4 medical is already done
- Whether you have passed your theory and Driver CPC Module 2
- Whether Driver CPC Module 4 is already complete
- Where you live, as training centre availability and course lengths differ by area
- Any extra training hours or add-ons you choose
Build a quote in the course builder to see your exact price, and compare what each licence gets you on the Class 1 and Class 2 pages.
Costs people forget to budget for
- Retest fees — the DVSA fee plus training and vehicle hire again. Pass Protection covers these from £29.
- Extra training hours if you need more time behind the wheel than the standard package.
- Theory learning materials — our theory kit is included in full packages and available separately.
- Kit for the job — safety boots, gloves and hi-vis for your first driving role.
- Driver CPC periodic training — 35 hours every five years once qualified. See the Driver CPC guide.
Spreading the cost
You do not have to pay in one go. There are two routes: finance through our regulated credit broker partner, which is subject to status and a credit check, or our 0% in-house payment plan — a starter payment followed by equal monthly instalments with no interest and no credit check.
Worried about your credit file? Read HGV training with bad credit.