What HGV training actually costs in 2026

Prices in this industry are hard to pin down, and that is usually deliberate: a lot of providers advertise a "from" figure that quietly excludes the medical, the theory fees or the DVSA test. Here is the whole cost, with nothing left off, and an explanation of every line so you can compare any quote you are given.

Our all-inclusive course prices

What is included

The D4 medical, which costs most people between £70 and £80 elsewhere, is on us — and we book the appointment for you rather than leaving you to find a doctor.

The theory test fees and the CPC Module 2 case study fee are on us, and we book them on dates that fit around your job.

Your one-to-one practical training in a full-size, modern DAF or Scania — never a simulator, never a cut-down mini lorry. Your DVSA practical test is included too.

The costs nobody can waive

The D2 provisional application to DVLA is free. That one genuinely costs nothing, so treat any provider charging an "application fee" with suspicion.

DVSA sets the practical test fee — currently £115 on a weekday and £141 evenings and weekends. Check the current figure on GOV.UK, as DVSA reviews it.

If you need a retest, there is a further DVSA fee plus training time. We do not sell a "guaranteed pass" because no school can honestly guarantee one — what we do is give you priority retest support if it happens.

How to read a "from" price

When you see a low headline figure elsewhere, ask three questions: does it include the medical, does it include all theory and CPC fees, and does it include the DVSA practical test? If any answer is no, add roughly £70–£80 for the medical, the published DVSA theory and CPC fees, and £115 to £141 for the practical, then compare again.

Then ask a fourth: how many people are in the cab? Two-to-one or three-to-one training splits the instructor’s attention and the wheel time between you. An hour of one-to-one is worth considerably more than an hour of watching from the back.

Paying for it

Flexible payment plans are available, and there are more routes to funding than most people realise — Jobcentre Plus provision, named government schemes, and employer contributions among them.

Our funding page sets out every route we can help with, including the ones you have to apply for yourself and how to ask for them.

Is it worth it?

Class 2 work in the South East typically starts around £40,000 and Class 1 around £50,000. Against a course price in the low thousands, the payback period is usually measured in weeks of work, not years.

That is the reason the fast track exists: if you know you want Class 1, going straight there costs less than two separate courses and puts you in the higher bracket sooner.

Common questions

How much does HGV training cost in 2026?

Our all-inclusive prices are £2,090 for Class 2, £1,995 for a Class 1 upgrade, £3,290 for the Car to Class 1 fast track, £1,490 for C1 and £2,090 for PCV Category D. Each includes the medical, theory and CPC fees, one-to-one training and the DVSA test.

How much does a Class 2 licence cost?

£2,090 all in with us. Elsewhere, check whether the quoted price includes the D4 medical, the theory and CPC fees and the DVSA practical test — "from" prices often exclude all three.

How much is the HGV medical?

A D4 medical typically costs £70 to £80. Train with us and it is included — we book the appointment for you.

How much is the DVSA practical test?

DVSA currently charges £115 on weekdays and £141 evenings and weekends. It is included in our course prices. Check GOV.UK for the current figure.

Is the D2 provisional application free?

Yes. DVLA charges nothing for the D2 provisional lorry or bus application. Any provider charging you an application fee for it is charging for nothing.

Can I pay for HGV training in instalments?

Yes — flexible payment plans are available, and there are several funding routes including Jobcentre Plus provision and employer contributions. See our funding page for every option.

Get a straight number, not a "from" price

Every course price above is the whole cost. Call 01634 907 229 and we will tell you exactly what your route costs and what funding you might qualify for, before you commit to anything.

See funding and payment plans · Transparent course pricing · Funding and payment plans · Find your nearest centre · Call 01634 907 229

Keep reading

The Class 2 licence (Category C) explained · The Class 1 licence (Category C+E) explained · The C1 licence (7.5 tonne) explained · HGV and LGV licence categories explained · How to get your HGV licence — every step · All HGV and PCV guides

What HGV training costs with us

Every price below is the complete cost. We pay your D4 medical, your theory tests, your Driver CPC test fees and every DVSA practical test fee. There is nothing to add on top of the figure quoted.

What the DVSA charges

These are government fees, identical at every training school in the country. Nobody can discount them. We cover all of them inside your course price, which is why there is no separate bill later.

Do I pay for two sets of tests going from car to Class 1?

No. You sit one set of theory tests, not two. The Car to Class 1 route runs the Category C and Category C+E stages back to back as one programme, so the theory and the paperwork happen once. That is why it costs less than booking the two stages a year apart.

What does upgrading from Class 2 to Class 1 involve?

No further theory tests and no repeat mock tests — those carry over from your Class 2. You do repeat the reversing exercise, because the off-road manoeuvres are a separate practical course for an articulated combination. It is the part experienced rigid drivers underestimate: the trailer pivots, so it is a genuinely different skill.

Why do quotes differ so much between schools?

Because a training price and a licence price are not the same thing. A headline figure is often the training days only, on the shortest possible course, with every DVSA fee excluded. Three questions settle it quickly: does this include the DVSA test fees, how many training days is it, and do you own the vehicles or are you booking me into someone else’s school?

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get an HGV licence?

With us the course price is the whole cost, because we pay the D4 medical, the theory tests, the Driver CPC fees and every DVSA practical test fee. Class 2 is the usual starting point and the cheapest route into paid lorry work.

Are there any hidden costs or extras?

No. There is no separate bill for tests, the medical or paperwork. The figure you are quoted is the figure you pay.

Do I pay the DVSA directly for my tests?

No. We book and pay for them. The fees listed on this page are what the DVSA charges us, shown so you can see exactly what is covered.

What happens if I fail a test?

You would need a retest, and we will talk you through the options and any additional training before anything is booked. No school can guarantee a pass, and any that claims to is selling something that does not exist.

Can I spread the cost?

Yes. Finance and payment plans are available subject to eligibility and status, and we will explain the full cost before you commit to anything.

Is a cheaper licence enough for what I need?

Sometimes, and we will tell you. C1 at 7.5 tonnes covers ambulance, courier and horsebox work for considerably less than Class 1. Paying for more licence than the job needs is the most common way people waste money here.