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What are the Driver CPC Changes in 2025 and how do they affect me?
Overview
To be a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), bus or coach driver, you usually need a professional driving qualification called the Driver CPC (Certificate of professional competence.
In 2023, the government consulted on making changes to Driver CPC.
Driver CPC is not being scrapped, but has been changed to make it more flexible for people who only drive in the UK.
The changes affect:
- how you can stay qualified (introduced from 3 December 2024)
- how you can return to professional driving (introduced from 1 February 2025)
1. Staying qualified
You can now choose to stay qualified using either:
- International Driver CPC
- National Driver CPC
1.1 International Driver CPC
International Drivers CPC is the new name for how Driver CPC previously worked.
You need to take 35 hours of International Drivers CPC training every 5 years to be allowed to drive in the EU and the UK.
There are no changes to how it works. This means that:
- courses you take must be at least 7 hours long
- if a course is split over a day, you must complete it on 2 consecutive days
- you’re allowed to do a total of 12 hours e-learning towards your overall 35 hours of training
1.2 National Drivers CPC
National Driver CPC is a more flexible version of the previous Driver CPC.
If you only want to drive in the UK, you can take either:
- 35 hours of National Driver CPC training every 5 years
- a combination of 35 hours of National Driver CPC and International Driver CPC training every 5 years
National Driver CPC courses:
- must be at least 3 hours 30 minutes long – training providers can still offer longer courses if they want to
- do not need to be completed on 2 consecutive days if it’s a split course – course providers are free to set their own time limits
- can be e-learning only – for example, you can take an approved 3 hours 30 minutes long e-learning course at your workplace or home
- allow you to do a total of 12 hours e-learning towards your overall 35 hours of training
1.3 Summary of options to stay qualified
You now have 2 options to stay qualified:
- Take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training every 5 years to be able to drive in the UK and EU.
- Take 35 hours of National Driver CPC (or a combination of 35 hours of National and International CPC training) every 5 years to be able to drive in the UK.
Find out more about Driver CPC training for qualified drivers.
2. Getting qualified
When you pass the qualifying tests, you automatically get International Driver CPC for the first 5 years.
This means you will be able to drive in the UK and the EU.
The type of periodic training you then take to stay qualified affects which type of Driver CPC you have from that point on.
3. Returning to professional driving
Previously, if your Driver CPC had expired and you wanted to return to driving, you had to take 35 hours of training before you were allowed to start driving again.
This changed on 1 February 2025.
3.1 If your International or National Driver CPC expired up to 2 years ago
If your International or National Driver CPC has been expired between 60 days and 2 years, you now have 4 options.
Option 1: International Driver CPC training
- Take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training.
- Start driving professionally again in the UK and EU.
Option 2: National Driver CPC training
- Take 35 hours of National Driver CPC training.
- Start driving professionally again in the UK.
Option 3: International Driver CPC training with a ‘return to driving’ module
- Take a 7-hour ‘return to driving’ training module.
- Start driving professionally again in the UK.
- Take 28 hours of other International Driver CPC training within 12 months of finishing the ‘return to driving’ module.
- Start driving professionally again in the EU.
Option 4: National Driver CPC training with a ‘return to driving’ module
- Take a 7-hour ‘return to driving’ training module.
- Start driving professionally again in the UK.
- Take a further 28 hours of National Driver CPC or International Driver CPC training within 12 months of finishing the ‘return to driving’ module.
3.2 If your International or National Driver CPC expired more than 2 years ago
The changes do not affect what you need to do if your International or National Driver CPC expired more than 2 years ago.
This means you still need to either:
- take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training before you can drive again in the UK and EU
- take 35 hours of National Driver CPC (or a combination of 35 hours of National and International CPC training) before you can drive again in the UK
Find out more about returning to professional driving.
4. Driver CPC cards
The rules about carrying Driver CPC cards (sometimes called a ‘driver qualification card’ or ‘DQC’) have not changed. You must still carry your card while driving a lorry, bus or coach professionally.
When you pass the initial qualifying tests, you will get the Driver CPC card for International Driver CPC.
Depending on which option you choose to stay qualified, you’ll get a different Driver CPC card.
4.1 Driver CPC card for International Driver CPC
This card will look the same as the current Driver CPC card.
4.2 Driver CPC card for National Driver CPC
This card will look similar to the current Driver CPC card but will include the text ‘DOMESTIC UK USE ONLY’.
4.3 Having both types of Driver CPC cards if you drive HGVs and buses
You can have both types of Driver CPC card if both of these apply:
- you are qualified to drive both HGVs and buses or coaches professionally
- you use a different option to stay qualified for each
Example
You drive HGVs in the EU and stay qualified using International Driver CPC. You will get an International Driver CPC card for HGVs.
You also drive buses, but only in the UK. You stay qualified for buses using National Driver CPC. You will get a National Driver CPC card for buses.