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In 2023, the government consulted on making changes to Driver CPC. It has concluded that there will be changes to make it more flexible for people who only drive in the UK. The DVSA has published guidance on how this will change.
Below we summarise the position set out in the recent DVSA guidance looking at three areas, namely: staying qualified; getting qualified; and returning to professional driving. The guidance can be found here. We understand that more guidance will be published before the changes are introduced.
A Staying qualified
Subject to Parliamentary approval, later in 2024, you will be able to choose to stay qualified using one of two routes, either: International Driver CPC; or National Driver CPC.
International Driver CPC will be the new name for how Driver CPC currently works. You will need to take 35 hours of International Driver CPC training every 5 years to be allowed to drive in the EU and the UK.
There will be no changes to how it works. This means that:
- courses must be at least 7 hours long;
- if a course is split over a day, it has to be completed on 2 consecutive days;
- e-learning in a trainer-led course is limited to 2 hours;
- you’re allowed to do a total of 12 hours e-learning towards your overall 35 hours of training.
National Driver CPC will be a more flexible version of the existing Driver CPC. If you only want to drive in the UK, you’ll be able to 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 be:
- at least 3 hours 30 minutes long – training providers will still be able to offer longer courses if they want to;
- split courses will not need to be completed on 2 consecutive days – course providers will be free to set their own time limits;
- you will be able to take e-learning only courses – for example, you could take an approved 3 hours 30 minutes long e-learning course at your workplace or home;
- you’ll be allowed to do a total of 12 hours e-learning towards your overall 35 hours of training.
Training deadline
If your training deadline is before the changes are introduced, you must stay qualified using the options available to you at the time. You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without Driver CPC.
B Getting qualified
When you pass the qualifying tests, you will automatically have International Driver CPC for the first 5 years. The effect of this is that you will be able to drive in the UK and the EU.
The type of periodic training you then take to stay qualified will then affect which type of Driver CPC you have from that point on.
C Returning to professional driving
At the moment, if your Driver CPC has expired and you want to return to driving, you need to take 35 hours of training before you’re allowed to drive again. This is set to change.
What you will have to do will depend on how long ago your International or National Driver CPC expired and the guidance sets out various options which are subject to Parliamentary approval.
Consultation on further changes to add more flexibility
The government intends to consult on plans to introduce a new National Driver CPC periodic theory test.
Please contact our regulatory team here for more information.