Changes to HGV, Coach and Bus driving licences and tests from 15 November 2021

11 November 2021

From 15 November 2021, there will (subject to Parliamentary approval) be changes to driving licences and tests for HGV, coach and bus drivers.

HGV

The law is going to change so that you’ll be able to:

learn to drive in an articulated lorry (category CE) when you get your first provisional lorry licence (if you already have a provisional licence, you’ll need to upgrade this).
take your test in a large articulated lorry (category CE) without having to pass one in a large rigid lorry (category C) first (you’ll still be able to learn to drive and take a test in a large rigid lorry (category C) if you do not want to drive anything larger).

When you pass your test in a large articulated lorry, you’ll then be allowed to drive:

a medium-sized lorry (C1)
a medium-sized lorry towing a trailer (C1E)
a large rigid lorry (C)
a large articulated lorry (CE)

This change will also apply to medium-sized lorries towing a trailer (category C1E), which means you’ll be able to learn to drive a medium-sized lorry towing a trailer (category C1E) and take your test in one, without having to pass a test in a medium-sized lorry (category C1) first.

When you pass your test in a medium-sized lorry towing a trailer, you’ll then be allowed to drive:

a medium-sized lorry (C1)
a medium-sized lorry towing a trailer (C1E)

Passenger Vehicles – Coach and Bus

You currently have to learn to drive and pass a driving test in a bus or coach (category D) before you can learn to drive and take a test in a bus or coach towing a trailer (category DE).

The law is going to change so that you’ll be able to:

learn to drive in a bus or coach towing a trailer (category DE) when you get your first PSV licence (if you already have a provisional licence, you’ll need to this)
take your test in a bus or coach towing a trailer (category DE) without having to pass one in just a bus or coach (category D) first (you’ll still be able to learn to drive and take a driving test in a bus or coach (category D) if you do not want to tow trailers).

When you pass your test in a bus or coach towing a trailer, you’ll then be allowed to drive:

a minibus (D1)
a minibus towing a trailer (D1E)
a bus or coach (D)
a bus or coach towing a trailer (DE)

This change will also apply to minibuses towing a trailer (category D1E), which means you’ll be able to learn to drive a minibus towing a trailer (category D1E) and take your test in one, without having to pass a test in just a minibus (category D1) first.

When you pass your test in a minibus towing a trailer, you’ll then be allowed to drive: