You don’t need the full Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification if you’re using the vehicle for:

• non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods for personal use
• carrying material or equipment you use for your job (driving the vehicle can’t be the main part of your job)
• driving lessons for anyone who wants to get a driving licence or a Driver CPC
• driving to or from pre-booked appointments at official vehicle testing centres
• driving within 62 miles (100 kilometres) of your base – but the vehicle can’t be carrying passengers or goods, and driving a lorry, bus or coach can’t be your main job
• maintaining public order – and the vehicle is being used or controlled by a local authority
• rescue missions or in states of emergency

You also don’t need the full Driver CPC if the vehicle is:

• limited to a top speed of 28mph
• being used or controlled by the armed forces, police, fire and rescue service, prison service or people running a prison or young offender institution

You can read detailed examples of Driver CPC exemptions.

What you need to do

If you want to become a lorry, bus or coach driver in these situations you need to:

1. Apply for a provisional lorry or bus licence.
2. Pass the part 1 (theory) and part 3 (driving ability) tests.

You need to renew your bus or lorry licence every 5 years when you reach 45 and every year when you reach 65.