Class 1 or Class 2: which HGV licence should you get?
Class 2 (Cat C) lets you drive rigid lorries. Class 1 (C+E) adds articulated lorries and drawbars. Since November 2021 you can go straight from a car licence to Class 1, which changes the maths.
Short answer
If you want to drive artics, going straight from car to Class 1 costs £2,944 all in from a typical Kent provider. Doing Class 2 first and upgrading later costs about £3,788 in total, so the direct route saves around £844.
Class 2 first makes sense if you'd rather start earning on rigid lorries sooner, spread the cost, or aren't sure you want artics yet.
What each licence lets you drive
| Licence | Also called | What you can drive |
|---|---|---|
| C1 | 7.5 tonne | Vehicles from 3,500kg to 7,500kg, such as small lorries, horseboxes and ambulances |
| C | Class 2, rigid | Rigid lorries over 3,500kg, such as delivery wagons, tippers and bin lorries |
| C+E | Class 1, artic | Category C lorries with a heavy trailer: articulated lorries and drawbar combinations |
What each route costs in Kent
Middle all-in prices from Kent providers: training plus the medical, theory and CPC tests and DVSA fees, whatever the advertised price includes.
| Route | Cab hours | All in, middle | Per cab hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 2 only | 19 | £1,897 | £108 |
| Class 2, then the Class 1 upgrade | 38 | £3,788 | – |
| Car straight to Class 1 | 28 | £2,944 | £110 |
| 7.5 tonne (C1) | 12 | £970 | £78 |
Going straight to Class 1
- It's cheaper overall if artics are where you want to end up, because you pay for one set of tests and one course.
- It's a bigger step. You learn to handle, reverse and couple an articulated lorry from your first lesson, so expect more cab hours than a Class 2 course.
- Train in the vehicle you'll drive. Some schools teach C+E on a drawbar rather than an artic. Both lead to a C+E licence, but you'll be practised at reversing and coupling the one you trained in.
Doing Class 2 first
- You can start earning sooner. Rigid lorry work is plentiful, and you can upgrade once you have experience.
- It spreads the cost. Pay for Class 2 now and the upgrade later, possibly with an employer's help.
- You'll pay more in total for both courses than for the direct route.
Choosing a course
Whichever route you pick, compare quotes on the all-in price per cab hour and on what the package does for you, not the headline price. The quote checker scores any quote out of 10 for value.
Common questions
Can I go straight from a car licence to Class 1?
Yes. Since November 2021 you no longer need to pass the Cat C test before taking C+E. The change was made by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2021.
Is Class 1 harder than Class 2?
It has more to learn, mainly reversing and coupling a trailer, so most courses give more cab hours. The test follows the same structure.