Driver CPC Module 2 and Module 4 explained: what's in them and how to pass
The two extra tests you need to drive a lorry for a living. What the case studies and the practical demonstration involve, the pass marks, what they cost, who can skip them, and the mistake that fails people on 90%.
Short answer
Module 2 is a computer test of 7 case studies based on real driving situations: 50 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 15 minutes, with a pass mark of 40 out of 50. It costs £23. In 2025 to 2026, 63% passed, and the pass rate has fallen each year.
Module 4 is a 30-minute practical demonstration on a parked lorry: five topics, with a pass mark of at least 15 out of 20 in every topic and 80 out of 100 overall. It costs £55 on a weekday. Most people pass, but you can score 90% and still fail if one topic is under 15.
You only need them to drive lorries professionally, and you can take them before or after your driving tests.
The two tests side by side
| Module 2: case studies | Module 4: practical demonstration | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 7 case studies on a computer, each with 5 to 10 multiple-choice questions | A parked lorry; you show the examiner, not tell |
| Time | 1 hour 15 minutes | About 30 minutes |
| Pass mark | 40 out of 50 | 15 out of 20 in each of 5 topics, and 80 out of 100 overall |
| Fee | £23 | £55 weekday, £63 evening, weekend or bank holiday. Up to £41 for the test itself with a DVSA-approved trainer. |
| Before you can book | Nothing: you don't need the theory test first | A Module 2 pass (you need the reference number) |
| Retake after a fail | 3 clear working days | 3 clear working days |
| Deadline | Pass Module 4 within 2 years of Module 2, or take Module 2 again | |
| Pass rate 2025 to 2026 | 63.1% of 52,670 tests | 94.8% of 3,449 tests run by DVSA |
Module 2: the case studies
Each case study sets out a situation you could face at work, and the questions test what you'd do. GOV.UK says the questions draw on the Highway Code, Know Your Traffic Signs and DVSA's guide for goods vehicle drivers. DVSA doesn't publish a topic list, but its practice material includes questions where you click on part of a picture, and some with audio.
- It's booked like a theory test, through the same booking service, and you can take it before or after the theory test.
- Practise with the official material. DVSA's free mock test on Safe Driving for Life has 3 case studies and 15 questions (12 to pass, 25 minutes). Its full e-learning course has 60 case studies, from £10 for 30 days. Free mock test.
- Don't leave it to chance. Over a third of candidates failed in 2025 to 2026. If a course "includes" Module 2, ask whether that means revision help or just the booking. Theory and CPC pass rates.
Module 4: the practical demonstration
GOV.UK lists the five topics. You'll be asked to show you can:
- load the vehicle following safety rules and keep the load secure;
- stop trafficking in illegal immigrants;
- assess emergency situations;
- reduce physical risks to yourself or others;
- do a walkaround vehicle safety check.
Each is scored out of 20. DVSA's guidance tells examiners that the "emphasis must be on the candidate demonstrating", so for example you physically check equipment on the lorry rather than saying where it is. The examiner will tell you: "it is important that you demonstrate your responses, and not just tell me what you would do". Prompts can't contain clues.
For load securing, you may be asked to use a demonstration trolley with rope, chain, a webbing ratchet strap and load bars. Practise securing a load with each of them before the test.
The lorry for Module 4
You bring the lorry, usually your school's. It must meet DVSA's minimum test vehicle rules for its category, but because it isn't driven, it needs no load and no examiner's mirrors. Any lorry or bus that meets those rules for its own category can be used. A fault found during the test, such as a blown bulb, doesn't stop it.
Taking it with your trainer
Training firms and hauliers can be approved by DVSA to run Module 4 themselves. DVSA's conditions say they can't charge more than £41 for the test itself; any training or admin charges must be listed separately. If a school quotes more for "the Module 4 test", ask for the breakdown.
Do you need Modules 2 and 4 at all?
Only if you'll drive lorries professionally. You can skip them, and take just the theory, 3a and 3b tests, if your driving is, for example:
- non-commercial carriage of goods or passengers;
- carrying materials or equipment you use for your job, as long as driving is less than 30% of your working time;
- for agriculture, horticulture, forestry, farming or fisheries, again under 30% of your working time;
- within 62 miles of your base with no goods or passengers, when driving isn't your main job;
- in a vehicle limited to 28mph, or used by the armed forces, police, fire, ambulance or prison services.
GOV.UK says to get legal advice if you're not sure. If you got your lorry licence before 10 September 2009, you have "acquired rights" and don't need Modules 2 and 4, but you still need 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. GOV.UK, when you don't need Driver CPC.
After you pass
- Your Driver CPC card should arrive within 20 days of your last test, and you can drive professionally while you wait. A replacement costs £25.
- Carry it when you drive for work. Not carrying it can mean a £50 fixed penalty, and driving professionally without Driver CPC can mean a fine of up to £1,000. An employer who lets you drive without it commits an offence too.
- It lasts 5 years. To keep it, you'll need 35 hours of periodic training before the date on the card. New drivers get the International Driver CPC for their first 5 years; the cheaper UK-only National Driver CPC, introduced in December 2024, only applies to periodic training. Periodic training prices.
Before you pay for a course
- Ask whether the price includes the Module 2 and Module 4 test fees (£23 and £55), and any Module 4 training.
- Ask where Module 4 is taken: at a DVSA centre or with the school as an approved assessor.
- Check the 2-year deadline from Module 2 to Module 4 fits your plans.
How to get an HGV licence · How 3a and 3b are marked · Kent prices
Common questions
What is the pass mark for CPC Module 2?
40 out of 50. The test has 7 case studies, each with 5 to 10 multiple-choice questions, and you have 1 hour 15 minutes.
What is the pass mark for CPC Module 4?
At least 15 out of 20 in each of the five topics, and at least 80 out of 100 overall. You can score 90% and still fail if one topic is under 15.
What are the five topics in Module 4?
Loading the vehicle safely and keeping the load secure, stopping trafficking in illegal immigrants, assessing emergency situations, reducing physical risks to yourself or others, and doing a walkaround vehicle safety check.
How much do Module 2 and Module 4 cost?
Module 2 costs £23. Module 4 costs £55 on a weekday or £63 in the evening, at weekends and on bank holidays. With a DVSA-approved trainer, the test fee itself is capped at £41.
Do I need Module 2 and Module 4?
Only if you'll drive lorries professionally. Some uses are exempt, such as non-commercial driving. If you got your lorry licence before 10 September 2009, you have acquired rights and don't need them.
Does the lorry need to be loaded for Module 4?
No. The lorry is parked throughout, so it needs no load and no extra mirrors for the examiner, but it must otherwise meet DVSA's test vehicle rules.