HGV driver pay, and getting your first job
What lorry drivers earn in the UK, the difference between Class 1 and Class 2 pay, and the experience rule that catches out newly qualified drivers.
Short answer
The median full-time lorry driver in the UK earns £39,905 a year before tax, according to the ONS (2025, provisional). Hauliers surveyed by the Road Haulage Association pay a median basic rate of £15.05 an hour for Class 1 and £14.50 for Class 2. The hardest part is often the first job: many fleet insurers prefer drivers with about two years' experience.
What lorry drivers earn
| Measure | Median | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time lorry drivers, yearly pay before tax | £39,905 | ONS ASHE 2025, provisional |
| Full-time lorry drivers, weekly pay | £799.90 | ONS ASHE 2025 |
| Full-time lorry drivers, hourly pay | £16.25 | ONS ASHE 2025 |
| Class 1 (C+E), basic hourly rate | £15.05 | RHA Pay Report 2026 |
| Class 2 (C), basic hourly rate | £14.50 | RHA Pay Report 2026 |
| Class 1 (C+E), weekly pay, averaging 55 hours | £876 | RHA Pay Report 2026 |
Is the licence worth the cost?
A Class 2 licence in Kent costs £1,897 all in at the middle of the market. At the RHA median basic rate, that's about 131 hours of Class 2 work before tax. Paying £4,000 or more for the same licence would take about 276 hours to earn back. Compare Kent prices.
The UK needs around 60,000 new lorry drivers a year, according to the Road Haulage Association, and only about 4% of the 283,000 employed drivers are under 25.
The two-year experience rule
Many fleet insurers prefer drivers with about two years' experience, and some job adverts ask for drivers aged 25 or over "for insurance purposes". It isn't the law, but it makes the first job harder to find. Even where a policy allows new drivers, some operators avoid them because one claim can raise premiums across the whole fleet.
Ways newly qualified drivers get started:
- Agencies and operators that state they take newly qualified drivers.
- Class 2 local delivery, refuse and construction work, where many people start before moving to Class 1.
- Employers that train or take on drivers through their own schemes.
- A training provider with real job support. Ask which employers it works with and whether you can see live roles before you pay. How we score job support.
Related: Kent agency pay rates · Drivers' hours rules · Under-21 rules · Bus vs lorry pay
Common questions
How much do HGV drivers earn in the UK?
The median full-time lorry driver earns £39,905 a year before tax (ONS, 2025, provisional). RHA members pay a median basic rate of £15.05 an hour for Class 1 and £14.50 for Class 2.
Do Class 1 drivers earn more than Class 2?
Slightly, on the basic rate: £15.05 an hour against £14.50 in the RHA's 2026 survey. Class 1 drivers averaged £876 a week on 55 hours.
Why is it hard to get an HGV job without experience?
Many fleet insurers prefer drivers with about two years' experience, and some adverts ask for drivers aged 25 or over for insurance reasons. It's industry practice, not law.