How much does an HGV licence cost in Kent?
Short answer
A Class 2 (Cat C) licence from a Kent provider costs £1,373 to £3,272 all in, with a middle of £1,897. That's the training plus the medical, theory tests, CPC tests and DVSA test fees, whether the price includes them or not.
Courses give 15 to 24 hours in the cab, and the middle cost is £108 per cab hour all in. Advertised starting prices run from £1,200, but the cheapest headline price is rarely the cheapest per hour of driving.
On top of training, DVSA charges £270 in test fees for Cat C on a weekday. Some quotes include these fees and some don't, so always ask.
What you're paying for
- Training. Time in the cab with an instructor, the truck, and usually help booking your tests. This is where prices differ.
- DVSA test fees. Fixed by the government and the same wherever you train.
- A medical. You need a D4 medical before you apply for your provisional lorry licence. The price depends on the doctor or clinic. The licence application itself is free.
DVSA test fees
For a Class 2 licence from scratch, including the Driver CPC you need to drive for work.
| Test | Weekday | Evening and weekend |
|---|---|---|
| Theory: multiple choice | £26 | £26 |
| Theory: hazard perception | £11 | £11 |
| CPC Module 2: case studies | £23 | £23 |
| Practical 3a: off-road exercises | £40 | £40 |
| Practical 3b: on-road driving test | £115 | £141 |
| CPC Module 4: practical demonstration | £55 | £63 |
| Total | £270 | £304 |
What Kent providers charge, like for like
Middle values across every published course from Kent providers. "All in" adds whatever a price leaves out, at its standard cost. Every option is in the price index.
| Course | Cab hours | Cheapest advertised | All in, middle | All in, range | Per cab hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 2 (Cat C) | 15–24 | £1,200 | £1,897 | £1,373–£3,272 | £108 |
| Class 1 upgrade (C+E) | 15–21 | £1,500 | £1,891 | £1,505–£2,335 | £104 |
| Car to Class 1 (C+E) | 24–35 | £2,100 | £2,944 | £2,273–£3,992 | £110 |
| 7.5 tonne (C1) | 10–14 | £650 | £970 | £745–£1,490 | £78 |
Extras that catch people out
- Retests. If you fail, you pay the DVSA fee again, plus the cost of the truck and instructor for the test. Kent schools that publish a retest price charge £427 to £495. Retests and pass protection.
- Evening and weekend tests. The on-road test costs £141 instead of £115, and Module 4 costs £63 instead of £55.
- VAT. Training can carry VAT, but DVSA test fees don't carry VAT themselves. If a quote adds 20% to the whole amount, test fees included, ask how the VAT was worked out.
- The medical. Check whether it's included or whether you arrange and pay for it yourself. Kent clinics charge £45 to £66. D4 medical prices.
- Finance. At a 29.9% APR, £3,000 spread over 4 years costs nearly £1,900 in interest. What finance really costs.
- Periodic CPC. Once you're driving for work, you need 35 hours of CPC training every five years. Many employers pay for it.
How to compare two quotes
- Get both in writing, with the cab hours.
- Check what each includes: medical, theory tests, CPC tests, DVSA test fees, retests.
- Add whatever's missing at its standard cost, so you're comparing the same thing.
- Divide each all-in price by the cab hours.
- Then weigh up what else each package does for you: admin and paperwork, a learning platform, job support and retest cover. Ask to see each one before you pay. If they can't show it, don't count it.
The quote checker does all of this and gives your quote a value score out of 10. Going for Class 1? What a Class 1 licence costs. Want the lowest total? Every Kent course, cheapest all in. Wondering if it pays? Is HGV training worth it?
Common questions
Is the theory test included in HGV training prices?
Sometimes. Some providers include the theory tests and CPC Module 2 in a package, and others leave you to book and pay for them. The DVSA fees for those three tests come to £60.
How much does it cost to add Class 1 (C+E)?
You'll pay for the training plus £155 in DVSA fees for the two practical tests on a weekday. You don't need to sit the theory or CPC tests again.
Do I need to pay for a Driver CPC card?
Not if you have a UK driving licence. The £25 card fee only applies to drivers with a non-UK licence.