Is HGV training worth it? The numbers, honestly
What a lorry licence costs in Kent, what drivers earn, how long it takes to earn the money back, and the risks that can make it take longer. With a calculator for your own numbers.
Short answer
For most people moving from a lower-paid job, yes, if they get driving work. A Class 2 licence costs about £1,897 all in at the middle of the Kent market. A new Class 2 driver on the median basic rate earns roughly £32,000 a year for a 42-hour week, about £601 a month more than a full-time job on the National Living Wage. At that rate the licence pays for itself in about 3.2 months of driving work. The median full-time lorry driver earns £39,905.
The risks are the gap before your first job, retests, and the experience many insurers ask for. Those, not the course price, are what decide whether it's worth it.
Work out your own payback
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Worked examples
Class 2 at the Kent middle price (£1,897), plus the average cost of retests at a 39% fail rate.
| You earn now | You earn driving | Extra per month | Payback, once working |
|---|---|---|---|
| £24,785 | £32,000 | £601 | 3.6 months |
| £24,785 | £39,905 | £1,260 | 1.7 months |
| £30,000 | £39,905 | £825 | 2.7 months |
| £35,000 | £39,905 | £409 | 5.4 months |
What makes it worth it, or not
- The first job. Every month without driving work adds to the payback time. Many adverts ask for two years' experience because of insurance, so plan how you'll get started. Your first job with no experience.
- Retests. About 4 in 10 on-road lorry tests are failed. Enough cab hours is the best protection. Retest costs.
- The theory test. Only about half of lorry theory multiple-choice tests are passed. Theory pass rates.
- Paying too much. The same licence can cost £1,400 or over £3,000 like for like. The difference is months of extra payback. Compare Kent prices.
- Finance. At 29.9% APR, £3,000 over 4 years costs about £4,892. What finance costs.
- The work itself. Long shifts, early starts and nights are common, and the median full-time weekly pay of £799.90 includes overtime. Talk to working drivers before you commit.
- Funding. If an employer pays, the sums change completely. Funded training in Kent.
Common questions
Is getting an HGV licence worth it?
For most people moving from a lower-paid job, yes, if they get driving work. A Kent Class 2 licence costs about £1,900 all in, and a new Class 2 driver on the median basic rate earns about £600 a month more than a full-time National Living Wage job.
How long does it take to pay back HGV training?
Usually a few months of driving work, plus any time spent finding a first job. Retests, paying over the odds and finance all add to the payback time.
How much do new HGV drivers earn?
The RHA's 2026 survey puts the median basic rate at £14.50 an hour for Class 2 and £15.05 for Class 1. The median full-time lorry driver earns £39,905 a year (ONS, 2025).