Driver CPC Initial Qualification Parts 3 and 4
Driver CPC Part 3 Test: Driving Ability
You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) Part 1 Theory Test before you can book the Driver CPC Part 3 Test.
What to take to your test
You must take one of the following:
- A Great Britain photocard driving licence.
- A Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart.
- An EU photocard driving licence and paper counterpart, if you have one.
If you do not have a photocard driving licence, take your paper licence and a valid passport.
Your test will be cancelled and you will lose your fee if you do not take the right documents.
How the test works
Your practical Driving Ability test will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:
- Vehicle safety questions.
- Practical road driving.
- Off-road exercises.
Vehicle Safety Questions
During your test you will be asked vehicle safety questions on either:
Practical Road Driving
During your practical road driving, the examiner will see how you:
- Use the vehicle controls.
- Move away at an angle, uphill and downhill.
- Do a controlled stop.
- Use the mirrors.
- Give appropriate signals.
- Show awareness and anticipation of other road users’ intentions.
- Manage your progress and control your vehicle speed.
- Deal with hazards.
- Select a safe place to stop.
There will also be 10 minutes of independent driving, designed to test your ability to drive safely whilst making independent decisions.
Off-road Exercises
The off-road exercises will include:
- An ‘S-shaped reverse into a bay.
- Showing the uncoupling and recoupling procedure if you are taking a test with a trailer.
Test Result
After you have taken the practical test your examiner will tell you if you have passed and will explain how you performed.
You will pass the test if you:
- have 15 or fewer driving faults.
- have no serious or dangerous faults.
If you fail your test, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.
Cancelled Tests
You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) cancels your test at short notice.
At the time of writing, driving tests have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You cannot currently book a driving test unless you are a key worker.
Driver CPC Part 4 Test: Practical Demonstration
You must have passed the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) Part 2 Test before you can book the Driver CPC Part 4 Test.
Book your test
You can either:
- Arrange a test with your trainer.
- Book a test with DVSA.
What to take to your test
You must take one of the following:
- A Great Britain photocard driving licence.
- A Northern Ireland photocard driving licence and paper counterpart.
- An EU photocard driving licence and paper counterpart, if you have one.
If you do not have a photocard driving licence, take your paper licence and a valid passport.
Your test will be cancelled and you will lose your fee if you do not take the right documents.
How the test works
You are tested on being able to:
- Load the vehicle following safety rules and keeping it secure.
- Stop trafficking in illegal immigrants.
- Assess emergency situations.
- Reduce physical risks to yourself or others.
- Conduct a Walk Around Vehicle safety check.
The test is made up of 5 topics from the Driver CPC syllabus. You can score up to 20 points for each topic.
To pass you must score at least 15 out of 20 in each topic area and have an overall score of at least 80 out of 100.
Test Result
At the end of your test, the examiner will tell you if you have passed.
If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you cannot take it for another 3 clear working days.
Cancelled Tests
You can apply for a refund of out-of-pocket expenses if the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) cancels your test at short notice.
At the time of writing, driving tests have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You cannot currently book a driving test unless you are a key worker.