Become a qualified lorry or bus driver

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.

You must bring a lorry or a bus or coach that meets the rules.

You must also bring one of the following:

If you don’t have a photocard driving licence, bring your paper licence and a valid passport.

Your test will be cancelled and you’ll lose your fee if you don’t bring these.

Your practical test will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes and includes:

During your test you’ll be asked vehicle safety questions on either:

During your practical road driving, the examiner will see how you:

There will also be 10 minutes of independent driving, designed to test your ability to drive safely while making independent decisions.

The off-road exercises will include:

an ‘S’ shaped reverse into a bay
showing the uncoupling and recoupling procedure if you’re taking a test with a trailer

After you’ve taken the practical test your examiner will tell you if you’ve passed and explain how you did.

You’ll pass your test if you make:

If you fail, you can book another driving test straight away, but you can’t take it for another 3 clear working days.

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.