What is the difference between category C, C+E and D?

Category C is a rigid lorry over 3.5 tonnes. Category C+E is a lorry towing a trailer, such as an articulated lorry. Category D is a bus or coach with more than eight passenger seats. LGV and HGV mean the same thing.

What is the lorry and bus reversing exercise?

An off-road exercise on a marked area. You reverse in an S round a marker and into a bay, then stop with the very back of the vehicle inside a yellow box. You can rehearse it in the simulator in a rigid lorry, an artic or a bus.

How long is the lorry driving test on the road?

About an hour on public roads. For category C+E the test also includes uncoupling and recoupling the trailer.

Is the lorry test hard to pass?

DVSA's latest national LGV on-road pass rate is 61%, and 66% for buses and coaches. The rates vary a lot by test site, which the lists below show.

Do I need a medical to drive a lorry or bus?

Yes. To get provisional category C or D entitlement you apply to DVLA with a D4 medical report completed by a doctor.

What speed can a lorry or bus do?

Lorries over 7.5 tonnes are limited to 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. Lorries have a speed limiter set at 56 mph, and buses and coaches at 62 mph.

Which tests are there before the practical test?

You pass the theory test (multiple-choice questions and hazard perception), then Driver CPC module 2 (case studies). After the driving test you take the Driver CPC module 4 practical demonstration.

Lorry and bus test. Drive the real routes in a 10 m lorry.

Practise for category C, C+E and D in 3D: a rigid lorry, an artic or a bus on real test routes, plus the reversing exercise. Below are the steps to the licence and the real DVSA pass rates by test site.

Drive your test route in a lorryPick your centre, then drive its roads in 3D Reversing exerciseReverse round marker B into the bay

Pick your vehicle

Rigid lorryCategory C · 10 mDrive Reverse
Articulated lorryCategory C+E · 16.5 mDrive Reverse
Single-deck busCategory D · 12 mDrive Reverse

71%Manoeuvres pass rate

61%On road pass rate

120test sites

Lorry (LGV) pass rates. Bus and coach on-road pass rate: 66%.

Your route to the licence

Speeds to know

50 mphlorries over 7.5 t, single carriageway
60 mphlorries over 7.5 t, dual carriageway
56 mphlorry speed limiter
62 mphbus and coach speed limiter

Best and lowest test sites

Lorry (LGV): on road pass rate, 2025/26

1PJ Edwards197 tests91.4%
2Dulson Training (Ludlow)103 tests90.3%
3Lancaster Training (Heysham)186 tests89.8%
4T. French & Son219 tests88.6%
5Taunton Training140 tests88.6%
lowest of 105 sites with 30+ tests
Big On Driver Training169 tests45.0%
Distribution Skills (SID)350 tests44.3%
FeatherstoneWest Midlands · 3,452 tests40.3%

See all 120 sites ▶

Bus and coach (PCV): on road pass rate, 2025/26

1PJ Edwards30 tests93.3%
2Phil Brown (Droitwich)43 tests90.7%
3Tilston School of Motoring40 tests87.5%
4Taunton Training48 tests83.3%
5Teesside LGV68 tests82.4%
lowest of 43 sites with 30+ tests
Yeading (London)London · 226 tests51.8%
Inverness (Seafield Road)Scotland · 78 tests51.3%
Leicester (Cannock Street)East Midlands · 168 tests49.4%

See all 89 sites ▶

Lorry and bus test questions

What is the difference between category C, C+E and D?: Category C is a rigid lorry over 3.5 tonnes. Category C+E is a lorry towing a trailer, such as an articulated lorry. Category D is a bus or coach with more than eight passenger seats. LGV and HGV mean the same thing.
What is the lorry and bus reversing exercise?: An off-road exercise on a marked area. You reverse in an S round a marker and into a bay, then stop with the very back of the vehicle inside a yellow box. You can rehearse it in the simulator in a rigid lorry, an artic or a bus.
How long is the lorry driving test on the road?: About an hour on public roads. For category C+E the test also includes uncoupling and recoupling the trailer.
Is the lorry test hard to pass?: DVSA's latest national LGV on-road pass rate is 61%, and 66% for buses and coaches. The rates vary a lot by test site, which the lists below show.
Do I need a medical to drive a lorry or bus?: Yes. To get provisional category C or D entitlement you apply to DVLA with a D4 medical report completed by a doctor.
What speed can a lorry or bus do?: Lorries over 7.5 tonnes are limited to 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways and motorways. Lorries have a speed limiter set at 56 mph, and buses and coaches at 62 mph.
Which tests are there before the practical test?: You pass the theory test (multiple-choice questions and hazard perception), then Driver CPC module 2 (case studies). After the driving test you take the Driver CPC module 4 practical demonstration.

How the lorry and bus test works

You need provisional category C, C+E or D entitlement on your licence, which needs a medical. You then pass the theory test and the Driver CPC case studies, take the off-road exercises and the on-road driving test, and finish with the Driver CPC practical demonstration.

Compare sites on the lorry test centres and bus and coach test centres pages.

Source: DVSA driving test statistics and GOV.UK. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.