C1 typical costs to learn/pass

[noggin61]

Hi everyone, newbie here. After 35 odd years of caravanning and boating we’re heading out on the MoHo adventure. I have grandad rights relating to my C1 status but my son doesn’t. As we’re the family sharing type owner he will need to pass his C1 to be able to drive our MH when we get it. Despite what they say size does matter and we’re over 3500kg. I was wondering what the likely costs are in attaining said C1 for my son. He’s a competent blue light driver so practicality shouldn’t faze him it’s more about time and money? Look forward to your replies. Cheers.

 

[joe and sue]

Once you reach 70 yrs, you lose C1and C2 unless you reapply for them. £55 is the cost that D4drivers charge to give you an eye test and basic medical, that’s less than doctors charge. You have to attend a regional centre for the service. They also fill in the forms and send them off. Good value I say.
Phil

Hi Phil,
Where is the nearest to us in Bury St. Edmund's, please
Joe

 

[Pedro Pallent]

Hi everyone, newbie here. After 35 odd years of caravanning and boating we’re heading out on the MoHo adventure. I have grandad rights relating to my C1 status but my son doesn’t. As we’re the family sharing type owner he will need to pass his C1 to be able to drive our MH when we get it. Despite what they say size does matter and we’re over 3500kg. I was wondering what the likely costs are in attaining said C1 for my son. He’s a competent blue light driver so practicality shouldn’t faze him it’s more about time and money? Look forward to your replies. Cheers.

Go on the .gov.uk website search for c1 licence upgrade follow the thread, fill in the form it’s free at the moment. Get it done, if I remember correctly you have to have a minimum of 3 years full license experience.

 

[Camper pair]

Might be worth a watch

Good summary of the process. Very similar here in The Netherlands- not just about getting the license but also learning how to manage the vehicle responsibly with lots of useful
Tips that are not really applicable if you just drive a car. Having said that, I had a normal car license for over 42 years, and actually considered it a positive refreshment to have done the C1 license!!
Driving a 4500 kg camper is not just arriving a bigger car!
Last word regarding the Medical - easy enough till you have Diabetes! Then it becomes more intense, for good reason I suppose, but an assessment from your own GP is not enough.

 

[Cat53]

A Motorhome agent told my Grandson it’s about £1000

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[The Artilleryman]

..

 

[The Artilleryman]

Lots of info on web - C1/D1 may be a thing of the past again as we're out of Europe. Maybe worth waiting....

Driving licensing call for evidence

www.gov.uk

The usual load of b***** b*******.

Having read the 1st couple of sections, it's another way of getting unqualified drivers on the road without proper training to cover up the shortage of HGV drivers.

 

[jongood]

I wouldn't.

The C1 can be taken in a panel van and is MUCH easier to drive.

I had to do my C1 and passed it with only a day and a half training. If you are used to driving a panel van, then they will just have to train you on the reversing element and knock any bad habits out of you.
For most people I think this will be mirrors and signals for the most part.

I failed my first attempt at taking the C. It is a completely different beast (although there were mitigating circumstances).

Gosh the standards really have fallen!! OK any training is worthwhile but does seem to undermine the point of separating C1 from the car licence.

 

[enark]

Hi everyone, newbie here. After 35 odd years of caravanning and boating we’re heading out on the MoHo adventure. I have grandad rights relating to my C1 status but my son doesn’t. As we’re the family sharing type owner he will need to pass his C1 to be able to drive our MH when we get it. Despite what they say size does matter and we’re over 3500kg. I was wondering what the likely costs are in attaining said C1 for my son. He’s a competent blue light driver so practicality shouldn’t faze him it’s more about time and money? Look forward to your replies. Cheers.

Hi, I would maybe wait or at least investigate further, but I understand DVLA are consulting on possibly returning the Cat B licence category to vehicles upto 7500kgs?

 

[enark]

The usual load of b***** b*******.

Having read the 1st couple of sections, it's another way of getting unqualified drivers on the road without proper training to cover up the shortage of HGV drivers.

What like all the over 41s with a cat B+E?

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[Gaston aires]

Hi Phil,
Where is the nearest to us in Bury St. Edmund's, please
Joe

Hi Joe.
Holiday inn eight ash green Colchester. Just off the A12 Halstead turn off. I went there today.
Phil

 

[minesapint]

Crazy situation my SIL can drive a 16 seater minibus but not my Motorhome.

I have the same problem my eldest son has a bus licence but he cannot drive my Burstner that weighs in at only 3850.
The situation is farcical, a bus is a lot bigger and a lot heavier than my MoHo, but the Civil servants who make the rules say he must take the C1. Unbelieveable

 

[joe and sue]

I have the same problem my eldest son has a bus licence but he cannot drive my Burstner that weighs in at only 3850.
The situation is farcical, a bus is a lot bigger and a lot heavier than my MoHo, but the Civil servants who make the rules say he must take the C1. Unbelieveable

What I find farcical is that at 70 and type 2 diabetic, I need a full medical to drive a 4.5 tonne MH that can barely reach 80mph, But i need no checks at all to drive a 200mph supercar or the fastest motorcycle on the planet !!!

 

[The Artilleryman]

What I find farcical is that at 70 and type 2 diabetic, I need a full medical to drive a 4.5 tonne MH that can barely reach 80mph, But i need no checks at all to drive a 200mph supercar or the fastest motorcycle on the planet !!!

And what I find even more farcical, is the D4 medical is a tick box exercise, which can be done by any doctor, it's up to you what you declare medication wise.

I thought the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy would have caused the government to tighten up the medical regulations.

 

[Gromett]

Gosh the standards really have fallen!! OK any training is worthwhile but does seem to undermine the point of separating C1 from the car licence.

Why do you say that. The 7.5T test in a van based vehicle is no different that to a truck based one. In fact today you are allowed to use an automatic so it could be argued the van based one is harder as they tend not to do automatics.

The things they teach you is awareness of the vehicle size. The fact that the rear doesn't directly follow the front so you need to swing out on turns and at filling stations. They teach you to use the side mirrors to an obnoxious level.
Reversing on the side mirrors, no camera and no other aids. They teach you how to handle braking of a heavier vehicle and how to maintain progress at situations like roundabouts. That is just from memory.
The van they use has a big tank of water in the back to bring the weight up to the required level.

The training is not that much different to the C. The difference is that it is in a van based vehicle which is more familiar.

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[Gaston aires]

And what I find even more farcical, is the D4 medical is a tick box exercise, which can be done by any doctor, it's up to you what you declare medication wise.

I thought the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy would have caused the government to tighten up the medical regulations.

I went to D4drivers today. I had a blood pressure check, and eye test, Medication proven by Pharmacy list, so not quite a tick box situation.
Phil

 

[Stumbleweed]

I did C then C+E 5 years ago as we were looking at older liners many of which were over 7.5t and we wanted to tow trailer/car too. Cost was about £1400 for each licence. (I then drove trucks part time for a couple of years to cover the cost).
In the end we got a sub-7.5t Concorde but the trailer and car take it over the 8.25t wieight limit (107) for a 'grandfather's' C1E, so I keep my C+E entitlement courtesy of an annual £45-ish D4 medical.

It's expensive, but I'm really glad I did it.

 

[stewartwebr]

And what I find even more farcical, is the D4 medical is a tick box exercise, which can be done by any doctor, it's up to you what you declare medication wise.

I thought the Glasgow bin lorry tragedy would have caused the government to tighten up the medical regulations.

One of the major recommendations was to ensure the D4 medical was completed by your GP which in my mind makes complete sense, they know and understand any major health conditions. There was huge push back from the haulage industry with a real concern it could create a shortage of drivers. I guess somewhere a risk assessment was completed to look at the potential for an other disaster against the impact of a national shortage of drivers, the greater risk must have been the later as the recommendation was removed.

 

[jongood]

Why do you say that. . The difference is that it is in a van based vehicle which is more familiar.

The bold bit. The whole point was that it gave you training on heavier vehicles with live axles, truck suspension and bodywork. Training even in a 3850 Ducato is better than no training at all though.

Personally I'm in favour of retesting, maybe a 2 hour assessment every 10 years with a time period to take a further assessment if deemed necessary.

 

[Gromett]

The bold bit. The whole point was that it gave you training on heavier vehicles with live axles, truck suspension and bodywork. Training even in a 3850 Ducato is better than no training at all though.

Personally I'm in favour of retesting, maybe a 2 hour assessment every 10 years with a time period to take a further assessment if deemed necessary.

We are just going to have to agree to disagree on this. I found the training invaluable and pretty stringent. In fact I believe the Test for C and C1 is about the same?

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[The Artilleryman]

It's not just size, but type of braking system as well.

Does anybody know if there is a specific weight that says you have to have spring (air) brakes rather than hydraulic brakes?

 

[The Artilleryman]

Personally I'm in favour of retesting, maybe a 2 hour assessment every 10 years with a time period to take a further assessment if deemed necessary.

This was what I believe CPC (certificate of professional competency) was supposed to be, but on a 5 year cycle.
Now it's just 5 days classroom training over every 5 years.

How can "The road map, where the company has come from and where it's going" have any relevance on driving standards?

 

[Hymerboy]

Interesting thread. Just started the process to recover my C1 after giving it up 20yrs ago, oh how i wish I’d kept it……

And now realise here (like UK) there’s a chuffing theory as well this is going to be a painful experience…

Are you sure that you need to re-test, I gave up my C1 when I was 70 because I though I would never need one however six months later I then decided I wanted one, the DVLA sent it to me free of charge once I had a medical.

 

[nicholsong]

Are you sure that you need to re-test, I gave up my C1 when I was 70 because I though I would never need one however six months later I then decided I wanted one, the DVLA sent it to me free of charge once I had a medical.

This is no charge for any licence renewal over 70. Only for the photograph if expiring and you do not want to authorise them to use your passport photo.

 

[Nanniemate]

This was what I believe CPC (certificate of professional competency) was supposed to be, but on a 5 year cycle.
Now it's just 5 days classroom training over every 5 years.

How can "The road map, where the company has come from and where it's going" have any relevance on driving standards?

Depends upon how you decide to do it 1 day per year or 5 days over a week there are many different training days on offer the classroom had always been the easiest and cheapest until covid and the online was introduced .there are still a large number of practical courses available including the vulnerable road users where you spend half the day in the classroom and the other half on a bike
Different training costs vary. The ADR can also be claimed towards the DQC if the organisation is registered

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[The Artilleryman]

My employer provided the cpc training as a normal days work (unlike some other bus co. in London) and as such were responsible for the lessons. But as I said above how can "The road map, where the company has come from and where it's going" have any relevance on driving standards?

 

[2x2camper]

My employer provided the cpc training as a normal days work (unlike some other bus co. in London) and as such were responsible for the lessons. But as I said above how can "The road map, where the company has come from and where it's going" have any relevance on driving standards?

I would have thought their attitude to risk and how their drivers comply with the various laws would have a big influence on driving standards

 

[jongood]

My employer provided the cpc training as a normal days work (unlike some other bus co. in London) and as such were responsible for the lessons. But as I said above how can "The road map, where the company has come from and where it's going" have any relevance on driving standards?

Im generally of the opinion that I can learn from anyone, but I ve now done 10 "Dcpc" courses and the only thing I thought I'd learnt turned out to be wrong.

One was so bad I ended up correcting the instructor who later apologised.

 

[The Artilleryman]

Which just goes to show, if the course lesson format is left up to the individual training centre - with DVSA saying if the lesson meets there standard - without a standard series of lessons, its a waste of time and money.

Lessons like :-
Hazard awareness, First Aid, Drivers Hours, are good but that's only 3 out of 5 what other subjects are being taught ?

I know of drivers who have done Drivers Hours 5 times, what use is that (mind you 3 of those drivers had been done for breach of Drivers Hours.

 

[Nanniemate]

Which just goes to show, if the course lesson format is left up to the individual training centre - with DVSA saying if the lesson meets there standard - without a standard series of lessons, its a waste of time and money.

Lessons like :-
Hazard awareness, First Aid, Drivers Hours, are good but that's only 3 out of 5 what other subjects are being taught ?

I know of drivers who have done Drivers Hours 5 times, what use is that (mind you 3 of those drivers had been done for breach of Drivers Hours.

Personal choice and integrity ?? There are over 50 ish courses available with various training organisations
Some drivers just want a tick in a box other want to update and refresh their knowledge
It's far from a perfect system but better than passing a 40 minute test and doing nothing not even reading the highway code for 40years

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[The Artilleryman]

No choice if your employer is running the course.

All you have to do is attend, no test.