Obtaining C1 licence for 3500kg + MAM

[Jonny5]

I thought I would just post some of my experiences from obtaining my C1 licence recently as I really struggled to find much helpful info when searching the web.

Many of the training companys I called to get training were only interested in selling me a £1000+ package to get me through the test during an intensive trainig period which I thought was excessive given my 15+ years of driving experience.

So firstly you need a C1 provisional extension for your current licence. These forms can be obtained online from the DVLA website or most post offices. The form you fill in is th D2 form and then you need to have a doctor fill out the D4 medical form for you (this will involve a cost to the doctor). Send these off with your licence and await the return. I would suggest getting the forms from a post office as the DVLA take ages to send them out. The whole process of obtaining the provisional was about 2 to 3 weeks for me.

Next you will need to sit the Hazzard awareness test and the LGV MC (multiple choice) tests at a DVLA theory test center. The hazzard awareness is easy if you remember to click multiple times every time you see a hazzard however the LGV MC is harder and will require plenty of revision. This is due to the fact it is the same theory test a B+E licence holder (artic driver) sirs. You will need to know about endurance breaking, baffle plates, pendulum effect, drivers hours, tacograph regs, spray supression equiptment...... the list goes on and you need to score 85+ out of 100.

Then on to the practical. I found a company that had a 5500kg iveco panel van in exeter called SRTS who would tailor my lessons to my spec... 2x 3 hour lessons and 1x 2 hour lesson before my test. I chose them due to the small size of the vehicle and their flexabillity. Their instructors were first rate and pointed out all my bad habbitts. We drove all the test routs in both directions a few times and thanks to them I passed with only 2 minors.

In all the process took about 5/6 weeks from applying for the licence to passing my test and cost around £5/600 including medical, test fees and training. I am a confident and compitent driver and well used to driving large crafter vans etc but without the help and tuition of SRTS I would never have passed the practical test.

 

[Minxy]

Well done Johnny, I'm sure the info will prove useful to others who are also thinking of doing their C1.

 

[Jonny5]

I hope so.

 

[j0hn]

Great article! I was looking for something like that. And Exeter is not far for me.

 

[autorouter]

Did you learn anything from the theory or practical training that you did not already know from driving a large van? In other words, was it any more than a paperwork exercise?

I ask this because of my bike test experience. I passed the car driving test in the 1970s, and in the 1990s I took a bike test so that I could take a pillion passenger on my scooter. I assumed it was just a paperwork exercise, but I learned a lot about bike riding that's probably saved me from a scrape on a number of occasions. I'd recommend bike training to anyone with only car driving experience thinking of getting a scooter.

I have relatives that could borrow my motorhome (just over the 3500kg limit). I'd like to ask them to take the C1 test, but only if they learn something useful by doing it. Might even take it myself if it's worth the effort.

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[Jonny5]

I cant say I learnt any new relivant info from the theory revision or by taking the hazard awareness. The practical training was worthwhile though and I am deffinately a better more aware driver of large vehicles for doing it.

 

[pappajohn]

This is due to the fact it is the same theory test a B+E licence holder (artic driver)

That should read C+E.
B+E is for a car plus trailer over 750kg

 

[Jonny5]

That should read C+E.
B+E is for a car plus trailer over 750kg

No I was trying to reference arcticulated HGV class

 

[pappajohn]

No I was trying to reference arcticulated HGV class

Do you mean it's the same exam as a car driver (B+E) would need to sit to take an HGV (C) practical test.

 

[Jonny5]

I mean its the same theory exam that you take for CE. Which to me seems crazy! I know that standardising a test lowers the cost of producing it and updating it but in a nation of 60,000,000+ people surely there is sufficient demand forom drivers just wanting the C1 to warrant creating a different test without questions specific to lorries that you wont even be able to drive on a C1 licence.

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[Shrimp]

I always thank my lucky stars that I took my bike test early ‘70s & my car 10 years later!

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

I always thank my lucky stars that I took my bike test early ‘70s & my car 10 years later!

I took my bike test in ‘69 and my car test in ‘70. From what I recall, provided you could drive the bike at waking pace whilst the tester walked down the pavement and could drive around a block using hand signals, you got a pass. There may have been a few questions about road signs. I’ve not ridden a bike for st least eat years, but in theory, I could buy the biggest, fastest, hairiest bike around and drive it legally. Not sure that is right. I think I am right in saying that I keep my motorcycle entitlement when I turn 70, although I need the medical form etc to retain the C1 part

 

[Gromett]

I got through my C1 with 2 days training with the test being on the second afternoon. so really 1½ days training. Also in a large panel van.
The training was superb and I recommend it to anyone no matter how much experience you have. In particular I found the road positioning and reversing both memorable and useful to this day.

 

[Larby]

I thought I would just post some of my experiences from obtaining my C1 licence recently as I really struggled to find much helpful info when searching the web.


In all the process took about 5/6 weeks from applying for the licence to passing my test and cost around £5/600 including medical, test fees and training. I am a confident and compitent driver and well used to driving large crafter vans etc but without the help and tuition of SRTS I would never have passed the practical test.

Well done on doing all that and hope the technical knowledge pays off, but did they teach you something really important ?

Getting a FWD Motorhome off wet grass

 

[Fulltiming Felines]

So firstly you need a C1 provisional extension for your current licence. These forms can be obtained online from the DVLA website or most post offices. The form you fill in is th D2 form and then you need to have a doctor fill out the D4 medical form for you (this will involve a cost to the doctor). Send these off with your licence and await the return. I would suggest getting the forms from a post office as the DVLA take ages to send them out.

I checked 2 post offices and they didn't have the D2 or D4 forms. I ordered them online from DVLA and they arrived in about a week.

What do you do when you send off your licence with the D2/D4 forms? Do you just not drive? I kind of need to drive every day. This government webpage says:

If you’re stopped, the police can ask to see your:

driving licence
insurance certificate
MOT certificate
If you don’t have these documents with you, you have 7 days to take them to a police station. You’re breaking the law if you don’t show the requested documents within 7 days.

But the application can take 2-3 weeks.

I also thought about reporting my current licence as lost and applying for a new one, but that seems illegal as well as your 'lost' licence becomes invalid when it's been reported.

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[Mr Chrysalis]

I would take a photocopy of the forms and your licence, and the receipt for registered post to the DVLA and keep them with you when you drive. That should satisfy the police

 

[pappajohn]

Believe me, the police know more about you than you do.
They have access to all your driving documents via the national police computer.

Just make a note of your driving licence number to verify their records if stopped and questioned.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I would take a photocopy of the forms and your licence, and the receipt for registered post to the DVLA and keep them with you when you drive. That should satisfy the police

Ditto

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

Believe me, the police know more about you than you do.
They have access to all your driving documents via the national police computer.

Just make a note of your driving licence number to verify their records if stopped and questioned.

Easier to make a photocopy than to read all those tiny letters and numbers on your driving licence so you can write them down

 

[Fulltiming Felines]

Thanks all for the input. I'll take a photo of the licence and forms on my phone.

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[Spriddler]

Easier to make a photocopy than to read all those tiny letters and numbers on your driving licence so you can write them down

You should've gone to Specsavers.

 

[Fulltiming Felines]

The D2 form has a strange part in the instructions that say:

Do not fill in this form if:

• you currently hold a car, motorcycle or moped licence
• you are not applying to add or renew lorry, bus or minibus entitlement

Instead, you must fill in a D1 application form...

I do currently hold a car licence, so I shouldn't use this form? Is it an AND or OR between the two bullets? There are some serious logic and wording problems here.

I can't find any other form that would be appropriate. And based on Jonny5's post, I'm going to go with the D2 form.

Our GP was able to do the D4 form for £120 per person. But first they wanted us to get an optician's exam, so we had it done for free at Boots Opticians. I brought the optician's exam results to the GP. You don't need to have the optician fill out the D4 form—the GP does all this for you on the D4.

Maya had been to the GP within the last year so she didn't even have to see the GP or wait for an exam. She just brought in the D4 form, waited a few days for the GP to fill out the form, and then we picked up the completed form. I hadn't been to the GP for over a year so I just had to go in for a blood pressure check. I was able to get an appointment for that the next day, which is much less wait than if I had to go to the GP for a proper ailment. We're in our 30s and in good health. Others might require a proper exam.

 

[2657]

The D2 form has a strange part in the instructions that say:



I do currently hold a car licence, so I shouldn't use this form? Is it an AND or OR between the two bullets? There are some serious logic and wording problems here.

I can't find any other form that would be appropriate. And based on Jonny5's post, I'm going to go with the D2 form.

Our GP was able to do the D4 form for £120 per person. But first they wanted us to get an optician's exam, so we had it done for free at Boots Opticians. I brought the optician's exam results to the GP. You don't need to have the optician fill out the D4 form—the GP does all this for you on the D4.

Maya had been to the GP within the last year so she didn't even have to see the GP or wait for an exam. She just brought in the D4 form, waited a few days for the GP to fill out the form, and then we picked up the completed form. I hadn't been to the GP for over a year so I just had to go in for a blood pressure check. I was able to get an appointment for that the next day, which is much less wait than if I had to go to the GP for a proper ailment. We're in our 30s and in good health. Others might require a proper exam.

Perhaps the word 'only' in the first bullet point would have made things a little clearer but the second one makes things perfectly clear.