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HGV Driver Licence, CPC and Tacho Card Checks: An Employer Checklist

A driver who turns up without the right entitlement is more than a missed shift. A lapsed licence category, an out-of-date Driver CPC or an invalid tachograph card can leave the operator carrying the risk, as well as the driver. This checklist sets out what to verify before an HGV or vehicle driver starts with you, in a sensible order.

It is a practical guide, not legal advice. Rules and processes change, so check current GOV.UK and DVSA guidance for anything that affects your compliance.

Why the checks matter before day one

Most problems are avoidable if they are caught before the first load. Typical examples:

• A driver holds a category C1 entitlement but is booked onto a vehicle that needs category C.
• Penalty points or a disqualification have changed since the CV was written.
• The Driver CPC periodic training is overdue.
• The tachograph card has expired or been reported lost.

Checking these up front takes minutes. Finding out at the roadside takes much longer.

Step 1: Confirm the licence category matches the vehicle

Start with what the driver will actually be driving. GOV.UK's driving licence categories page defines them as follows:

• Category C1 covers vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM), with a trailer up to 750kg. In the trade this is often called a 7.5 tonne licence.
• Category C covers vehicles over 3,500kg MAM, with a trailer up to 750kg. This is usually called HGV Class 2.
• Category C+E (CE) covers category C vehicles with a trailer over 750kg, such as a drawbar or articulated combination. This is usually called HGV Class 1.

Check that the category is on the licence record, not only on the CV, and that it matches the vehicles on your fleet. If you run a mix, note which drivers are cleared for which vehicles. If the work involves towing with a smaller vehicle, check the relevant trailer category on the same GOV.UK page.

Step 2: Check endorsements and validity, with consent

The driver uses GOV.UK's view or share your driving licence information service to create a check code. You then use GOV.UK's check someone's driving licence information service, entering the code together with the last 8 characters of their driving licence number. The code is valid for 21 days and can only be used once, so run the check close to the point you make the decision.

The service shows the vehicles the driver can drive and any penalty points or disqualifications. Look for:

• the entitlement categories shown on the record
• any endorsements or penalty points, and whether they fit your insurer's requirements
• licence validity, including any vocational entitlement that needs renewing with a medical

Always get the driver's consent first, and tell them how you will store the result.

Your insurer may have its own rules about points or convictions. Ask them what they require rather than guessing.

Step 3: Check Driver CPC

Most professional HGV and many bus and coach roles require the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC). GOV.UK states that drivers must do 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to keep it, and that drivers can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without it (see Driver CPC training for qualified drivers). Proof is the driver's Driver CPC card.

Ask to see the card, and diarise the expiry date. A driver who is part-way through their training can check the hours they have completed using GOV.UK's online service and show you the result, but that is a different position from a card that is in date.

Some work is exempt from the Driver CPC requirement. Do not assume an exemption applies; confirm it against the official GOV.UK guidance for the specific work.

Step 4: Check the digital tachograph driver card

If the work falls under the tachograph rules, the driver needs a valid digital tachograph driver card. Check that:

• the card is in date and was issued to that driver
• the card has not been reported lost, stolen or damaged
• the driver understands your process for downloading and retaining data

Operators have their own responsibilities. GOV.UK guidance on the responsibilities of vehicle operators says data must be downloaded from driver cards at least every 28 calendar days and from the vehicle unit at least every 90 calendar days, and that operators must be able to produce records to enforcement officers for 12 months.

Step 5: Right to work and role-specific certificates

Every hire needs a right to work check before they start, following the Home Office employer's guide to right to work checks. This applies to drivers and warehouse staff alike.

For warehouse roles, check the equipment certificates that matter to the job. For example, a counterbalance forklift operator should be able to show training evidence for that truck type. Ask what the certificate covers and when it was issued.

Keep a record and diarise expiry dates

Checks are only useful if you can show them later. For each driver, keep:

• the date of each check and who carried it out
• the categories and endorsements seen on that date
• CPC and tachograph card expiry dates, with a reminder set ahead of them
• the driver's consent to the licence check

Re-check on a schedule that suits your risk and your insurer's requirements, not only at hiring.

How Vector Recruit approaches these checks

Vector Recruit is a logistics and transport recruitment brand. We check driving licence categories, Driver CPC and tachograph cards before anyone is put forward. Our DVLA licence check is done with the driver's consent and confirms categories, endorsements and validity. It is a blocking check for driving roles, which means it must be complete before a placement can start. Right to work is also a blocking check.

We are currently building our logistics and transport talent pool. Drivers and warehouse staff can register, upload a CV and keep their licence, CPC and tacho details on their profile. Employers can create an account and post roles or ask for help with hard-to-fill shift patterns. We do not have live vacancies to promise, and we will not say otherwise.

FAQs

Is a CV enough to prove a driver holds the right licence?

No. A CV is a claim, not evidence. Check the licence record and the physical cards, with the driver's consent.

Do I need to check Driver CPC for every driver?

Not always, because some work is exempt. For most professional HGV roles it is required, so confirm the position for each role rather than assuming.

How often should I re-check a driver's licence?

There is no single answer for every business. Your insurer, your operator licence conditions and your own risk assessment all feed into it, so agree a schedule and record it.

What is the difference between HGV Class 1 and Class 2?

Class 2 usually means category C, a vehicle over 3,500kg with a trailer up to 750kg. Class 1 usually means category C+E, which adds a trailer over 750kg, such as an articulated combination.

Next step

If you would rather not carry out these checks alone, create an employer account at Vector Recruit and tell us the vehicle types, shift patterns and entitlements you need. If you are a driver, you can register as a candidate and keep your licence, CPC and tacho card details ready.