New DVSA rules for three types of vehicle mean drivers face £1,000 fines

In May this year, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) outlined that changes would likely be made to qualify for the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

Major driving law changes set to launch within months could see road users slapped with a £1,000 fine. In May this year, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) outlined that changes would likely be made to qualify for the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

This professional driving qualification is required to be a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), bus or coach driver. Drivers will be able to choose to stay qualified using either the International Driver CPC or the National Driver CPC under the proposed new rules.

These rules are expected to be passed "later in 2024". Motorists are being warned that drivers should make a conscious note of their training deadline as they must stay qualified using the options detailed or risk a £1,000 fine for driving professionally without Driver CPC.

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The government said: "Subject to Parliamentary approval, later in 2024, you will have 2 options to stay qualified." This is either taking 35 hours of International Driver CPC training every 5 years to be able to drive in the UK and EU OR taking 35 hours of National Driver CPC (or a combination of 35 hours of National and International CPC training) every 5 years to be able to drive in the UK.

If your training deadline is before the changes are introduced, you must stay qualified using the options available to you at the time. The government said: "You can be fined up to £1,000 for driving professionally without Driver CPC."

When you pass the qualifying tests, you will automatically have International Driver CPC for the first 5 years. This means you will be able to drive in the UK and the EU. At the moment, if your Driver CPC has expired and you want to return to driving, you always need to take 35 hours of training before you’re allowed to start driving again.