Driver CPC evidencing, enforcement and exemptions

Evidencing

The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) will be evidenced by issuing drivers with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC), similar to the driving licence.

The card will be issued to new drivers automatically on successfully passing the initial qualification. Existing drivers (holding a GB photo card licence) will be automatically issued with the card on completion of the 35^th hour of Periodic Training.

There will be no charge for the card at point of issue. As the card will be sent to the address on your driving licence it is important that you keep your address details up to date with DVLA.

It will be mandatory for you to carry your card whilst driving and there will be penalties if you are found to be driving professionally without one. If your card is lost or stolen you must report it within 7 days & apply for a replacement card. You will be able to drive for up to 15 days without a card while a replacement is sent to you.

Enforcement

It will be offence for drivers to work professionally without Driver CPC from Sept 08 for bus and coach drivers and from Sept 09 for lorry drivers, unless they fall into one of the exempt categories.

Driver CPC is being introduced across all European Union member states and will be enforced in other EU countries in the same way as it will be in the UK.

Exemptions

There are exceptions from the Driver CPC qualification for drivers of vehicles:

• used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods, for personal use;

• undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or of new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service;

• used in the course of driving lessons for the purpose of enabling that person to obtain a driving licence or a Driver CPC;

• carrying material or equipment to be used by that person in the course of his or her work, provided that driving that vehicle does not constitute the driver’s principal activity*

• with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 km/h;

• used by, or under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service and forces responsible for maintaining public order;

• used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions

*An example of a driver under exemption vii (also known as “incidental driver”) would be a brick layer who drives a load of bricks from the builder’s yard to the building site and then spends their working day laying bricks. In this case, driving a lorry is incidental to their main occupation.

Drivers can move in and out of an exemption, depending on the circumstances in which they are driving. For example, a bus mechanic would be exempt while driving a bus to check that it had been repaired, but would need to hold a Driver CPC if they also drove a bus on a passenger carrying service.

Minimum ages

The following minimum age limits apply for vocational licences once Driver CPC is introduced. A driver must also obtain their Driver CPC for these lower age limits to apply.

Category of vehicle	Minimum age of driver (years)	Restrictions
Goods vehicles
C1, C1 + E, C, C + E	18
Passenger carrying vehicles
D1, D1 + E	18
D, D + E	18	On routes not exceeding 50 km. Within the UK only.
D, D + E	20	Without passengers. Within the UK only.
D, D + E	21