Class C1 Licence, how difficult?
Discussion
Just wondering how difficult the test actually is...
Has anyone here just rocked up for the test in their own vehicle and nailed it?
There's many outfits offering training, and it's not cheap, and I'm wondering if it's even necessary. Unfortunately I'm one of those who is limited to max 3.5T due to my age but I have bought a 6.5T iveco race van... With the intention of getting my old man to drive it until I do the test.
Really want to do it as quickly as possible and having loads of time off work will cost me a small fortune as well. Made me think I could do the theory myself and book my test, get my dad to drive me and the van to the test and do it in my own vehicle .. even if I failed and had to have another go it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than paying £1500 and losing money taking days off as well.
Maybe I'm being daft, but I know that lots of people that would be frankly dangerous driving the thing can do so on grandfather rights...so how hard can it be?!
Has anyone here just rocked up for the test in their own vehicle and nailed it?
There's many outfits offering training, and it's not cheap, and I'm wondering if it's even necessary. Unfortunately I'm one of those who is limited to max 3.5T due to my age but I have bought a 6.5T iveco race van... With the intention of getting my old man to drive it until I do the test.
Really want to do it as quickly as possible and having loads of time off work will cost me a small fortune as well. Made me think I could do the theory myself and book my test, get my dad to drive me and the van to the test and do it in my own vehicle .. even if I failed and had to have another go it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than paying £1500 and losing money taking days off as well.
Maybe I'm being daft, but I know that lots of people that would be frankly dangerous driving the thing can do so on grandfather rights...so how hard can it be?!
Physically driving a C1 vehicle? Piece of piss.
Driving to test standard again? That's the hard bit.
You could have all the C1 specific bits nailed and they'll still rip you apart on signalling, mirrors, positioning etc. If you've done another test recently (B+E etc) then you might stand a chance.
There's also the issue of there being hardly any commercial test centres. Round here they were all closed down and now it's all run out of the various instructors' yards, the nearest actual test centre is miles away. Fine if you live near one, but otherwise you'll be doing a driving test in a vehicle you've barely driven, on roads you don't know.
This is also the moment when I always post that anyone looking at doing C1 should seriously look at full C licence instead. Training is barely more expensive and it's a lot more useful (and more fun to do).
Driving to test standard again? That's the hard bit.
You could have all the C1 specific bits nailed and they'll still rip you apart on signalling, mirrors, positioning etc. If you've done another test recently (B+E etc) then you might stand a chance.
There's also the issue of there being hardly any commercial test centres. Round here they were all closed down and now it's all run out of the various instructors' yards, the nearest actual test centre is miles away. Fine if you live near one, but otherwise you'll be doing a driving test in a vehicle you've barely driven, on roads you don't know.
This is also the moment when I always post that anyone looking at doing C1 should seriously look at full C licence instead. Training is barely more expensive and it's a lot more useful (and more fun to do).
Edited by agent006 on Monday 25th January 22:43
Yazza54 said:
Has anyone here just rocked up for the test in their own vehicle and nailed it?
No, no one here has done that. Someone, somewhere, once, may have done; but the chances of someone who has driven on a grandfathered entitlement turning up for a test without any instruction and driving to a sufficiently high standard is almost non-existent.Soz.
red_slr said:
Don't forget you may also need to apply for a Driver Card and you may also need to do the DCPC IQ.
I don't need any of that. It's a privately owned and used vehicle that won't be carrying goods. I won't be using the tachograph either for the same reason and there's an exemption form that covers it.Edited by Yazza54 on Wednesday 10th February 18:19
If you have a DCPC and a tacho card then it can open doors that you might not have considered... Id suggest a trailer test to add +E too.
It is true that driving an HGV is turning into a national minimum wage job is many instances, thanks to Eastern European immigration and rising fuel prices, but there are still some reasonable money making opportunities. I know a number of retired drivers who make a cheeky £100-£150 a shift, cash, doing asphalt night work and they might only do one load and drive an hour there and an hour back.
Whilst the pandemic is affecting everything you can get 5x7hrs DCCP for under £30 a 'day'. Whether that applies to new drivers I cannot say, but for grandfathered DCPC holders it is a cheap and easy way to get 35hrs.
It is true that driving an HGV is turning into a national minimum wage job is many instances, thanks to Eastern European immigration and rising fuel prices, but there are still some reasonable money making opportunities. I know a number of retired drivers who make a cheeky £100-£150 a shift, cash, doing asphalt night work and they might only do one load and drive an hour there and an hour back.
Whilst the pandemic is affecting everything you can get 5x7hrs DCCP for under £30 a 'day'. Whether that applies to new drivers I cannot say, but for grandfathered DCPC holders it is a cheap and easy way to get 35hrs.
OP, you do not need to spend anywhere near a grand to do your C1 if you can already drive a van. We do a one day C1 course for £495. That's a 6 hour course including a test at the end of the day, you'll be on your way home by 3 o clock! We're in Oxfordshire/Northants so a little out of your area, you may be able to find someone locally to you that will do a one day course, or spend £40 on a travelodge and come and see us 
You will absolutely need some tuition though, 90% of people that just rock up to the test centre in their own vehicle don't even get out of the yard.
You will absolutely need some tuition though, 90% of people that just rock up to the test centre in their own vehicle don't even get out of the yard.
I have spent a while thinking about this before posting. I have even gone and made a pot of tea and drunk one mugful. What gross weight vehicle are you doing that in: four tonnes?
Whatever it is it represents poor value compared to Category C instruction over one week where you get far more instruction in a far more suitable vehicle for not that much more money.
I suppose that if you want to really learn and obtain a useful licence then you opt for Cat C, whereas if you have a 4.0t van already and you want to quickly take a test in a 3.8t van then it is a bit cheaper and quicker (and I see the appeal in that for some), but you will still be a liability in a 7.5t puddle jumper, whether you have taken a vocational test for it or not.
Whatever it is it represents poor value compared to Category C instruction over one week where you get far more instruction in a far more suitable vehicle for not that much more money.
I suppose that if you want to really learn and obtain a useful licence then you opt for Cat C, whereas if you have a 4.0t van already and you want to quickly take a test in a 3.8t van then it is a bit cheaper and quicker (and I see the appeal in that for some), but you will still be a liability in a 7.5t puddle jumper, whether you have taken a vocational test for it or not.
Edited by 944 Man on Monday 15th February 23:21
944 Man said:
I have spent a while thinking about this before posting. I have even gone and made a pot of tea and drunk one mugful. What gross weight vehicle are you doing that in: four tonnes?
Whatever it is it represents poor value compared to Category C instruction over one week where you get far more instruction in a far more suitable vehicle for not that much more money.
I suppose that if you want to really learn and obtain a useful licence then you opt for Cat C, whereas if you have a 3.5t van already and you want to quickly take a test in a 3.8t van then it is a bit cheaper and quicker (and I see the appeal in that for some), but you will still be a liability in a 7.5t puddle jumper, whether you have taken a vocational test for it or not.
The C+E snobbery is strong in this one...Whatever it is it represents poor value compared to Category C instruction over one week where you get far more instruction in a far more suitable vehicle for not that much more money.
I suppose that if you want to really learn and obtain a useful licence then you opt for Cat C, whereas if you have a 3.5t van already and you want to quickly take a test in a 3.8t van then it is a bit cheaper and quicker (and I see the appeal in that for some), but you will still be a liability in a 7.5t puddle jumper, whether you have taken a vocational test for it or not.
OP, I did my HGV test last year, driving both the rigid an artic wasn't an issue.
What your instructor will tell you is where you need to put the lorry and where and when you're expected to wait without causing issues and getting minors - it still amazed me how badly the rigid turned.
Not to mention (albeit its all out there), the specs and weights needed in the vehicle to qualify for the test.
Once you know what to do, the test itself was easy.
What your instructor will tell you is where you need to put the lorry and where and when you're expected to wait without causing issues and getting minors - it still amazed me how badly the rigid turned.
Not to mention (albeit its all out there), the specs and weights needed in the vehicle to qualify for the test.
Once you know what to do, the test itself was easy.
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