⚠️ Read this first: Most funded HGV routes need a full UK car (category B) licence, and many employer academies ask for one held for at least 2 years. If you're new to the UK, sort your car licence first.
£0Training cost on funded routes
16 wksMax length of a Skills Bootcamp
19+Age for Skills Bootcamps
3Funded routes to explore
What is an HGV licence?
An HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) licence, also called an LGV licence, lets you drive lorries over 3,500kg. To drive professionally you also need a Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence), then 35 hours of CPC training every 5 years to keep it.
| Category | What you can drive |
|---|
| C1 | Vehicles from 3,500kg to 7,500kg (with a trailer up to 750kg) |
| C (Class 2) | Rigid lorries over 3,500kg (with a trailer up to 750kg) |
| C+E (Class 1) | Category C lorries towing a trailer over 750kg, i.e. articulated lorries |
The 3 ways to get your HGV training funded
Route 1 · England only
Government HGV Skills Bootcamps
- Cost: Free
- Length: Up to 16 weeks
- Who: Aged 19+ with a full car (category B) licence. Training providers can add their own criteria.
- What's covered: Your provisional HGV licence (including the medical) and the Driver CPC tests, with one re-sit per test
- How to apply: Directly through a training provider. Search "Skills Bootcamp HGV" on the National Careers Service.
Route 2 · All UK nations
HGV Apprenticeships
- Cost: Training is free, and you're paid a salary while you learn
- Who: Aged 18+, living in the nation you apply in, and not in full-time education. Some need a full car licence.
- Where to search:
England: GOV.UK "Find an apprenticeship" (search "LGV driver") ·
Scotland: apprenticeships.scot ("freight logistics") ·
Wales: Careers Wales ("driving goods vehicles") ·
Northern Ireland: nidirect ("driving goods vehicles")
Route 3 · Employer programmes
Driver Academy & Trainee HGV Driver jobs
- How it works: Some logistics companies and supermarkets hire trainees and pay for their HGV training, usually over a few months
- Typical requirements: A full UK car licence held for at least 2 years and fewer than 6 penalty points
- How to find them: Search "trainee HGV driver" or "driver academy" on Indeed, Totaljobs and company career sites
- Important: These roles open and close quickly. Always check the posted and closing dates before you apply.
How to apply, route by route
⭐ Live jobs on Indeed
Driver Academy job
- Search "trainee HGV driver" or "driver academy" on Indeed or Totaljobs
- Check the posted and closing dates
- Read the requirements: car licence years and penalty points
- Apply with a short UK-style CV and ask about any payback clause
Search live jobs on Indeed →
Skills Bootcamp
- Go to the National Careers Service and search "Skills Bootcamp HGV"
- Pick a provider near you and check their entry criteria
- Apply directly on the provider's website
- Have your car licence and proof of address ready
Find a Bootcamp →
Apprenticeship
- England: search "LGV driver" on Find an apprenticeship
- Scotland / Wales / NI: use the nation's site listed above
- Create an account and apply to the employer's vacancy
- Prepare for an interview and an HGV medical
Find an apprenticeship →
🚩 Check for a payback clause
Some employers ask you to repay part of your training cost if you leave within a set period. Read your contract carefully before you sign, and ask the employer directly if it isn't clear.
Who can apply? Visa holders, read this
✅ Usually fine
- British and Irish citizens
- ILR / settled or pre-settled status
- Visas with no restriction on the type of work you do
⚠️ Check carefully
- Students: weekly work-hour limits apply in term time
- Skilled Worker: you can usually only work for your sponsor in your sponsored role
- Any visa: funding and course eligibility rules are set by providers
💡 Good to know
A training course is not the same as a job offer, and being accepted onto training does not mean an employer will sponsor you. Always check your own visa conditions before taking work.
Step by step: from car licence to HGV driver
- Get a full UK car licenceThis is the starting point for almost every route.
- Choose your routeSkills Bootcamp, apprenticeship or a trainee driver job.
- Apply for a provisional HGV licenceThis includes a medical. On a Bootcamp, this cost is covered.
- Pass the Driver CPC testsTheory, case studies, off-road exercises, on-road driving and a practical demonstration.
- Start work, and keep up your CPCComplete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years.
Avoid these scams
- Anyone asking you to pay for a "guaranteed" HGV job or job offer
- "Free training" that needs an upfront deposit to an individual or WhatsApp contact
- Promises of visa sponsorship in exchange for money. Paying for a sponsorship is never legitimate.
LogisticsSupermarketsWholesaleConstructionWaste & recyclingParcel delivery
Official links
GOV.UK: Find training to become an HGV driverOpen →
GOV.UK: HGV Skills BootcampsOpen →
GOV.UK: HGV apprenticeshipsOpen →
GOV.UK: Become a qualified lorry driverOpen →
National Careers Service (find Bootcamp providers)Open →
FAQs
Is HGV training really free in the UK?
It can be. Skills Bootcamps in England are free for eligible people, and apprenticeships and some employer academies cover training costs. Paying a private driving school yourself can cost thousands of pounds.
Can I do an HGV Skills Bootcamp in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
No. Skills Bootcamps are England only. Apprenticeships and driving schools are available across the UK.
Do I need a UK car licence?
For most routes, yes. Bootcamps ask for a full category B licence, and many employer academies want one held for at least 2 years.
Can international students do this?
Students can train, but work is limited by your visa's weekly hour rules during term time. Check your visa conditions before accepting any job.
Will the employer sponsor my visa after training?
Not automatically. Training does not guarantee sponsorship. Check whether the employer holds a sponsor licence and whether the role is eligible.
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Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal or immigration advice. Course funding, eligibility and job availability change often; always check the official GOV.UK pages and the provider or employer directly. Regulated immigration advice is provided through our partnered qualified immigration lawyers. Last checked: October 2026.
