Different Categories and Types of LGV/HGV Driver Licence

HGV Training Services (HGVT)
3 min readOct 9, 2019

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If you’ve been perusing around the subject for some time, you may have seen that the terms HGV and LGV appear to be utilized conversely. Which may cause you to ask, what precisely is the contrast between an HGV driver licence and an LGV licence? Or on the other hand, would they say they are something very similar? For new drivers, these sorts of inquiries can be somewhat of confusing, and we are here to give clarity on this, so you know precisely what sort of licence you need when you start moving towards approaching training providers.

Explanation on LGV

The term LGV is commonly used to refer to 2 unique sorts of business vehicles. The first is ‘Light Goods Vehicles’, which envelops any business transporter vehicle with a gross load of up to 3.5 tons. On the off chance that the weight tips over this, at that point it falls into the second LGV definition. Light vehicles incorporate pickup trucks, vans, and even some three-wheeled business vehicles. You can for the most part drive this sort of vehicle on a standard vehicle licence, under the remittance of Category B (which you will see on the back of your licence).

However, the term LGV can likewise be utilized to refer to ‘Large Goods Vehicles’, which is the official EU term for a vehicle with a gross weight surpassing 3.5 tons. This incorporates vehicles, for example, flatbed lorry’s catches, refrigerated trucks, shade side Lorries, box vans, drop sides, and tippers. Any vehicle over this weight has its very own licence classification, so if you will drive vehicles over this weight, you have to get the correct licence for that sort of vehicle.

Explanation on HGV

So what about HGV? HGV is the term utilized for ‘heavy Good Vehicles’, and is frequently mistaken for the LGV licence for one reason — licence wise; they are essentially something very similar. It has been divided into two, only because of road tax the one who drives under 3.5 tonnes was referred as LGV driver and the one who is driving a commercial vehicle weighing more than 3.5 tonnes is referred to HGV driver licence.

So fundamentally, the terms relate to the same type of vehicle, but in a different context. Now let’s understand the difference between class 1 HGV and class 2 HGV:

We have all known about HGV drivers; however what precisely is the contrast between Class 1 HGV and Class 2 HGV? The thing that matters is exceptionally straightforward — a Class 1 licence enables you to drive a category C+E vehicle, which is essentially an articulated lorry, or artic. A Class 2 licence enables you to drive a category C vehicle.

LGV/HGV Driver Licence Categories

Category C1- is the absolute first, fundamental degree of HGV training and licencing that you can accomplish. This licence is a stage up from a regular UK driver’s licence and enables you to drive a vehicle of 3,500 kilograms, as long as that vehicle is less than 7.5 tons in gross weight.

C1+E- This licence is likewise usually known as a 7.5 ton + trailer licence, and practically does what it says on that tin. It enables the driver to work a vehicle with a gross load of up to 7,500kg, with an attached trailer of over 750kg approved mass. Primarily it’s an upgraded standard C1 licence that means the one who has completed their C1 test and got the C1 licence.

Category C- A category C licence enables drivers to drive vehicles over 3.5 tons. However, should not exceed 32 tons. Cat C licence regularly spread a vehicle with a taxi and trailer fixed for all time together. One can get this licence at the age of 18.

C+E- A category C + E licence is the most extensive HGV licence you can hold. With this licence, drivers can drive and deal with a drawbar or articulated vehicle. The E part of the category C and E licence represents privilege and implies that the conveyor can go up to or over 750 tones in weight. This specific licence is otherwise called Class 1, enabling the driver to drive any large goods vehicle required, including a double trailer.

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