Why Checking Your CPC Hours Matters
Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) requires all professional HGV and PCV drivers to complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years. If you let your hours lapse, you lose your Driver Qualification Card (DQC) and are no longer legally permitted to drive professionally. Checking your CPC hours regularly ensures you stay compliant and avoid last-minute scrambles to complete training before your deadline.
How to Check Your CPC Hours Online
The DVSA provides a free online service to check your Driver CPC training record. Here is how to use it:
- Go to the DVSA Driver CPC training record service at gov.uk/check-your-driver-cpc-periodic-training-hours.
- Enter your driving licence number (found on the front of your photocard licence).
- Enter your date of birth.
- Your current CPC training record will be displayed, showing the total hours completed and the expiry date of your current DQC cycle.
What Does the CPC Record Show?
| Information shown | What it means |
|---|---|
| Total hours completed | The number of periodic training hours recorded in your current 5-year cycle |
| DQC expiry date | The date by which you must complete 35 hours to renew your DQC |
| Training provider records | A list of completed training sessions recorded by approved providers |
| Missing records | If a session is missing, contact the training provider — they must upload records within 5 working days of the training |
What If My Hours Are Missing?
If you have completed CPC training but the hours are not showing on your record, the most likely cause is that the training provider has not yet uploaded the records to the DVSA system. Providers are legally required to upload records within 5 working days of the training date. Contact the provider directly and ask them to confirm the upload. If the provider has closed or cannot be contacted, the DVSA has a process for manually verifying training records — contact the DVSA directly for guidance.
How Many Hours Do You Need?
You need to complete 35 hours of periodic training within each 5-year DQC cycle. Training must be delivered by a DVSA-approved training provider and must cover approved CPC topics. You can complete the 35 hours in any combination of sessions — for example, seven 5-hour days, or five 7-hour days. There is no requirement to complete all 35 hours at the same provider.
What Counts as CPC Training?
Only training delivered by a DVSA-approved CPC training provider counts towards your 35 hours. This includes:
- Classroom-based periodic training sessions
- Online (e-learning) CPC training from approved providers
- Practical skills training delivered by approved providers
General driving experience, first aid courses (unless delivered as part of an approved CPC programme), and in-house company training do not count unless the provider is DVSA-approved and has uploaded the records.
What Happens If You Let Your CPC Lapse?
If your DQC expires and you have not completed 35 hours, you must stop driving professionally until you complete the required training and receive a new DQC. You do not lose your driving licence — only the right to use it for professional driving. To reinstate your DQC, complete the remaining hours with an approved provider and apply for a new DQC via the DVSA.
GS Driver Training CPC Courses
GS Driver Training is a DVSA-approved CPC training provider. We offer periodic training sessions covering a wide range of approved topics, with flexible scheduling to fit around your work commitments. View our Driver CPC training page or contact us to book.
