Driver CPC Theory Test 2026: LGV & PCV Module 1 and 2 Explained

The Driver CPC theory tests are not designed to catch you out, but they are demanding. The multiple-choice test alone has an 85% pass mark, the question bank is large, and the case studies test the way you apply knowledge rather than just recall it. Knowing the structure before you book saves you money and wasted attempts.

What is the Driver CPC?

The Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) is a qualification that professional LGV (large goods vehicle) and PCV (passenger carrying vehicle) drivers must hold. To gain the initial Driver CPC, you complete four parts:

• Module 1 — Theory: split into a multiple-choice test (1a) and a hazard perception test (1b)
• Module 2 — Case studies: a computer-based test of seven real-world scenarios
• Module 3 — Driving ability: the practical on-road driving test
• Module 4 — Practical demonstration: a "show me, tell me" test of vehicle safety knowledge

Modules 1 and 2 are the theory parts, and they are what you can revise for from a desk. They are also the parts people most often have to retake. Once you hold the full Driver CPC, you keep it valid by completing 35 hours of periodic training every five years.

Booking, current fees and centre locations are all on the official site at gov.uk. Always confirm prices there before booking, as DVSA fees change from time to time.

Module 1a — the multiple-choice theory test

This is the part most people picture when they think "CPC theory test". You answer 100 multiple-choice questions and need 85 correct to pass, within 1 hour 55 minutes. The questions are drawn from the official DVSA question bank for your vehicle category, so LGV and PCV candidates see different content even though the format is identical.

The 85% pass mark is the part that surprises people. You can only afford to get 15 questions wrong out of 100, and the questions cover a wide spread of topics — so weak spots in any single area can sink you. This is exactly why working through a full CPC theory practice test bank, rather than skimming a handbook, makes the difference.

The topics it covers

The multiple-choice questions are grouped into broad topic areas. The exact category names come from the DVSA, but in practice the test covers:

1. Vehicle weights and dimensions — axle weights, maximum authorised mass, height and width limits
2. Drivers' hours, rest periods and tachographs — EU and GB domestic rules, daily and weekly driving limits, record keeping
3. Braking systems and vehicle safety checks — daily walk-around checks, defect reporting, ABS and retarders
4. Loading and load security (LGV) or carrying passengers (PCV) — weight distribution, securing loads, passenger safety and accessibility
5. Documents and the law — operator licensing, insurance, MOT and your legal responsibilities as a professional driver
6. Hazard awareness and defensive driving — anticipating other road users, large-vehicle blind spots, vulnerable road users
7. Environmental and fuel-efficient driving — eco-safe driving, reducing emissions, engine management
8. Driver health, fitness and emergencies — fatigue, medical fitness to drive, dealing with incidents and breakdowns

Module 1b — the hazard perception test

The hazard perception test is taken on a computer and uses 19 video clips filmed from a driver's point of view. Each clip contains at least one developing hazard, with 20 scorable hazards in total across the test. You click the moment you spot a hazard developing — the earlier you respond to a genuine developing hazard, the more points you score, up to five per hazard.

For LGV and PCV drivers the pass mark is 67 out of 100. The technique matters: clicking wildly to "catch" every hazard triggers the anti-cheat system and scores you zero on that clip, while clicking too late scores nothing. You need to learn to read the road developing in front of you — which is a skill you build through repetition, not cramming.

Module 2 — the case studies test

Module 2 is a separate computer-based test that you can take before or after Module 1. Instead of standalone questions, you are given seven case studies — short real-world scenarios a professional driver might face — and answer around 50 questions in total based on them. You need 40 out of 50 to pass, within 1 hour 15 minutes.

The case studies test application, not memory. A scenario might describe a delivery running behind schedule and ask how the drivers' hours rules apply, or describe a loading situation and ask what you must check. The knowledge overlaps heavily with Module 1, but the framing is different — which is why practising case-study questions specifically, as well as the multiple-choice bank, is worth the time.

How much does it cost, and how do you book?

As of 2026 the DVSA fees are roughly:

• Module 1a (multiple choice): around £26
• Module 1b (hazard perception): around £11
• Module 2 (case studies): around £23

Prices change, so treat these as a guide and check the live figures when you book. To book:

1. Make sure you hold a full car (Category B) licence and, where required, have applied for your provisional lorry or bus entitlement
2. Go to the official booking service at gov.uk and choose the LGV or PCV theory tests
3. Pick a test centre and a date for each module — you can book them on different days
4. Bring your photocard driving licence on the day; you will not be allowed to sit the test without valid ID

How to prepare — what actually works

1. Work the full question bank, not a summary. With an 85% pass mark on Module 1a, partial coverage is not enough. You need exposure to the breadth of the DVSA question bank so nothing on the day is a surprise. PassNova's CPC Driver Theory test practice gives you questions across every topic with explanations, so you learn why an answer is right rather than just memorising it.

2. Practise hazard perception as a separate skill. Reading developing hazards is a timing skill. Do repeated clip-style practice until early, measured clicking feels natural — do not leave it until the night before.

3. Do case studies in scenario form. Module 2 rewards applying the rules to a situation. Practise questions framed as scenarios, not just isolated facts, so the case-study format feels familiar.

4. Sit timed mocks. 100 questions in 115 minutes is comfortable only if you have practised at pace. Run full timed mocks so the clock does not rattle you, then review every question you got wrong.

Common reasons candidates fail

Underestimating the 85% pass mark. People treat Module 1a like the standard car theory test (where the pass mark is lower) and revise too lightly. 85 out of 100 leaves very little margin — broad, thorough preparation is essential.

Getting drivers' hours and tachograph rules wrong. This is dense, detailed material with specific limits, and it comes up across both Module 1 and Module 2. It is one of the most common areas where marks are lost.

Mis-handling the hazard perception clicking. Clicking continuously to game the system scores zero for that clip. Many candidates fail Module 1b not on awareness but on technique.

Treating Module 2 like Module 1. The case studies need you to apply knowledge to a scenario. Candidates who only revised isolated facts often struggle to translate them into the case-study format.

On the day — what to expect

Arrive at the DVSA test centre at least 15 minutes early with your photocard driving licence. Each test is computer-based and self-paced within its time limit. For the multiple-choice test you can flag questions and return to them before submitting. Results are given shortly after you finish, and you will receive a pass certificate for each module you clear.

You do not have to pass all the modules in one sitting or one order — many drivers clear the theory parts (Modules 1 and 2) first, then move on to the practical Modules 3 and 4. Keep your pass certificates safe, as you will need them for the later stages.

If you are starting out in professional driving, it is worth lining up the CPC Driver Theory practice test alongside the standard car driving theory test if you still need it, or the motorcycle theory test if you ride as well — the hazard-perception skill carries across all of them.