- The operator licensing guide makes the transport manager responsible for valid Driver CPC cards and for licence checks, usually every 3 months.
- Drivers' hours records must be kept for at least 12 months.
- A driver check code lasts 21 days and works once.
- Driving professionally without Driver CPC can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
What the operator guide puts on the transport manager
The goods vehicle operator licensing guide lists what the transport manager must make sure of. Those duties are set out as ongoing, not a one-off check at hiring:
- regular checks are carried out on drivers' licences, usually every 3 months;
- vocational drivers hold a valid Driver CPC card;
- drivers are adequately trained and competent for the vehicles and equipment they use;
- drivers record duty, driving time and rest breaks on the proper equipment or in hours books, and hand the records back for inspection;
- drivers take the right breaks and daily and weekly rest.
A licence check you can run in five minutes
- Ask the driver to create a check code from their driving record on GOV.UK. You cannot do this for them.
- On GOV.UK's check someone's driving information service, enter the last 8 characters of their licence number and the code.
- Use it within 21 days. It works once, so a second check needs a new code.
- Read the result against the driver's physical card: the service is described as showing the vehicles they can drive, any penalty points and any disqualifications.
- Record the date you checked, so the next one falls inside your 3-month cycle.
The driver must agree. GOV.UK states it is a criminal offence to obtain someone else's personal information without their permission. There is also a postal route using form D888/1, which both of you complete, for a £5 fee.
What a valid card means in practice
The card is issued after 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years, and the training deadline is printed on it. Where a card shows two deadlines, one for lorries and one for buses, the earlier date is the one that matters. A card that is missing, past its deadline or counterfeit should not be accepted as proof.
We did not find an official page setting out a single list of what to look for on a card, or a way for an operator to verify one online, so we do not describe one. The description of the licence check service we read covers entitlements, points and disqualifications; it does not mention Driver CPC status. Ask DVSA through GOV.UK if you need more.
Who bears what
| Who | Exposure on GOV.UK |
|---|---|
| Driver without the card on them | £50 fixed penalty |
| Driver without valid Driver CPC | A fine of up to £1,000 |
| Operator whose drivers' hours or safety rules are not followed | The traffic commissioner may suspend, revoke or curtail the operator licence |
When the driver says the card is lost
A replacement costs £25 and GOV.UK lets the driver keep working once it is paid, carrying the payment confirmation email or reference number. That is acceptable evidence for the gap. Set a date to see the real card, and point the driver to replacing a lost card. A driver who offers a card that came from a seller rather than DVSA has handed you a counterfeit document, and UK law on fake documents applies to knowing use.
Frequently asked questions
Who checks that a driver has a Driver CPC?
For goods vehicles, the operator licensing guide puts that on the transport manager: they must make sure vocational drivers hold a valid Driver CPC card, alongside regular licence checks.
How often should driver licences be checked?
The operator licensing guide says regular checks are carried out, usually every 3 months. Each check needs a fresh code from the driver, because a code works once and lasts 21 days.
Can I check a driver's licence without asking them?
No. The check needs a code only the driver can generate, and GOV.UK says obtaining someone else's personal information without their permission is a criminal offence.
How long must drivers' hours records be kept?
At least 12 months, according to the operator licensing guide's record-keeping section. Records must also be available for inspection when requested.
What if a driver's card shows two deadlines?
GOV.UK says to complete the training by whichever comes first. Two dates appear when the driver holds both lorry and bus entitlements.