What Should You Take With You to Your HGV Driving Test?

Reaching your practical HGV driving test is a big milestone.

By this point, you will probably have spent plenty of time learning how to handle a much larger vehicle, checking your mirrors, judging road position and getting comfortable with the routines expected during the test.

With so much attention placed on driving ability, it can be surprisingly easy to overlook something as simple as the documents you need to bring.

Unfortunately, forgetting an essential document can cause a much bigger problem than forgetting a bottle of water or turning up without your favourite pair of driving shoes.

For the Driver CPC Part 3b test, you are required to bring certain documents and a suitable vehicle. If you do not have the required items, your test can be cancelled, and you may lose your test fee.

Preparing everything the night before gives you one less thing to think about when test day arrives.

Your Driving Licence and Identification

Your driving licence is one of the most important things to take with you. If you have a Great Britain photocard driving licence, you should bring the photocard to your test.

Northern Ireland photocard licence holders need their photocard and paper counterpart, while EU photocard licences are also accepted, along with the paper counterpart if you have one.

If you do not have a photocard licence, you will need your paper driving licence and a valid passport instead.

It is worth checking your licence several days before the test rather than assuming you know where it is. Make sure it has not been left in another wallet, car or drawer and check that there are no obvious issues that might cause unnecessary complications.

Putting your licence with your other test documents the evening before means you can concentrate on getting yourself ready rather than searching the house for it on the morning of your test.

Your Theory Test Pass Certificate

You should also take your Driver CPC Part 1 theory test pass certificate with you when taking the Part 3b on road driving test.

Your theory test certificate confirms that you have completed the required theory element before progressing through the practical stages of becoming an HGV driver.

GOV.UK states that the certificate should be brought to the Part 3b test, although there is an exception for some drivers who are upgrading their licence to tow heavier trailers.

Because the theory test may have been completed some time before your practical test, the certificate is one of those documents that can easily get tucked away somewhere and forgotten about.

Once your practical test date has been confirmed, find the certificate and keep it somewhere safe with your driving licence.

It is a small bit of preparation, but it could prevent an avoidable problem when you arrive at the test centre.

Your Part 3a Pass Certificate for the On Road Test

Before taking the Part 3b on road test, you must have passed the Driver CPC Part 3a test, which covers the off road exercises. Once you pass Part 3a, you receive a certificate that you need to take with you when you attend your Part 3b test.

The Part 3a certificate is normally valid for six months, so Part 3b needs to be completed within that period, or you may have to pass Part 3a again.

Keep this certificate somewhere secure as soon as you receive it. If you have completed your training through an HGV training provider, they may also remind you what to bring on the day, but it is still sensible to take responsibility for checking your own documents.

The last thing you want after putting in the work to prepare for the road test is to discover that an important certificate has been left at home.

Making Sure the Correct HGV Is Available

The vehicle used for your test must meet the required rules and must be appropriate for the licence category you are being tested in.

It also needs to be in the same driving licence category that you used for your Part 3a test. For example, if you completed Part 3a using a Category CE articulated lorry, you will need to use a vehicle from the same category for Part 3b.

For many learners, the training provider will arrange the HGV used for the test, which makes this part of the process considerably easier. Even so, confirming the arrangements beforehand is sensible.

Check what time you need to arrive, where you are meeting your instructor and which vehicle you will be using. Knowing those details in advance helps remove some of the uncertainty from an already nerve wracking day.

Useful Things to Bring on the Day

There are also a few things that may not be formal test requirements but can make the day more comfortable. If you need glasses or contact lenses for driving, make sure you have them with you and consider carrying a spare pair of glasses if you normally use them.

Comfortable, secure footwear is also a good idea because you need to operate the pedals accurately and feel comfortable behind the wheel throughout the test.

A bottle of water can be useful, particularly if some is waiting around beforehand, and keeping your booking information on your phone or printed out gives you an easy reference for the test time and location.

Try not to bring lots of unnecessary belongings into the cab, though. Keeping things simple can help you stay focused on the test rather than worrying about where your phone, bag or other items have been placed.

Check Everything the Night Before

The evening before your HGV driving test is the best time to do a final check. Put your driving licence, theory test pass certificate and Part 3a certificate together somewhere you will not forget them.

Confirm the test location and time as well, particularly if somebody else booked the test on your behalf. You should also double check your arrangements with your instructor or training provider so you know exactly where you need to be.

Planning your journey is just as useful. Aim to leave enough time that a bit of traffic does not immediately leave you worrying about being late.

Arriving rushed and stressed is hardly the ideal way to start a driving test. Giving yourself a comfortable amount of time means you can settle in, speak to your instructor and get your head into driving mode before the examiner joins you.

Final Thoughts

By the time your HGV practical test arrives, most of the difficult preparation should already have been done. You will have spent time learning the vehicle, practising different road situations and developing the skills needed to drive safely.

The Part 3b test itself includes vehicle safety questions followed by around an hour of practical road driving, so being able to concentrate properly on what is happening around you is important.

Taking ten minutes the night before to organise your documents and check your arrangements may save you a lot of unnecessary stress.

Once everything is ready, the main job on test day is simply to drive safely and apply what you have learned during your HGV training.

If you are still at the beginning of the process, choosing the right training and getting plenty of practical experience can help you arrive at your test feeling much better prepared.