Cat C or C1 easier to drive/pass test!?

[jedge]

I am thinking of doing my lorry test this summer.

I know there is not much difference price wise between the C1 and C tests, but as it took me 4 tries to pass my car test I am pretty scared! (mainly because I was so nervous in the test!) I have a 7.5 tonne lorry and cant envisage needing to drive anything bigger (or being able to afford to with the cost of diesel now!)

Has anyone heard if the C1 or C lorries are easier to drive?

Also how expensive the driving tests are just in case I fail!?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[cassie summers]

apparently they are going to be stopping the c1 soon but i would take my C which means you can drive most things upto 32 ton thats rigid as they cost the same to take the theory is quite hard i think its about 100 questions and its all about axel weights and stuff you wouldnt really know unless you drove a truck on a regular basis as well as normal questions anyway hope that helps

 

[Beausmate]

Don't forget to budget for the medical!

 

[measles]

The lorry that I did my C in was not any longer than our 7.5t horsebox but was geared completely differently and higher. I agree with the others and would take the C so that you have it.

 

[ROG]

apparently they are going to be stopping the c1 soon

REALLY !! where did you get that myth from?

 

[ROG]

I am thinking of doing my lorry test this summer.

I know there is not much difference price wise between the C1 and C tests, but as it took me 4 tries to pass my car test I am pretty scared! (mainly because I was so nervous in the test!) I have a 7.5 tonne lorry and cant envisage needing to drive anything bigger (or being able to afford to with the cost of diesel now!)

Has anyone heard if the C1 or C lorries are easier to drive?

Also how expensive the driving tests are just in case I fail!?

Any help would be appreciated.

You are lucky - you get me answering !!

A C1 is a rigid LGV between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes (large vans to small lorries)
A C is a rigid LGV over 7.5 tonnes

Many training companies use a large van plated at around 5 tonnes to do the C1 training which makes it much easier than doing it in a small or large lorry and is usually cheaper than doing it in a lorry of any size

If the only training companies near you just do small and large lorries then do it in a C because they will be virtually the same size and certainly the same cost for training

Retests are a DSA fee of £115 plus the cost of hiring the vehicle and the instructor so usually in the region of £300

What you need to do
Medical (D4 form) DO NOT PAY MORE THAN ABOUT £50 or consider your self ripped off - GOOGLE for LGV MEDICALS
Provisional application (D2 form) - tick C & D nothing else
Send forms D2 & D4 to DVLA with both parts of your licence
When you get licence back with provisionals on it....
THEORY TEST CENTRE - book theory modules 1a + 1b theory & HPT - fail one and retake only that one not both - cost is around £50 for both 35+15
BOOK TRAINER - DO NOT GO TO A BROKER - Go to a few training schools and see which you like best BEFORE parting with any money
Cost for this can be between £800 to £1100 depending on what part of the UK you are in and what local competition there is

You will not need initial driver cpc modules 2 and 4 unless you are either going to be driving LGVs commercially (not privately) or you will be under age 21 and actually driving a C after your test

What have I forgot .......

 

[jedge]

Thank for your replies!

As ROG says the C1's are easier to drive I think I may look into the cost of that test. As I will never want or have to drive more than a 7.5 tonne.

So far though, the C1 has seemed the same price as C test. Around £1500 including everything (medical, theory, licence, assessment, lessons and test)

ROG, can I do the test in my own box if I fail?

Thinking of going on a crash course to get it done in one go!

 

[ROG]

Thank for your replies!

As ROG says the C1's are easier to drive I think I may look into the cost of that test. As I will never want or have to drive more than a 7.5 tonne.

So far though, the C1 has seemed the same price as C test. Around £1500 including everything (medical, theory, licence, assessment, lessons and test)

ROG, can I do the test in my own box if I fail?

Thinking of going on a crash course to get it done in one go!

As C1 and C prices are about the same then they must be all using lorries rather than large vans for the C1

How is that £1,500 broken down?
Medical £50?
Theory £50?
5 days of 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 training with test on day 5 = £1,000?

I get £1,100 so far.....

Assessments are either free or small charge which is taken off the 1000 if the training is done by the school

Which part of the UK are you?

You can use your own vehicle but it MUST conform to the DSA test vehicle requirements - http://www.transportsfriend.org/road/licence/test.html#vehicle

 

[cassie summers]

REALLY !! where did you get that myth from?

sorry only what someone told me i didnt say i knew for sure though i still think it would be better to do the class 2 than waste money on the c1 we never put our drivers through the c1 as most of our trucks are now 18 ton and above

 

[ROG]

sorry only what someone told me i didnt say i knew for sure though i still think it would be better to do the class 2 than waste money on the c1 we never put our drivers through the c1 as most of our trucks are now 18 ton and above

Commercially that makes sense but privately can be a different matter

 

[jedge]

ROG, thanks so much for your help! I am in North Wales - by wrexham/chester.
I am now on the look out for the C1 in a van to see if it's cheaper.
Im not sure on the breakdown of the costings, I just asked for an estimated price.

Cassie - I don't think it will be a waste of money for me taking the C1. I can drive my own horse box which is all I need or want to do. I don't really enjoy driving so wouldn't want to drive a big lorry and would feel more confident using a gear box I know rather than a split gear box.

 

[ROG]

ROG, thanks so much for your help! I am in North Wales - by wrexham/chester.
I am now on the look out for the C1 in a van

http://www.chevrontraining.co.uk/catc1.html