Help regarding 7.5t Test, lots of questions!

ljohnsonsj

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Basically i just need some straight forward answers,as every website i go on doesn't answer my questions.

I'm 18 years old (19 tomorrow-yay) and passed my driving test in may this year (Full uk license) My next venture is learning to drive my 7.5t wagon.

I will never have a wagon bigger than 7.5t (Not in the foreseeable future anyway) So am i right in thinking there is no point me doing the C1+1 as it is just more expense for something i don't actually need, so i only need the C1?

The company i am looking at (Local) is http://parrot.me.uk/category-c1/ I assume the prices they give at the bottom are for an intensive course?

Now most importantly, has anyone on here done or know of someone who has done and managed to pass this as young as me, and with as little driving experiance as me, and if so how much was you paying on insurance,thats if you could get insured.

So what i'm really needing to know is if this is possible, at my age and driving experiance, or if all in all it is not do-able, or will end up so expensive i'm better off just waiting for a few more years.

Thanks in advance! :)
 

FireFly29

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Maybe PM Lolo on here as her sister Al did her full LGV at 19, if you do a search of her posts you might find it.
I think she did an intensive course and passed first time.
You could ring round insurers for a quote, or do a search on here as I'm sure someone was asking about insurance for under 21s a while back.
:)
 

fabscd

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Phone round insurers and ask them if they can give you a quote, a lot of them will be able to give you an idea of costs based on your situation. If you haven't got much driving experience i would suggest spending as much time driving a bigger vehicle as possible before doing your test, rather than doing an intensive course. As far as the C1 or Cat C licence goes, i don't believe it is more expensive to do the Cat C than the C1, you will still have the same medical/test fees etc, and the training is identical just in a slightly smaller vehicle. Also bear in mind that most places will do the C1 training in a large transit type van, so if your own truck is a 'lorry' type (if that makes sense) it might make sense to get the experience of driving something a bit bigger so it doesn't come as a surprise when you then have to get in and drive your own. Also if you then decide that you do need to get the Cat C licence, you will have to do the whole thing again (Medical/training/theory/test etc) Hope that helps :)
 

ROG

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Basically i just need some straight forward answers,as every website i go on doesn't answer my questions.

I'm 18 years old (19 tomorrow-yay) and passed my driving test in may this year (Full uk license) My next venture is learning to drive my 7.5t wagon.

I will never have a wagon bigger than 7.5t (Not in the foreseeable future anyway) So am i right in thinking there is no point me doing the C1+1 as it is just more expense for something i don't actually need, so i only need the C1?

The company i am looking at (Local) is http://parrot.me.uk/category-c1/ I assume the prices they give at the bottom are for an intensive course?

Now most importantly, has anyone on here done or know of someone who has done and managed to pass this as young as me, and with as little driving experiance as me, and if so how much was you paying on insurance,thats if you could get insured.

So what i'm really needing to know is if this is possible, at my age and driving experiance, or if all in all it is not do-able, or will end up so expensive i'm better off just waiting for a few more years.

Thanks in advance! :)

I have never come across that training company so cannot comment on how good or not they are

Many LGV C1 training providers use a 4 tonne van so it makes passing the test easier and cheaper

LGV C (not C1+1) can be virtually the same price as C1 if the provider is using a 7.5 tonne lorry for C1

Most LGV training providers do intensive courses with the test on the last day - that is standard practice


You will find much more useful info in the HHO LGV CLINIC link in signature below - please read so you do not get ripped off

When filling in D2 form tick C & D - nothing else

NEVER pay more than £60 for the D4 medical


18 year olds are now passing the LGV C and C+E
 

ROG

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LEGAL NOTE

Once you have the C & D provisional you can be a learner in your current lorry using L plates and with the ok from the insurer BUT the supervising driver must have more than just the free pre 1997 LGV C1 licence and have held the licence for more than 3 years
 

ROG

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Pity you are so far away from me as I could be your supervising instructor and with a couple of extra mirrors fitted do the test in your current lorry for just expenses and of course the test fees and diesel
 

ljohnsonsj

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Thanks very much for all the advice and help guys,it's really helped! Many insurances will only cover over 25s but i'm sure ill find one who will cover me somewhere!

I will read through the LGV clinic thanks ROG, and really appreciate all your help :)

Off to visit the driving school this weekend and will go from there :)
 

ROG

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Check these out as well...........

http://www.golgv.co.uk/vehicles.html

Category C1 (7.5t medium goods vehicle)
Passing your C1 test allows you to drive vehicles up to and including 7.5t (7500kg). We introduced the VW LT46 (4600kg) into the fleet to accommodate paramedic / ambulance drivers and other clients who need to drive vehicles over 3500kg without having to take a test in a medium sized lorry. To do this in a C1 truck type vehicle no longer makes economic or logical sense


Also check these out
http://www.welwynlgv.co.uk/#!cat-c1
 
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ROG

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My thought is to get the test passed in the easiest vehicle possible then get used to your lorry afterwards perhaps with a more experienced person with you
 

dressagelove

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I passed my LGV at 19, but I was always a very confident driver and it didn't phase me in the slightest. In fact I did better on my lorry test than I did in my car test :D (2 minors vs 9!)

I had a great instructor, I learnt with red rose (or something like that) HGV training in Bolton and they were great. I think the intensive course works really well, as you get to grips with the size of the vehicle very quickly. My instructor used to take me up the tightest roads to gain confidence, so the test was easy. Reversing is pretty easy too, as it's just got a big square bottom, it's easy to tell where it is etc.

I still found it somewhat bizarre that I had to have a medical before I could go for the test, so don't forget that.

In terms of insurance, I was very lucky, and bank of mum and dad covered it, so I'm not sure how much it would be, but as lorries aren't driven as regularly as cars, I can't see it being too hefty.
 

ljohnsonsj

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My thought is to get the test passed in the easiest vehicle possible then get used to your lorry afterwards perhaps with a more experienced person with you

That is a good idea,so if i opt for the C1,chances are i'll be learning in van instead of a lorry?

My dad isn't actually eligable to teach me,he passed pre 1997 but obviously can't take me out in it strictly speaking.
Would love to get it all done and out the way over the winter,so i can have some practice runs in my lorry with pops supervision then have the summer to myself, but i don't know if it will work out like that! :)
 

ljohnsonsj

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I passed my LGV at 19, but I was always a very confident driver and it didn't phase me in the slightest. In fact I did better on my lorry test than I did in my car test :D (2 minors vs 9!)

I had a great instructor, I learnt with red rose (or something like that) HGV training in Bolton and they were great. I think the intensive course works really well, as you get to grips with the size of the vehicle very quickly. My instructor used to take me up the tightest roads to gain confidence, so the test was easy. Reversing is pretty easy too, as it's just got a big square bottom, it's easy to tell where it is etc.

I still found it somewhat bizarre that I had to have a medical before I could go for the test, so don't forget that.

In terms of insurance, I was very lucky, and bank of mum and dad covered it, so I'm not sure how much it would be, but as lorries aren't driven as regularly as cars, I can't see it being too hefty.

Thanks, yeah the size ect doesn't faze me at all to be fair! Its a means to an end and i'm determind to get it done.

If you don't mind me asking, did you go on your own insurance or did you go on say your mum and dads,and just pay the extra to have you on as a young driver? I will probably do that if possible, the wagon is in dads name anyway so i can't see it being too much of a problem as all still very legal?

Also, did you pass your test at 17 or 18? And did it make much difference. I didn't pass till i was 18 as chose a pony over driving lessons. Stupid me :p
 

ROG

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That is a good idea,so if i opt for the C1,chances are i'll be learning in van instead of a lorry?

My dad isn't actually eligable to teach me,he passed pre 1997 but obviously can't take me out in it strictly speaking.
Would love to get it all done and out the way over the winter,so i can have some practice runs in my lorry with pops supervision then have the summer to myself, but i don't know if it will work out like that! :)

Pass in C1 van THEN let Dad take you out in your C1 lorry because you will not be a learner any more

Your choice as to what training provider you choose - I would choose one that uses a C1 van
 

ROG

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If on Dads insurance then you can only be a named driver if you are not the main driver

If you are a named driver on dads insurance and are the main driver then that is illegal and called fronting
 

tractor

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Just my two penneth worth.....ask for a "trial" lesson with both the instructor and vehicle you will be using before you part with a lot of money! I paid up front, all booked in - allocated instructor was horrendous, I ended my 4 hours a gibbering shaking wreck and refused to go back. Company were very understanding, admitted the instructor has an issue teaching females (!!!) and provided alternative dates and a lovely instructor, I passed first time and loved it. Good luck :)
 

suegreenaway

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I did mine when I was 23 and insured my 7.5t lorry fully comp for me and one other named driver and it was so much cheaper than insuring my peugeot 206 3rd party!! I will try and find out who it was with but think I just put the details into a money supermarket type website. I found the intensive course really good as you get used to the vehicle but I have since been told its often the same price to do the next test up (sorry I get confused with the terms but C1 is up to 7.5t and the one up enabling you to drive more than 7.5t) is often the same price so might be worth finding out as you never know what the future holds and I wish id done it to save me doing another test in the future. I passed first time too, then failed my trailer test 4 times but thats a different story ..... Don't forget you need to do another theory test too. Good luck!
 

ROG

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Just my two penneth worth.....ask for a "trial" lesson with both the instructor and vehicle you will be using before you part with a lot of money!
Trial lesson is usually called an assessment which can last about 1 hour

Some training schools do this for free
 
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