Driver CPC - acquired rights drivers and driver qualification cards

Any driver who acquires a licence to drive goods vehicles professionally from 10 September 2009 must also pass the driver initial Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) exam and will be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) that will be valid for a maximum of five years from the pass date.

The driver must carry the DQC when driving and it is a fixed penalty offence not to do so. Drivers who already hold a vocational licence at 10 September 2009 will be given what is known as 'acquired rights' until 9 September 2014 and will not be issued with a DQC until 35 hours periodic training has been completed (this DQC will be valid until 9 September 2019).

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has recently confirmed to FTA that goods vehicle drivers who hold a relevant vocational driving entitlement on 10 September 2009 (acquired rights) who then complete 35 hours periodic training early are not legally required to carry the driver qualification card when driving until 10 September 2014.