Renewing your driving licence for heavy categories and professional driver qualifications
Here is how you renew the validity of heavy categories, or after completing a safety course on a practice track, obtaining a CPC for drivers of emergency vehicles, or undergoing periodic training for a heavy category.
If you have an expiring heavy vehicle licence category
“Heavy vehicle licence categories” refers to lorries (C, CE, C1, C1E), buses (D, DE) and minibuses (D1, D1E).
You usually have to renew your heavy vehicle driving entitlements every five years. If you have reached the age of 70, your heavy vehicle driving entitlement (licence category) is only valid for one year at a time. There may also be other health-related reasons why you need to submit a health certificate more often.
If you have completed a safety course on a practice track
If you have obtained Category C, D or DE without taking the safety course on a practice track, these categories will have a one-year term of validity. You can renew your driving licence on Your Page as soon as your driving school or course organiser has informed us that you have completed the course.
You need to take the course and renew your driving licence within the same year to maintain an uninterrupted driving entitlement.
If you are a professional driver and need to renew after periodic training
If you are a professional driver, you need to renew your Driver CPC by undergoing periodic training every five years. In order to undergo periodic training, you need to hold a valid driving entitlement and a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
You need to undergo the periodic training and renew your driving licence before the expiry date to maintain an uninterrupted Driver CPC.
If you need to renew your CPC for drivers of emergency vehicles
A CPC for Emergency Vehicles is valid for five years at a time. You need to renew it at a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office and bring a health certificate confirming that you meet the health requirements for driving licence group 3 and documentation that you still need to drive during emergency response.
How to check the validity term of your driving licence
The validity term of your driving licence card is normally found on the front under item 4b. On the back of your driving licence, you will find the validity terms for the different driving entitlements (licence categories). You can also check the digital driving licence app or log in to Your Page.