HGV License vs. LGV License - What is the Difference between the Two

The freight industry is currently witnessing a sudden bloom in terms of the profits it has started to make. This in fact has brought into the forefront the rising demand for van as well as truck drivers, simultaneously. This makes it exceptionally necessary for the both to be aware of the two main forms of licenses namely, HGV License and LGV license.

In the blog below, we describe the two in concrete detail citing its differences, and through the differences listed down by us, we will justify the best among these two citing the reasons for the same.

HGV Training and LGV Training - All You Need to Know About These Two Courses

HGV stands for heavy goods vehicles whereas LGV stands for large goods vehicles. While discussing about HGV training and LGV training respectively, both are the same kind of training modules where the driver availing the course is able to drive vehicles that are over 3500 kilograms in weight.

Now you may be wondering, if the licenses and the training curriculums are the same, then why do people still have a great deal of confusion in regards to these two.

Well, here it is, most new students have an inkling that LGV refers to light goods vehicle, having a weight that is less than 3500 kilograms.

This in turn brings in such huge complications in those who enroll themselves to attain professional HGV training courses.

So now having an idea of these two main training courses, let us now provide with a brief on their origins in the lines below.

Origins of the HGV and LGV Training

In the UK as you may be aware vehicles get their taxes levied as per their engine, construction, fuel type, weight, the emission it produces, and finally, for the purpose owing to which the vehicle is to be used. With the introduction of the tax disc wherein vehicles got distinguished for tax purposes, two main license kinds came up, namely, HGV license and LGV license. This was due to the reason that vehicles having a gross weight of less than 3500 kilograms were termed as light goods vehicles whereas those over the aforementioned weight got the name, heavy goods vehicles.

In 1992 however in order to stay in strong alignment with European license categories, and vehicles, etc, those over 3500 kilograms were designated as trucks. This led to the LGV transforming its name from light goods vehicles to large good vehicles. This makes it quite clear indeed that there are no big or real differences between these two licenses and trainings.

Thus, if you wish to obtain a HGV license, it is important to know about its subcategories and the freedom these subcategories provide you.

There are basically four main kinds of HGV licenses that you can get in order to drive a heavy goods vehicle, namely, C1, C1+E, C and C+E. Below we describe each of these licenses in detail.

• C1 - C1 is the basic level of HGV license wherein you can drive a vehicle of 3500 kgs in weight and under 7.5 tonnes in gross weight.

• C1+E - Also known as a 7.5 tonne+trailer license, its availers can operate vehicles having gross weight upto 7500 kgs with attached trailers of over 750 kgs authorized mass. There is however a catch to obtaining this license. You can gain ownership of this only after successful completion of the C1 test.

• C - This license provides drivers with the flexibility to drive vehicles that are over 3.5 tonnes though not exceeding 32 tonnes. It is however advisable that while availing this license kind, the vehicle weight should not go beyond 750 kg and your age must be over 18 years.

• C+E - This license provides drivers with the freedom to drive and handle articulated and smaller vehicles that are taken care in the C and C1 license kinds. Talking about the E in the C+E license, E stands for entitlement. This means its bearer can go beyond 750 kg in weight giving its owner the freedom to drive any kind of large goods vehicle, which also includes a double trailer, to say.

Thus, if you wish to be qualified as a professional lorry driver, it is advisable to enroll in a HGV Training course. This is due to the freedom as well as flexibility it provides in driving rigid vehicles that over 3500 kilograms in weight without facing any form of challenges or hassles whatsoever.

Get in touch with professionals who have a good level of experience in providing assistance on the kind of license that is appropriate for you, and training that will help you become a professional lorry driver on the road who maintains utmost safety on the road.