HGV Licence Renewal: The D4 and Renewing at 45 and 65
When lorry and bus entitlement needs renewing, which forms are involved, and how to keep driving without a gap.
HGV licence renewal is needed at 45, then every five years until 65, and every year after that. Each renewal needs a D4 medical report completed by a doctor, sent with the DVLA renewal application. The same rules apply to C1 and to bus and coach (PCV) entitlement. DVLA normally sends a renewal reminder pack before the date is due.
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How lorry and bus entitlement differs from a car licence
Car entitlement lasts until you are 70. Lorry and bus entitlement is shorter because DVLA wants regular medical evidence that professional drivers are still fit to drive large vehicles. That is why the renewal is tied to age and to the D4 medical, not just to the photo on your card.
When renewal is due
| Age | What happens |
|---|---|
| Under 45 | Entitlement normally runs to your 45th birthday; update your photocard when it is due |
| At 45 | First renewal of lorry or bus entitlement, with a D4 medical |
| 45 to 65 | Renew every five years, with a D4 medical each time |
| 65 and over | Renew every year, with a D4 medical each time |
HGV training
- Training is delivered from Glasgow
- Medical, theory and materials included
- In-vehicle training and the test included
The renewal process step by step
Watch for the reminder
DVLA usually posts a renewal reminder pack, the D47P, before your entitlement runs out. If you do not receive one, you can order the application pack from DVLA.
Book the D4 medical
A doctor completes the D4 medical examination report. This can be your own GP or a private medical provider, and the fee is set by whoever carries it out.
Send the application
Return the renewal application and the completed D4 to DVLA, following the instructions in the pack. Keep a note of when you sent it.
Wait for the new licence
Check your details carefully when it arrives, including the categories listed.
Send your renewal in good time. The D4 has a limited validity period, so book the medical once the reminder arrives rather than months ahead.
HGV licence renewal at 45
The 45th birthday renewal catches many drivers out because it is the first time a medical has been needed since they qualified. Treat it like the medical you had before training: take your glasses or lenses, a list of medication, and any letters about conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnoea or heart problems. Our medical renewal guide covers what the doctor checks and the conditions that need extra evidence.
C1 licence renewal
C1 is lorry entitlement, so C1 licence renewal follows the same pattern of renewing with a D4 medical. Drivers who gained C1 automatically by passing a car test before 1997 should also check their licence, because letting the medical lapse can mean losing the C1 entitlement they did not have to train for.
PCV licence renewal
Bus and coach entitlement, categories D1 and D, is renewed on the same timetable with the same D4 medical. If you hold both lorry and bus categories, they are renewed together on one application.
Renewal is not the same as Driver CPC
Renewing your licence keeps the entitlement. It does not renew your Driver Qualification Card. That depends on completing 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training every five years, which runs on its own timetable. Check both dates so one does not stop you working while the other is still valid.
If you have let it lapse
If your entitlement has expired, you can usually apply to renew it with a D4 medical in the same way. Drivers who have been out of the cab for a while often want their driving checked before going back to work. Our refresher training starts with an assessment drive and then focuses on what the assessment shows.
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Questions we get asked about this
At 45, then every five years until 65, and every year after that. Each renewal needs a D4 medical.
The DVLA renewal application, usually sent to you as a reminder pack, and a D4 medical examination report completed by a doctor.
No. Bus and coach entitlement is renewed on the same timetable with the same D4 medical, and lorry and bus categories can be renewed together.
No. Your Driver Qualification Card is renewed by completing 35 hours of periodic Driver CPC training every five years.
Related courses
Training in Glasgow and the Central Belt of Scotland
See course pricingWhere to go next
- HGV medical renewal and age limits what the D4 checks.
- HGV refresher training an assessment and tailored lessons.
- Returning to HGV driving the full checklist.
- Check Driver CPC hours your DQC timetable.
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