HGV Test Centre Guide for Learners Training in Glasgow

Why large vehicle test centres are different

A lorry or bus test includes manoeuvres that need space, so DVSA carries out large vehicle tests only at centres set up for them. Car test centres in the same town may not offer them. That is why the centre you use for an HGV test is often not the one you used for your car test.

How to find an HGV test centre

Test centres used by learners around Glasgow

Learners training in and around Glasgow use DVSA large vehicle test centres in the west and central belt of Scotland. Centres do open, move and close from time to time, so always check the GOV.UK finder for the current centres, addresses and test types rather than relying on an old list.

When we book your practical test as part of a course, we tell you the centre in advance, so you train on the kind of roads you will meet on the day.

Theory test centres are separate

Your multiple-choice, hazard perception and Driver CPC case study tests are taken in person at a theory test centre, not at the driving test centre. There are theory test centres in Glasgow and other Scottish towns, and you can find one through GOV.UK when you book.

What happens at the test centre

On the day, you arrive with the training vehicle and your instructor, show your licence, and meet the examiner. The test usually includes vehicle safety questions, the reversing exercise, an on-road drive and, depending on your category, an uncoupling and recoupling exercise. Our test day guide walks through each part in order, so nothing on the day is a surprise.

What to bring

• Your photocard driving licence with provisional entitlement for the category
• Glasses or contact lenses if you need them to drive
• Your theory test pass details if you are asked for them
• Comfortable clothing and suitable footwear for climbing in and out of the cab

Choosing a centre and a date

For most learners, the date matters more than the centre. Waiting times vary across the country, and the best centre is the one with a test slot that fits the end of your training. Train on the roads around the centre where possible, and do not book a test before you are ready, because a retest means another fee and another wait.

Pass results by test centre

DVSA publishes lorry and bus test data on GOV.UK, including figures for each test centre. They can be interesting to read, but your own preparation and readiness decide the result, not the centre.