D2 Form PDF Download | DVLA HGV & PCV Licence Application

What is the D2 Form?

The D2 form is the DVLA’s official application for a provisional lorry (HGV/LGV) or passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) licence. You use it whether you are applying for your first commercial entitlement, adding a new vehicle category to an existing licence, or renewing after a set age threshold.

It is a two-sided paper form with seven numbered sections. You fill it in, attach a completed D4 medical form, include your driving licence and any required identity documents, and post the whole pack to DVLA in Swansea.

Can I Apply for a Commercial Driving Licence?

Run through this checklist before you start. Missing any of these conditions means your application will be refused or returned.

You can apply if

You hold a full Category B (car) driving licence

You are aged 18 or over (21 for full Category C or D)

Your D4 medical has been completed by a GMC-registered doctor

You are normally resident in the UK for at least 185 days per year

You have the right to live and work in the UK

You are not currently disqualified from driving

You cannot apply if

You only hold a provisional car licence

You have never held a UK or recognised EU/EEA licence

You are currently disqualified or have a suspension in place

Your D4 medical has not been completed and signed by a doctor

Who Needs to Use D2 Driving Licence Form?

First HGV or lorry application: You hold a full Category B licence and want to start commercial vehicle training.

First bus or coach application: You want a PCV provisional entitlement to drive buses or coaches.

Adding a new category: You already hold one commercial entitlement and want to add another.

Renewal after age 45: Commercial licences must be renewed every five years from age 45.

Renewal after age 65: Annual renewal with a new D4 medical is required from age 65 onwards.

Ambulance drivers: Category C1 covers vehicles between 3,500 kg and 7,500 kg, including ambulances.

Replacing a lost or stolen licence: The D2 also covers replacement and name or address changes for commercial licence holders.

Important prerequisite: You must already hold a full Category B car licence before submitting this application. A provisional car licence does not qualify.

Vehicle Categories the D2 Covers

The form covers eight licence categories split across heavy goods vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles. The category you tick in Section 1 determines which provisional entitlements DVLA grants you automatically.

HGV and LGV categories

Category	Vehicle type	Weight	Common uses
C1	Medium lorry	3,500 to 7,500 kg	Ambulances, small removal trucks, delivery vans
C1+E	Medium lorry with trailer	Up to 12,000 kg combined	Horsebox towing, medium haulage
C	Large rigid lorry	Over 3,500 kg	Rigid trucks, tankers, refuse vehicles, tippers
C+E	Articulated lorry	C vehicle plus trailer	Long-haul haulage, class 1 artics

PCV categories

Category	Vehicle type	Weight	Passengers
D1	Minibus	9 to 16 seats	School buses, community transport, hotel shuttles
D1+E	Minibus with trailer	9 to 16 seats plus trailer	Minibus towing luggage or equipment
D	Full size bus or coach	More than 8 passengers	Public buses, long-distance coaches, tours
D+E	Bus with trailer	More than 8 plus trailer	Coach towing luggage trailer

Category auto-upgrade: what most applicants do not know

When you apply for certain categories, DVLA automatically grants additional provisional entitlements at no extra cost. This is stated in the official GOV.UK guidance but almost nobody explains it plainly.

Category you apply for	Provisional entitlements granted automatically
C1 only	C1 only
C or C1+E	C1, C1+E, C, and C+E
D or D1	D1, D1+E, D, and D+E

Applying for full Category C gives you four lorry entitlements for one application. If you only want C1 today but think you might progress, tick all the C boxes in Section 1. It costs nothing extra and saves you a separate application later.

The D4 Medical Form: Sort This Before Anything Else

You cannot post your application without a completed D4 medical form. The D4 must be signed by a GMC-registered doctor. A practice nurse, pharmacist, or optician cannot sign it. DVLA will reject the application if the D4 has been completed by anyone other than a registered medical practitioner.

The examination takes around 30 minutes. Your doctor will check your eyesight, blood pressure, and cardiac health, and ask about your medical history covering sleep disorders, neurological conditions, and any history of alcohol or drug dependency.

Who can carry out the D4 examination

Your registered GP. They have your full medical history, which speeds things up.

A private HGV medical clinic. Typically a third of the GP cost, with faster appointments in most areas. Search for “HGV medical near me” to find accredited providers.

An occupational health provider. Some transport companies arrange D4 examinations through their own OH service.

Important: Book the D4 medical last, after you have gathered all your other documents. The completed form is only valid for four months from the date the doctor signs it. Book too early and it may expire before DVLA processes your application.

What This D2 Application Actually Costs

GOV.UK states there is no application fee, which is correct for the form itself. What it does not mention is that the D4 medical examination is unavoidable and comes out of your pocket. Here is the full picture.

Item	Cost
D2 application form	Free
D4 medical at a private HGV clinic	£47 to £65
D4 medical at your GP	£80 to £120
Recorded delivery postage (strongly recommended)	Approx. £1.90
Replacement photocard if current photo expired	£17
Typical total cost	£50 to £140

Documents to Include With Your D2 Application

Missing a single item means DVLA returns your entire pack. Check each one before sealing the envelope.

Completed D2 form — black ink, block capitals, all sections answered, signed and dated inside the white box

Completed D4 medical form — signed by a GMC-registered doctor, dated within the last four months

Original full UK photocard licence — Category B or higher. Do not send a photocopy

Proof of identity — only needed if you do not hold a GB photocard licence. Acceptable: UK passport, birth certificate, EC/EEA identity card, Biometric Residence Permit, or travel document

Passport photograph — only if your photo is expired, due to expire within 56 days, or this is your first photocard licence

DVLA accepts original documents only. Photocopied or laminated documents are rejected without exception. Make your own copies before posting.

How to Fill In the D2 DVLA Form: Section by Section

Use black ink and capital letters throughout. Do not use correction fluid. If you make a mistake, cross it out with a single line and initial it.

What are you applying for?

Put a cross in every box that applies. For a first commercial application going from a car licence, tick the first entitlement box. Then cross every lorry and bus category you might ever want to drive — even if you only plan to start with one type. It is free to apply for all categories at once. If you already hold a commercial provisional and are adding another category, tick additional entitlement instead.

Your details

Your GB driving licence number is item 5 on your photocard. Then fill in your title, surname, first names, date of birth, and full current address. If your licence still shows an old address, fill in that old address in the previous details box. Without it, DVLA will post the licence to your old address and you will not receive it back.

Your eyesight and hearing

If you are submitting this application, your D4 medical should already have confirmed you meet the required standards. Answer yes to the eyesight question. If you wear glasses or corrective lenses, tick yes to that too. Wearing glasses is not a barrier. The organ donation section is optional and has no effect on your application.

Your health

Work through all 23 listed conditions and cross the box next to any that apply. If none apply, cross the No box at the top. Ticking a condition does not automatically mean refusal — DVLA may ask your doctor for more information first. Leave nothing unanswered.

Your proof of identity

Skip this section if you hold a GB photocard licence. If you have agreed to identity verification via the Identity and Passport Service, fill in Part A with your digital UK passport number. Do not send the passport itself. If you do not have a valid digital UK passport, fill in Part B and tick which original documents you are enclosing.

Signing a photo to verify identity

Only needed if you are sending a passport photo. The countersignatory must have known you personally for at least two years within the UK, must not be a relative, must not live at the same address as you, and must not be Post Office staff processing your application.

Your declaration

Sign in black ink and keep your signature completely within the white box. This signature will appear on your photocard licence. Write today’s date next to it. Making a false statement to obtain a driving licence carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Failing to provide required information can result in a fine of up to £1,000.

Why Applications Get Sent Back

A significant number of applications are returned due to avoidable errors. Every rejection adds weeks to the process.

Mistake	Why DVLA returns it	Fix
Wrong ink colour	Must be black ink only	Rewrite the form in black ballpoint
Photocopied documents	Originals only accepted	Send originals, keep your own copies
Expired D4 medical	D4 valid for four months only	Rebook the medical if the date has passed
Address mismatch	D2 address must match your licence	Update your licence address first, then apply
Missing signature	Unsigned forms returned immediately	Sign in black ink inside the white box only
Outdated form version	Old versions rejected	Use the current version from this page
D4 signed by a non-doctor	Nurse or pharmacist invalid	Book with a GMC-registered doctor only
Blank health section	Incomplete forms not processed	Answer every question in Section 4

Where to Send Your Application

Post your completed D2 and D4 forms together with your driving licence and supporting documents to the correct DVLA address for your situation.

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BR

Use Royal Mail Signed For or Recorded Delivery. You are posting original documents that cannot easily be replaced. The cost is approximately £1.90 and gives you proof of delivery.

What Happens After You Post It

Most applications are processed within three weeks of DVLA receiving your pack. Allow longer if your health details require additional checks.

Documents received and verified

DVLA checks all documents are present and original.

Medical review

If a declared condition needs investigation, DVLA may contact your GP or send you a medical questionnaire. This can add two to four weeks.

Provisional entitlement added

Your new licence categories are added to your record on DVLA’s system.

New photocard posted

Your updated photocard licence is printed and posted. Most applicants receive it within three weeks total.

You can drive your existing vehicle categories while you wait. You cannot drive lorries or buses until your provisional entitlement is confirmed and you have a qualified supervising driver with you.

EU and Foreign Licence Holders

EU and EEA licence holders

A valid EU or EEA Category B licence is treated as equivalent to a UK Category B licence. You can proceed directly with this application without exchanging your licence first, provided it is still valid and you are normally resident in the UK for at least 185 days per year. State the country that issued your licence in Section 1 and complete the EU/EEA residency fields in Section 2.

Non-EU/EEA licence holders

Check whether your country has a reciprocal exchange agreement with the UK on GOV.UK before submitting. Some licences must be exchanged for a UK equivalent first. If no agreement exists, you may need to pass a UK theory and practical test before obtaining a commercial entitlement.

Young Driver and Military Routes

Applying between age 18 and 20

The standard minimum age for full Category C or D is 21. Drivers aged 18 to 20 can obtain these categories early by completing an approved 280-hour vocational training programme run by an accredited provider. The D2 application process is identical. The difference is in the training route, not the form itself.

Military drivers

Armed forces personnel can apply for certain commercial categories from age 17 with appropriate military vehicle training. Tick the military drivers box in Section 1 and complete the additional fields about the categories you need. The standard D4 medical is still required.

D2 vs D1: Which Form Do You Need?

Details	D1 Form	D2 Form
Used for	Cars, motorcycles, standard licences	Lorries, trucks, buses, coaches
Medical requirement	Self-declaration only	D4 medical by a registered doctor
Age minimum	17 for car, 16 for moped	18 for C1/D1, 21 for C/D
Prerequisites	None for first licence	Must hold full Category B
CPC required	No	Yes for professional driving
Licence validity	Until age 70	5 years (1 year with medical conditions)
Application cost	Free	Free (D4 medical billed separately)

Frequently Asked Questions

The application costs nothing. The unavoidable cost is the D4 medical examination, which runs from £47 at a private HGV clinic to around £120 at a GP. Budget for that before you start.

Yes. Any Post Office branch offering DVLA services will have the application pack free of charge. The pack includes the D2, D4, and a pre-addressed brown envelope.

Yes, with conditions. Print single-sided on plain white A4 paper only. Do not scale or resize the document and do not print on both sides. DVLA’s scanning equipment rejects non-standard or scaled printouts.

Your pack will be returned. The D4 is valid for four months from the date the doctor signs it. If your application is delayed, check the D4 date before chasing. You may need to arrange a new medical and resubmit.

Call 0300 790 6801 after five weeks with your driving licence number, date of birth, and the date you posted the pack. If confirmed lost, DVLA will advise on resubmission. Always use recorded delivery so you have proof of posting.

A UK provisional HGV licence is not valid for driving abroad. You need a full commercial licence, the Driver CPC qualification, and in some countries an International Driving Permit. Check entry requirements for your destination on GOV.UK.