The Driver Qualification Card

Driver Qualification Card : an overview

A card known as the Driver Qualification Card, or DQC, bearing the driver's photograph is issued to a certified competent driver on behalf of the DVSA, by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency), when the official DVSA records indicate that a driver has completed their legally required 35 hours of driver CPC training.

A driver does not have to apply for the DQC, it is issued automatically after the 35 hours of approved training has been completed.

The photograph and signature on the DQC are the same photo and signature that DVLA have on file, in use on the driver's current driving licence.

No fee is charged for the issue of the DQC, as the cost has already been covered in the £8.75 upload fee paid for each 7 hour DVSA-approved driver CPC course a driver attends.

The DQC is posted to the home address that DVLA have on record for the driver, so essential to ensure that this is not wrong, immediately upon completion of the 35 hours training, if it is less than one year to your current qualification expiry date.

If training has been completed more than one year prior to qualification expiry date, the DQC will be posted closer to the expiry date.

The Driver Qualification Card proves that a driver is certified as being professionally competent, for the period of time stated on the card, and must be carried at all times whilst driving professionally.

A lost, stolen or damaged DQC MUST be replaced.

A replacement DQC can be applied for by telephone (DVSA advise that this is the quickest method) or online (fill in an online form and wait for DVSA to contact you).

You can drive professionally as soon as you have paid the £25 DQC replacement fee via credit / debit card.

The penalties for non-compliance

A person unable to produce their DQC (Driver Qualification Card), or evidence of being qualified, to a Police Officer or Traffic Examiner when requested to do so, can be fined up to £1000

Most typically DVSA deal with a CPC qualified driver being unable to produce their card by issuing a £50 fixed penalty notice.

A person found guilty of the offence of driving without a valid CPC, or a person who causes or permits another person to drive without a valid CPC, can be fined up to £1000