Truck lessons in automatic rigid and artic trucks
Epic Driving School trains learner truck drivers for the Category C (rigid) and Category CE (artic) driving tests. You learn in our own school trucks, both automatic, with an RSA-approved instructor beside you. Lessons run 7 days a week, so they can fit around your job.
This page is your starting point: which licence you need, the steps the RSA sets out, and what our courses cost. For the detail of each course, open the rigid lessons or artic lessons page.
Automatic rigid & artic
7 days a week
Finglas, Dublin
Choose your truck course
Most learners start with a rigid licence and move on to an artic once they have passed. Pick the course that matches where you are now.
Rigid truck lessons
Category C, your first truck licence: rigid trucks over 3,500 kg, with a trailer of up to 750 kg.
2 hours €215
Artic truck lessons
Category CE, for drivers who already hold a full C licence and want to pull a heavy trailer.
2 hours €215
Truck hire for your test
Take your RSA test in our automatic school truck. We also hire a truck for CPC Part 2.
Artic €260
Truck licence categories in Ireland
The RSA groups trucks by maximum authorised mass (MAM), the most the vehicle may weigh when fully loaded. These are the three truck categories. Our courses are for C and CE.
- C1 · Small truck
Up to 7,500 kg
Trucks over 3,500 kg and up to 7,500 kg, with a trailer of up to 750 kg.
- Minimum age 18
- You need a full B licence first
- C · Rigid truck
Over 3,500 kg
Any truck over 3,500 kg, with a trailer of up to 750 kg.
- Minimum age 21, or 18 with Driver CPC
- You need a full B licence first
- CE · Artic
Truck + heavy trailer
A Category C truck pulling a trailer over 750 kg, such as an articulated lorry.
- Minimum age 21, or 18 with Driver CPC
- You need a full C licence first
Source: RSA, driving licence categories. For a longer guide, read our blog post Introduction to HGV licences, categories and restrictions.
How to get your truck licence
These are the RSA steps for a first truck licence (Category C). Each step has to be done before the next one.
Hold a full car licence
You need a full Category B licence before you can learn to drive a truck.
Pass the truck theory test
Pass the Category C (truck) theory test before you apply for the learner permit. Practise with our truck theory questions.
Medical report and learner permit
Send a medical report form with your application for the Category C learner permit. The minimum age is 21, or 18 if you also take the Driver CPC.
Take lessons
On a learner permit you may not drive on motorways, and you must be accompanied by someone who has held a full truck licence for more than two years.
Pass the driving test
Take the RSA truck driving test in a vehicle that meets the test rules. You can hire our truck for it.
Move on to CE
With a full C licence you can apply for a CE learner permit and learn to drive an artic.
Source: RSA, Truck – C and Truck with trailer or articulated truck – CE.
Driving for a living?
You also need the Driver CPC
Professional truck drivers need a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) as well as the licence. For a new driver this means two extra tests on top of the truck theory test and the driving test: a CPC theory test based on case studies, and a practical test where you show the walk-around safety checks on a truck. After that, CPC holders keep it up with periodic training (35 hours every five years). Source: RSA, Become a professional CPC driver.
We hire a truck for the CPC Part 2 test for €100. Our free guides help you prepare:
Truck lesson prices
The same prices apply to rigid and artic lessons. All lessons are one-to-one in an automatic school truck.
Truck hire for your test: rigid €210, artic €260. CPC Part 2 truck hire €100. Every price is on our prices page.
HGV lessons: FAQs
Do I need a rigid licence before an artic licence?
Yes. To learn to drive a Category CE vehicle you must already hold a full Category C licence. Most of our learners start with rigid lessons and move on to artic lessons once they pass.
What is the minimum age for a truck licence?
For Category C and CE the minimum age is 21, or 18 if you also get the Driver CPC. For C1 (small trucks up to 7,500 kg) it is 18. These are RSA rules.
Are your trucks manual or automatic?
Both of our training trucks, the rigid and the artic, are automatic. They are the two trucks in the photo at the top of this page.
When can I have truck lessons?
We teach truck lessons 7 days a week. Tell us which days suit you and when your test is, and we will plan the lessons around them.
Do I need a medical for a truck licence?
Yes. The RSA asks everyone applying for a Category C, C1, D or D1 learner permit to send a medical report form, completed by a doctor. Your doctor may also send you for an eyesight report.
How many hours of lessons will I need?
It depends on your experience. We offer a 10-hour course (€995) and 2-hour lessons (€215). After your first lesson your instructor will tell you how much practice you are likely to need before the test.
Where do truck lessons take place?
Our truck training is based in Finglas, Dublin. We teach learners from Dublin and the surrounding counties; see our locations.
Ready to start truck lessons?
Tell us which licence you are going for and when your test is. We will plan your lessons around it.