Hello,
I’m in the process of joining the ambulance service. But thought it could be useful to have a full c license.
How much more difficult/expensive is it to obtain c rather than c1? I’m not entirely sure ill ever need to drive a truck larger than 7.5t but if you’re going thru the medical and theory, mite as well? ?
Opinions/suggestions
tbh i see no sense in going C1, the process and the costs are the same as far as i know
If the C1 is done a 4/5 tonne van then its easier than doing it in a 7.5 tonne lorry
If the choice is between 7.5 lorry and full C lorry then there is virtually no difference
What is your chosen provider using for C1 
I haven’t decided just yet, but a strong contender is total driving in Suffolk.
It’d be done in a 4.5t truck as they specialise in ambulances. But the theory and medical are the same for both c1 n c?
mao2:
I haven’t decided just yet, but a strong contender is total driving in Suffolk.It’d be done in a 4.5t truck as they specialise in ambulances. But the theory and medical are the same for both c1 n c?
Medicals are the same for both entitlements just a tick box exercise basically! Theory wise they are both the same as you have said, that is correct. As for what you should do price wise your looking at £1200 for class 2 licence and 900 for your C1 so there is a slight difference in price and degree of difficulty. But likewise if you pass your class 2 you gain both entitlements so I would personally say go for class 2, but its personal choice. Please have a read of my training log on my signature below and see what you think. When deciding companies have a couple of assessment drives with different companies, before you part with your hard earned cash!
I would definitely do full C. As others have said same test just larger vehicle.
When you send off for your provisional, suggest you tick C and D, no extra cost and you never know!
Go for it!
Good point on the D2 form - tick only C & D even if only going for C1
Never pay more than £60 for a D4 medical = ripped off if you do
I’d say do the full C, but don’t make your mind up until you’ve had an assessment drive of two in an HGV.
ROG:
Good point on the D2 form - tick only C & D even if only going for C1Never pay more than £60 for a D4 medical = ripped off if you do
ROG embarrassingly I payed my doctors £120 
Total driving offers an assessment drive for 4 hours 160£. I think that seems like an awful long drive tbh. I wouldn’t want to drive for more than 2hrs especially during training as it’s quite intense.
Do you always pay for assessments? How long do you recommend for them to be.
I had my medical for free ( benefits of working in hospital )
Thanks to everyone with very helpful answers
Theory medicals etc are all the same no matter which you go for but they do not need doing again if upgrading later - apart from the usual renewal of the medical every X amount of years
If only going for NHS ambulance then its driver cpc exempt
If intending to drive non dcpc exempt then you need to do initial dcpc theory mod 2 and practical mod 4 but you can choose to do that later on if only doing NHS ambo work to start with
Many assessments are free or they charge but then take that off the course fee if you go with them
no harm in having free assessments with a few providers if you can find some
ash 001:
ROG:
Good point on the D2 form - tick only C & D even if only going for C1Never pay more than £60 for a D4 medical = ripped off if you do
ROG embarrassingly I payed my doctors £120
Did you get extra’s? 
That’s not good mate, perhaps you should have come to Trucknet first then… (as you said on another thread)
Yes I had not found trucknet when I obtained my provisional, so you will have to let me off this once!
mao2:
Total driving offers an assessment drive for 4 hours 160£. I think that seems like an awful long drive tbh. I wouldn’t want to drive for more than 2hrs especially during training as it’s quite intense.Do you always pay for assessments? How long do you recommend for them to be.
I had my medical for free ( benefits of working in hospital )
Thanks to everyone with very helpful answers
You will find that 4 hours flys by!!! - I had 4 hour lessons, and thought they felt like 2 hours! 
But I wouldn’t recommend lessons longer than 4 hours, as you do get tired.
Or I did, and missed my afternoon nap, slippers, SAGA magazine, etc…
Good companies offer assessment drive free of charge! They want to show off how good they are, so just have a look around there’s plenty of good companies out there just ask around for assessment drives and prices ect
ash 001:
Good companies offer assessment drive free of charge! They want to show off how good they are, so just have a look around there’s plenty of good companies out there just ask around for assessment drives and prices ect
4 hours isn’t an assessment really, it’s a refresher course. Hence why it’s £160, which I’d say is cheap! 
I think Pete Smythe’s assessments are about an hour.
And even if they aren’t, he’ll soon be here correcting me! 
Anyone know of any good companies in suffolk/norfolk
mao just have a look around on the internet mate, phone them up find out price and ask for an assessment drive, that is the only way you will find out if they are a good company or not. As for assessment drives they usually last just under an hour but gives you a chance to get a feel for the vehicle and the instructor, also the company itself! Sorry evil I got the wrong end of the stick, yes that’s a very good price as I worked my training out to be around £55 an hour.
mao2:
Anyone know of any good companies in suffolk/norfolk
And look at the link in ROG’s signature…
Evil8Beezle:
mao2:
Anyone know of any good companies in suffolk/norfolkAnd look at the link in ROG’s signature…
The God, font of all knowledge .