Love driving? Then why not let you passion bring in the cash, too… here’s our guide to getting on the road to a new driving career
Become a bus driver
Get on the buses: image credit
If you’re fed up with being stuck on jammed streets then it’s time to jump to the front of the queue and become a bus driver. Here’s all the information you need.
What licence: To drive a bus or coach you’ll need a PCV Category D Licence. This will entitle you to drive vehicles of any size including single or double decker buses for hire of reward.
Who can apply for a licence: You’ll need to have a Category B car licence, be over 18 and meet medical and eyesight requirements. You can then apply for a provisional D entitlement to start your training. You’ll need to get a D4-DVLA medical certificate from your doc which could cost around £100.
Get the D4 medical form here
Get the D2 licence application form here
How to pass the test: Here’s what you’ll need to get your full bus driver’s licence.
Theory test: Once you’ve passed your medical and got your provisional licence, you’ll need to start by taking a Cat D theory test. The test is a two-parter with a multiple choice and hazard perception test.
How much: £40 total
Book your Cat D Theory test here
Practical test: This will last around 90 minutes and involves safety questions, road driving and off-road exercises such as reversing into a bay. The examiner will give you your pass or fail notice immediately after completing the test.
How much: Up to £228 depending on time of week
Bok your practical test: https://www.gov.uk/book-driving-test
Verdict: Getting your PSV licence will require professional training, so expect to pay around £1200+ for around 24 hours of training. Bus drivers will earn in the region of £18k-£25k depending on where they’re located.
Alternatively…
See if life on the buses is for you by taking a bus driving experience. Take the wheel of double decker for just £59
Where: Book here
Become a lorry driver
The ultimate truckers’ job: image credit
If a life on the highway is for you, grabbing a Yorkie and Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence could be the answer.
What licence: There are several categories available, the Cat C1, which covers rigid vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, and the Cat C allowing you to drive rigid vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. Finally, there’s the C+E category that will pop you in the cab of articulated trucks.
Who can apply for a licence: You’ll need to have a Category B car licence and be over 18 while also meeting medical and eyesight requirements. You can then apply for a provisional C1 or C entitlement to start your training. You need to pass the Cat C test before being able to apply for the C+E licence for articulated trucks. You’ll need to get a D4-DVLA medical certificate from your doc which could cost around £100.
Get the D4 medical form here
Get the D2 licence application form here
How to pass the test: Here’s what you’ll need to get your full truck driver’s licence.
Theory test: Once you’ve passed your medical and got your provisional licence, lorry drivers-to-be will need to take a Cat C and C1 theory test. This test is a two-parter with a multiple choice and hazard perception test.
How much: £40 total
Book your Cat C and C1 Theory test here
Practical test: As with the bus and coach test, this will last around 90 minutes and involves safety questions, road driving and off-road exercises such as reversing into a bay. You will get an instant result after taking you test.
How much: Up to £228 depending on time of week
Book your practical test
Get the C+E: This will allow you to drive articulated trucks and significantly increase your earning potential. You can only take this once you’ve passed your Cat C test as described above.
Verdict: You’ll need to get professional training for your truck licence and this will cost you around £1,100+ for a week’s training and test. Those going on to get C+E category to drive artics will need to pay a further £1,200+ for training. Salaries range from around £18k up to £28k+ depending on experience and licence type. Specialist drivers – such as tanker drivers – can earn £35k+. There are 45,000 lorry diver jobs waiting to be filled due to shortages – so it shouldn’t be too much trouble bagging a role.
Alternatively…
Can you handle a snarling articulated lorry? Find out with one of these truck driving experiences starting from £49.
Where: No Yorkie required, just head here
Become a taxi driver
Pick up a new career
Want to utilise your licence to earn some cash? Then putting yourself up for hire might be the answer for you. Here’s how you can get on the road as a taxi driver.
What licence: Becoming a cab driver might require you to pass the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) taxi assessment. Use this link to contact your local council to find out if you need to so. Here.
About the test: There are three types of assessment you can take. These are a standard driving assessment, enhanced assessment and upgrade assessment. The test can last around 40 minutes and may include practical driving and wheelchair exercises.
How much: Here’s how much you’ll pay for the various tests
Hackney saloon vehicles and private hire saloon vehicles: £79.66 weekdays – £96 weekends
Hackney wheelchair accessible vehicles: £92.94 – £112.34
Taxi wheelchair exercise: £26.56 – £32.68
Book your DVSA taxi assessment here if required
Verdict: Drivers in rural areas and small towns can typically earn £12k – £20k per annum, but Black Cab drivers in cities will be able to make in excess of £30k.
Alternatively…
Find out what it’s like to have an old London Black cab as your daily ride. Here’s our buying guide to old taxis and much more.
Find it here
Become a paramedic
Revive your working life with a job as an ambulance driver
Thinking about becoming a paramedic? You’ll need to have the right licence… Here’s what you’ll need.
What licence: If you passed your driving test after January 1997, then you’ll need to get yourself a category C1 licence due to a change in legislation.
Who can apply for a licence: You’ll need to have a Category B car licence and be over 18 while also meeting medical and eyesight requirements. You can then apply for a provisional C1 entitlement. In addition, you will need to obtain a D4-DVLA medical certificate from your doctor (or independent health company) which could cost around anything from £35 – £100.
Get the D4 medical form here
Get the D2 licence application form here
How to pass the test: Here’s what you’ll need to get your full ambulance driver’s licence.
Theory test: Once you’ve passed your medical and got your provisional licence, drivers will need to take a Cat C theory test. This takes the form of a multiple choice and hazard perception test.
How much: £40 total
Book your Cat C Theory test here
Practical test: This lasts around 90 minutes and involves safety questions, road driving and off-road exercises. You’ll get an instant result after taking your test.
How much: Up to £228 depending on time of week
Book your practical test
Verdict: Booking yourself a five-day training course will cost from £1,200. A qualified ambulance driver – who’s also completed a university degree in paramedic science – can expect to enter the profession with a salary of £21k rising to £35k for senior staff.
Alternatively…
Find out how to stay out of the back of an ambulance by following our guide to avoiding having a car smash.
Find it here
Become a tracked vehicle driver
Help your agricultural career grow
Driving tracked agricultural vehicles and bulldozers on public roads requires you to have an enhanced licence. Here’s what you need.
What licence: Driving a tracked vehicle on public roads will mean you need to gain a Category H entitlement on your licence. Here’s how.
Who can apply: All drivers with a full licence can apply for a Cat H if the vehicle is less than 3.5t, but you’ll need to be 18 if it’s up to 7.5t and 21 if it’s more than 7.5t.
What the test involves: The examiner will meet you on a farm or suitable location and watch you from the side of the road. You will need to drive round a circuit using forward and reverse gears. An eyesight and Highway Code test will also be taken.
How much: The H test costs £62, takes around 40 minutes and the qualification will last a lifetime.
Book your practical test
Verdict: In an industry that’s relatively low-paid for manual workers, gaining an additional qualification such as this is a worthwhile way to increase earning potential.
Alternatively…
Get off the farm and get into a tank. Try your hand at driving the ultimate in ‘tracked’ vehicles from £199.
Find the tanks here
Become a Formula One driver
F1 licence details here: image credit
So, you’ve just won the Euromillions £95million rollover and you fancy outbidding Brit driver Will Stevens and kicking his pay-driver butt out of the back-of-field Marussia? Sadly, cash is not enough – you’ll need to get a new licence, too.
What licence: You will need to grab yourself a FIA Super Licence.
Who can apply: This will require slightly more than a theory test and spot of reverse parking. To get your licence you’ll need to have be either the reigning champion in a lower category of motor sport, for example Formula 3, Formula 2, or GP2 Series (formerly known as Formula 3000), or have consistently finished well in these categories. For example, a driver finishing fourth and fifth (twice) positions in the GP2 championship within the last three years will be eligible for a super licence.
How much: The FIA Super Licence is said to be have a basic fee of around £7,000 plus £700 for each F1 championship point the driver scores. In his 2009 championship-winning season, Jenson Button paid around £700,000 for his licence.
Verdict: Bag yourself a deal with a top team and you could be on terms with Lewis Hamilton’s £20million+, but drop down the rankings to Felipe Nasr (Sauber) and you’re on around £120k. However, slip below this and you’re paying to drive.
Alternatively…
Save yourself a few million pounds by swapping the need for an FIA Super Licence by heading to Let’s Race for a blast in their F1 simulator.
Find details here.
Swap Tarmac for the skies… Become an airline pilot
Swap your old Vauxhall for this?
Getting your commercial pilot’s licence might sound like a ticket to big money, but it seems this isn’t the case. Research reveals many pilots are left £100,000 in debt once they qualify to get behind the joystick of their first jet. This leaves many with just £500 to live on each month.
Data from the British Airline Pilot’s Association shows new pilots can expect to earn about £27-£29k per year, climbing to around £60k as a captain. However, getting an airborne gig with a big name such as British Airways could see a pilot flying short-haul routes from Gatwick starting on £52k rising to £100k after 20 years’ experience.
Can I drive it?
Use this tool to see a list of vehicles you’re old enough or qualified to drive.
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