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My CQC has expired: can I drive with category C or D?
C or D remains a separate licence, but it is not enough for professional work that requires a valid CQC.
If your CQC has expired, category C or D alone is not enough to continue professional haulage that requires the qualification. The category licence is separate and may remain valid, but does not by itself authorise a professional service subject to CQC. Renewal requires periodic training; if the expiry is more than two years old, the prescribed reinstatement exam is also required.
The CQC and driving-licence dates are separate
Check the validity dates for category C or D and for the CQC separately. The Ministry explains that CQC has its own validity and is renewed through periodic training. If your licence is valid but the CQC required for your job has expired, do not carry out that professional transport until the qualification is renewed or reinstated.
For example, an expired professional qualification cannot be treated as current by an employer just because the driver still holds a valid category C licence. The restriction concerns professional work that requires CQC; other uses may fall within an exemption, but the statutory conditions must be checked for the exact activity.
How to restore the qualification
For a CQC that expired no more than two years ago, Ministry guidance provides for periodic training to renew it; professional transport remains prohibited during the expiry. If it has been expired for more than two years, you need periodic training and must pass the reinstatement exam. Check the current administrative process and exam arrangements with the Ministry before booking or returning to work.
Contact a driving school or authorised training provider to confirm which course or exam applies to your case, and keep evidence of the renewed validity. Do not treat proof of course attendance as if the qualification had already been renewed. An employer should check both credentials before assigning a professional trip.
Quiz Patente Ufficiale helps with theory study and quiz review; check CQC expiry and reinstatement with an authorised provider or the Motorizzazione.
Frequently asked questions
May I drive privately with a valid C licence but an expired CQC?
CQC expiry concerns professional activity for which it is required; category C remains separate if still valid. Check the conditions for the specific use.
What if my CQC has been expired for more than two years?
The Ministry requires periodic training and a reinstatement exam. Check the current process and do not perform professional work requiring CQC meanwhile.