The ADR exam in the UK: modules, exams and resits
Train with an approved provider, sit one exam per module at the centre and get the card by post. Here is what to expect.
In this guide
In the UK there's no central ADR exam day. You train with an approved provider, sit the exams at the end of the course at the training centre, and the card comes by post. The details are set out in the GOV.UK guide for dangerous goods drivers, while the minimum standards come from ADR Chapter 8.2. Here's what to expect before you book.
How the training is built
The UK splits ADR training into modules. Everyone starts with the core module. On top of that you take packages or tanks, plus the classes you'll carry. GOV.UK sets these minimum training times:
| Module | Minimum time |
|---|---|
| Core | 9 hours |
| Packages | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Tanks | 7 hours 30 minutes |
| Class 2, Class 3 | 1 hour 30 minutes each |
| Classes 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 | 45 minutes each |
| Common characteristics | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Group A (2, 3, 6, 8) | 3 hours 45 minutes |
| Group B (4, 5, 9) | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Class 1, Class 7 | 6 hours each |
Class 1 and Class 7 are taken alongside the core module. Depending on what you choose, a course can last up to seven days, exams included.
You don't need to have held your full HGV licence for any minimum time before you start. If carrying dangerous goods by HGV is your main job, you also need the HGV licence and a Driver CPC.
What the exams look like
- Exams usually take place on the last day of the course, always in person at the training centre.
- They're multiple choice and done on a computer.
- There's a separate exam for each module you trained for.
- You can't use an interpreter.
- You get your result straight after the test.
GOV.UK doesn't publish the number of questions or the pass mark for each module, so ask your training centre. ADR sets the floor: at least 25 questions in 45 minutes for the basic exam and at least 15 questions in 30 minutes for each specialisation exam (8.2.2.7.1.6, 8.2.2.7.2.3). Questions come from a question bank, and you mustn't know the selected questions in advance (8.2.2.7.1.3).
If you fail a module
You can resit the failed module within 16 weeks without retraining, and there's no limit on attempts. Whether you can resit on the same day is up to the training provider, so check when you book.
What it costs
Training providers set their own prices and there's no maximum price. In England, some free Skills Bootcamps include ADR driver training; you apply through the training provider. Compare what's included: the number of modules, the exams and any resit fee.
After you pass
The card is issued by Qualifications Scotland, formerly the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). It should arrive by post within 5 working days of the exam. Email Qualifications Scotland if it hasn't come after a week.
Don't drive yet: you can't carry dangerous goods while you wait for the card. GOV.UK warns that driving without it can lead to court and a fine.
The back of the card shows the classes you're qualified to carry. It's valid for five years. Renewal, replacement and adding classes are covered in our ADR card guide.
Driver CPC hours
Up to 14 hours of dangerous goods training can count towards the 35 hours of Driver CPC training you need every five years. You email DVSA to get it counted.
Other things worth knowing
- You can qualify with a criminal record. Your employer decides which goods you carry.
- Loading tankers at fuel terminals also needs a Petroleum Driver Passport.
- If you think a course didn't meet the standard, for example it was shorter than it should have been, you can report it to Qualifications Scotland.
How to prepare
Typical topics are marking, paperwork, equipment and what to do in an emergency. You're in good shape when you can read orange plates, transport documents and tunnel codes without thinking.
Our free test uses checked questions with explanations. The app has the full question bank and exam simulations you can run before the course.
Sources
GOV.UK, "Become a qualified dangerous goods (ADR) vehicle driver" (sections on how to qualify, finding a course, taking a training course, taking a test and staying qualified), accessed 1 October 2026. ADR 2025 (UNECE English text): 8.2.2.7.1.3, 8.2.2.7.1.6, 8.2.2.7.2.3. Legal basis in Great Britain: the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009.
Updated: 2 October 2026