HGV driving school with your own lorry

Career changers, people being sponsored by a haulage or logistics employer, and some funded learners on local training schemes.

Course fees, usually a fixed price for a package of lessons plus test preparation. Extra income can come from test-day vehicle hire and refresher lessons.

• Experienced, confident HGV driver
• Patient teaching and clear communication
• Organising bookings, test dates and paperwork

• Vehicle costs and insurance are high, so get insurance quotes before buying a lorry
• Check what instructor qualifications or experience your insurer and the DVSA expect
• Check whether you need approval from the Driver CPC body (JAUPT) before offering Driver CPC training
• Public liability insurance as well as motor insurance, and employer's liability if you hire other instructors
• Check your council's rules on training routes and where you can park a lorry overnight
• Demand can rise and fall with the haulage job market, so keep some cash in reserve

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £20,000 to £70,000, depending mainly on the lorry or lorries you buy, insurance and how you set up bookings and training.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on how many learners you teach, the courses you offer and how many hours you can work. This is revenue, before costs.

Check insurance quotes before buying a lorry, what instructor qualifications your insurer and the DVSA expect, and whether you need JAUPT approval for Driver CPC training. Also check council rules on training routes and overnight lorry parking.