If you're asking "can I do my Driver CPC online in 2026?", the answer is a clear yes for most professional drivers. Online CPC training has gone mainstream in the UK, and the rules have caught up with the practical reality: you can now complete every periodic training hour from your home, office, or vehicle (when parked).

This guide explains exactly which CPC training is available online, what's still classroom-only, the legal requirements you need to meet, and how to choose a provider that won't leave you with hours that don't count.

Yes — You Can Do Your Driver CPC Online for All Periodic Training

The DVSA has authorised online delivery of Driver CPC periodic training since 2020. As of 2026, this is the standard format for most working drivers in the UK. The full 35 hours of periodic training can be completed online, including:

• National Driver CPC — flexible 3.5-hour or 7-hour live online sessions
• International Driver CPC — 7-hour live online sessions
• Return to Driving — the new 7-hour course introduced 1 February 2025 for expired drivers
• E-learning — up to 12 hours of self-paced learning (counted within the 35)

If you've never trained online before, our guide on what to expect on an online CPC course walks through the experience step-by-step.

Why Drivers Choose to Do Their CPC Online in 2026

What You Cannot Do Online: Initial CPC Modules

If you're a new driver who hasn't yet qualified for Driver CPC, parts of the Initial Qualification still require in-person attendance:

• Module 1: Theory test — booked at a DVSA test centre
• Module 2: Case studies — DVSA test centre (some providers offer online practice but the test itself is in-person)
• Module 3: Practical driving test — on-road with examiner
• Module 4: Practical demonstration — vehicle safety check, in-person

Once you've completed Modules 1–4 and qualified, all subsequent periodic training can be done online.

Legal Requirements to Do Driver CPC Online

Not all online courses count. To meet legal requirements, your training must:

• Be delivered by a DVSA-registered provider operating under an approved consortium
• Be live and instructor-led — pre-recorded videos don't count as periodic training (except up to 12 hours of approved e-learning)
• Have your camera on for the entire teaching time so the trainer can verify attendance
• Run for the full 3.5 or 7 hours with scheduled breaks — leaving early invalidates the session
• Be uploaded to the DVSA system by the provider after completion

If you're booked on something that doesn't meet these criteria — for example, a self-paced video course advertised as "Driver CPC training" — the hours won't count toward your 35.

What You Need to Do Your CPC Online

The technical requirements are simple. You need:

• A computer, laptop, or tablet with a working webcam and microphone
• Stable internet — wired ethernet or strong Wi-Fi (4G/5G hotspots can work but are less reliable)
• Zoom installed (or whatever platform your provider uses) — usually free
• A quiet, private space for the duration of the session
• Photo ID — a driving licence is fine for verification at the start

You don't need a fancy setup. Most drivers use a basic laptop or even a tablet. If you're unsure whether your equipment will work, contact CPC Express on 01283 895777 and we'll talk you through it before your booking.

Online Driver CPC: 2026 vs Pre-Pandemic Rules

For drivers who haven't trained since before 2020, the rules have changed significantly:

• Pre-2020: Most periodic training had to be face-to-face. Online courses were rare.
• 2020–2024: Live online training expanded as DVSA approved Zoom-style delivery.
• 2024 reform: 3.5-hour National sessions allowed online, removing consecutive-day rules for National training.
• 2025–2026: Online is now the standard format. Most providers offer evening, weekend, and weekday slots.

If you trained classroom-only in the past, you'll find online surprisingly easy. The interaction is just as good — often better, because group sizes are smaller.

Frequently Asked Questions