Regulations for Driver CPC

The laws and the penalties that apply to Driver CPC. 

All professional bus and truck drivers must hold a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC). It is illegal to drive professionally without a valid Driver CPC card and there are strict penalties if you do.  

This is a summary of the regulations that govern Driver CPC and the penalties that apply to drivers and employers who breach them. 

The law on Driver CPC

It is a legal requirement that all new drivers of trucks (categories C1, C1E, C and CE) and buses (categories D1, D1E, D and DE) complete and pass the CPC qualification process to gain their Driver CPC qualification. 

The legal basis for the Driver CPC programme is  EU Directive 2003/59/EC. This covers the qualification and training process, exemptions, acquired rights, certification, periodic training, centres and more. It was transposed into Irish law in 2008 as  SI No 359 . This was amended in EU Directive 2018/645/EC and transposed into Irish law in 2020 as  SI No 178. 

Enforcement of the law and penalties

The law is enforced by An Garda Síochána and Road Safety Authority Transport Officers and sets out the following penalties for driving without a valid Driver CPC: 

• Failure to produce Driver CPC – fine of up to €2,000 
• Fake documentation – fine of up to €5,000 
• Driving without a valid Driver CPC – fine of up to €2,000 
• Employer allowing a third party who does not have a valid Driver CPC to drive a vehicle professionally – fine of up to €5,000 (for employer or third party).