Decide
National vs International — which do I need?
If you've heard there are two types of Driver CPC now and you're not sure which one you need — this page is for you. Most drivers find the answer in two minutes.
Last reviewed: 31 May 2026
The simple test
Do you ever drive in the EU? Or might you ever drive in the EU?
- Yes, or maybe one day → International CPC is what you need.
- No, definitely UK only, forever → National CPC is an option, though International might still suit you better.
Why we usually recommend International
- Valid in both the UK and the EU (National is UK-only)
- Standard 7-hour delivery, same as before the December 2024 split
- One DVSA upload covers all 7 hours (doing 7 hours as National means two 3.5-hour parts and two uploads)
- Just £3.75 more than a single 3.5-hour National part (£35 vs £31.25) — for double the hours and EU validity
- If your work changes and you might cross a border, you don’t need to redo your training under a different category
Why some drivers genuinely choose National
- You’re certain you’ll never drive in the EU, and £4 per session over five years adds up to a meaningful saving
- You want the 3.5-hour flexibility — fitting a single half-day session around shift patterns rather than committing to a 7-hour module
- Your operator has a specific reason (rare, but possible)
Side-by-side
| Feature | International CPC | National CPC |
|---|---|---|
| Valid in UK | Yes | Yes |
| Valid in EU | Yes | No |
| Session length | 7 hours (two 3.5-hour parts, one upload) | 3.5 hours (a single part) |
| Price — full 7 hours | £35 (one upload) | Two 3.5-hour parts: 2 × £31.25 = £62.50 (two uploads) |
| Price — a single 3.5-hour part | Not offered | £31.25 |
| Booking confirmation | Auto-confirmed if 5+ days out with space | Always personally confirmed by Neil (capacity check) |
| DVSA fees | £8.75 for the 7-hour course (one upload) | £5.00 per 3.5-hour part (7 hours = two parts, £10.00) |
The pricing maths, transparently
DVSA charges £1.25 per hour of CPC course for recording your hours. They round up to the next whole hour, so a 3.5-hour course costs £5.00 in upload fees instead of £4.375.
A 7-hour course costs £8.75 (7 × £1.25). When you take a 3.5-hour National session, the DVSA fee is £3.75 less than a 7-hour International. We pass the whole saving straight through to you — that’s why National 3.5-hour is £31.25, not a rounded-down figure. The price isn’t pretty but it’s honest: £35 minus £3.75 of saved DVSA fee equals £31.25.
If you do two 3.5-hour National parts on consecutive days, you’ve paid £62.50 in course fees (2 × £31.25) and DVSA charges two uploads — £10.00 in total fees, which is £1.25 more than the single 7-hour International upload would have cost.
The honest summary
If you’re a UK-only driver who genuinely just wants to do one 3.5-hour module right now, National is the right choice. If you’re doing your 35 hours over time and you might ever cross a border, International is what you want.
We’ll never push you into the more expensive option. If you’re not sure, talk to me — I’d rather you book the right thing than the more profitable thing. Email info@my-cpc.online.
Ready when you are
- Book a standard International course — instant booking if 5+ days out and there’s space
- Book a National course — always personally confirmed by Neil, because the combined-room capacity has to be checked