Dangerous goods (ADR) driver training

ADR training cost: what you need and how long each module takes

Every ADR course is the same 9-hour core module plus the modules for how you carry (packages or tanks) and what you carry (the classes). The card that follows lasts 5 years. There is no standard price: gov.uk says training providers set their own and there is no maximum. Tell us what you need to carry and approved centres will quote you directly.

What training do you need?

What are you booking?

First ADR card (initial training) Refresher, card expires within 12 months Adding extra classes to an existing card Not sure yet

How will the goods be carried?

Packages adds 1 hour 30 minutes to the course, tanks adds 7 hours 30 minutes. See the module table below.

Free, no obligation
Your details go only to the centres that quote
Takes about two minutes

The process

Tell us what you need to carry, in packages or tanks, and how many drivers. Two minutes, no account.
We pass your details to approved ADR training centres covering your postcode, and to no one else.
They contact you with dates and their actual price. Compare, book, or walk away.

ADR Courses is a free introduction service operated by Ellul Solutions Ltd. We pass your details to approved ADR training centres who quote you directly, and we may receive a fee from those providers; you pay nothing and are under no obligation. We are not a training provider and we are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Department for Transport, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency or Qualifications Scotland. Nothing here is legal or compliance advice: confirm the current requirements on gov.uk and with your dangerous goods safety adviser before booking.

ADR module minimum training times

Last updated 2026-08-15

Every ADR course is built the same way: the core module, then the module for how the goods travel (packages or tanks), then the modules for the classes you want on your card. These are the minimum training times published on gov.uk, and they are the honest way to size a course, because the number of hours is what drives the number of days and therefore the price.

Minimum training times as published by the Department for Transport on gov.uk (Become a qualified dangerous goods (ADR) vehicle driver, taking a training course), read 15 August 2026. There is no price column on purpose: gov.uk states that training providers set their own prices and there is no maximum price, and no official body publishes a course fee, so we publish the hours instead and get you quotes for the rest.

ADR module minimum training times
Module	Minimum training time	When you need it
Core	9 hours	Every ADR course, without exception
Packages	1 hour 30 minutes	Carrying dangerous goods in packages
Tanks	7 hours 30 minutes	Carrying in tanks; the single biggest addition to course length
Common characteristics	1 hour 30 minutes	Required if you qualify by group rather than class by class
Group A classes (2, 3, 6, 8)	3 hours 45 minutes	Gases, flammable liquids, toxic and corrosive substances together
Group B classes (4, 5, 9)	1 hour 30 minutes	Flammable solids, oxidising and miscellaneous substances together
Class 2: gases	1 hour 30 minutes	If you qualify class by class instead of by group
Class 3: flammable liquids	1 hour 30 minutes	If you qualify class by class instead of by group
Classes 4, 5, 6, 8 or 9 individually	45 minutes each	If you qualify class by class instead of by group
Class 1: explosives	6 hours	Explosives; taken with the core module, not every centre runs it
Class 7: radioactive materials	6 hours	Radioactive materials; taken with the core module, not every centre runs it

Every ADR driver training course includes a core module with a minimum training time of 9 hours, whatever classes the driver is qualifying for (gov.uk).
The tanks module carries a minimum training time of 7 hours 30 minutes against 1 hour 30 minutes for packages, which is why a tanks course runs longer and costs more.
An ADR driver card lasts 5 years, and gov.uk states that ADR training courses can last up to 7 days depending on the qualification option chosen.

Cite this page

“ADR module minimum training times”, ADR Courses, https://adrcourses.co.uk/ (updated 2026-08-15). Minimum training times as published by the Department for Transport on gov.uk (Become a qualified dangerous goods (ADR) vehicle driver, taking a training course), read 15 August 2026. There is no price column on purpose: gov.uk states that training providers set their own prices and there is no maximum price, and no official body publishes a course fee, so we publish the hours instead and get you quotes for the rest.

The detail

Each one cites where its numbers come from.

Questions, answered directly

How long does ADR training take?

gov.uk says ADR courses can last up to 7 days, including the exams at the end. The length follows the minimum training times: 9 hours for the core module, 1 hour 30 minutes for packages, 7 hours 30 minutes for tanks, and 45 minutes to 6 hours per class or class group.

How long does an ADR card last?

Five years from qualifying, with the expiry date printed on the card. To stay qualified you take refresher training and exams; you can start the refresher one year before expiry, and the exam must be taken at least 2 weeks before the card runs out.

Who issues the ADR driver card?

Qualifications Scotland handles the ADR exams and the driver cards, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency approves the training centres that run the courses. Your card is posted within 5 working days of passing, to the address your training provider registered.

How much does ADR training cost?

There is no official price. gov.uk states that training providers set their own prices and there is no maximum, so the number depends on how many modules you take, whether you need tanks, and whether it is initial or refresher training. Replacing a lost card costs £15.

Do I need an HGV licence and Driver CPC as well as ADR?

You need both if transporting dangerous goods in a heavy goods vehicle is the main part of your job. There is no minimum period you must have held the full HGV licence before starting ADR training, and up to 14 hours of dangerous goods training can count towards your 35 hours of Driver CPC periodic training.

What happens if I fail an ADR module exam?

You can retake the test for the module you failed within 16 weeks without retaking the training for it, and you can sit it as many times as you need. Ask the centre whether a same-day resit is possible, and what it charges for resits.

Sources

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