HGV Driving Hours Calculator UK – Breaks & Rest Period Tool

Professional accuracy note

This HGV Driver Hub practice material is designed as a revision and decision-training aid. It is not the official DVSA test, but the guidance and scoring logic are aligned with current UK HGV topics including drivers’ hours, tachographs, Driver CPC, vehicle checks, hazard awareness and vulnerable road users.

For final legal guidance, always check GOV.UK/DVSA: drivers’ hours, goods vehicle tachograph guidance, and Driver CPC training rules.

CogniDriver Qualification Academy • Coming Soon

From free practice to structured professional qualification

This practice page is part of the wider CogniDriver Qualification Academy roadmap: a professional HGV learning environment for theory preparation, Driver CPC readiness, compliance judgement, hazard recognition and real-world driver decision integrity.

The academy will bring together guided modules, mock assessments, scenario-based training, progress tracking and certificate-ready learning pathways for drivers and fleet operators. Until launch, use these HGV Driver Hub practice tools to build confidence and identify weak areas.

HGV Driving Hours Calculator UK – Breaks & Rest Period Tool

The HGV Driving Hours Calculator helps UK lorry, LGV and PCV drivers plan their driving time, breaks and rest periods according to EU Drivers’ Hours Rules and the Working Time Directive (WTD). This tool is designed for new and experienced drivers who want to stay compliant, avoid fines, prevent fatigue and understand exactly how many hours they can drive legally in a day or week.

For a complete explanation of legal breaks and rest periods, read our full HGV breaks and rest periods UK guide. You can also use this page alongside our HGV Compliance Score to understand your overall DVSA compliance risk.

Daily Driving Limits

Under EU Drivers’ Hours Rules, an HGV driver can drive a maximum of 9 hours per day. This can be increased to 10 hours twice per week. For more wider driver rules, visit our HGV Driver Guide UK.

Break Requirements — 4.5 Hour Rule

After 4 hours 30 minutes of driving, you must take a break of at least 45 minutes. This can be split into 15 minutes + 30 minutes. Our detailed HGV driving hours and rest periods guide explains this rule in more detail.

Daily Rest Requirements

Drivers must take a minimum daily rest of 11 hours. This can be reduced to 9 hours up to three times per week. If you are preparing for professional driver training, see our HGV Driver Training UK page.

Weekly & Fortnightly Driving Limits

Weekly driving is limited to 56 hours, and the maximum for any two consecutive weeks is 90 hours. These limits are important for DVSA roadside checks and operator compliance.

Working Time Directive (WTD) — 48 Hour Average

The Working Time Directive applies to all mobile workers, including HGV drivers. It limits the average working week to 48 hours over a 17-week reference period. The maximum working time in any single week is 60 hours, as long as the 48-hour average is maintained.

GB Domestic Rules

Some drivers operate under GB Domestic Rules instead of EU Rules. These include a maximum duty time of 11 hours and a 30-minute break after 5.5 hours of duty. Always check which rules apply to your journey, vehicle and operation.

Who Should Use This HGV Driving Hours Calculator?

This tool is useful for new HGV drivers, experienced drivers, transport managers, operators and anyone who needs to understand UK driving hours rules. It is also helpful for drivers preparing for CPC exams using our CPC Practice Test UK.

Official Guidance

For official rules, visit: GOV.UK — Drivers’ Hours Rules.

CogniDriver Qualification Academy • Coming Soon

From free practice to structured professional qualification

This practice page is part of the wider CogniDriver Qualification Academy roadmap: a professional HGV learning environment for theory preparation, Driver CPC readiness, compliance judgement, hazard recognition and real-world driver decision integrity.

The academy will bring together guided modules, mock assessments, scenario-based training, progress tracking and certificate-ready learning pathways for drivers and fleet operators. Until launch, use these HGV Driver Hub practice tools to build confidence and identify weak areas.

HGV Driver Hours Calculator

UK Drivers Hours Rules — check your compliance instantly

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CogniDriver Qualification Academy • Coming Soon

From free practice to structured professional qualification

This practice page is part of the wider CogniDriver Qualification Academy roadmap: a professional HGV learning environment for theory preparation, Driver CPC readiness, compliance judgement, hazard recognition and real-world driver decision integrity.

The academy will bring together guided modules, mock assessments, scenario-based training, progress tracking and certificate-ready learning pathways for drivers and fleet operators. Until launch, use these HGV Driver Hub practice tools to build confidence and identify weak areas.

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