What Is an ADR Licence? Who Needs One and How to Get It
An ADR licence is the qualification a driver needs to carry most dangerous goods by road. Its official name is the ADR driver training certificate, and it is issued as a photocard, which is why many drivers call it their ADR card. This guide explains what ADR is, which drivers need the certificate, how to get one, what it costs and how long it lasts, as well as the training that other staff in a dangerous goods operation need.
What is ADR?
ADR is the international agreement that sets the rules for carrying dangerous goods by road. The name comes from its French title, Accord relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route, which translates as the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road. In Great Britain, ADR applies to domestic journeys as well as international ones, through the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009.
ADR covers how dangerous goods are classified, packed, marked, labelled, documented, loaded and carried, and it sets the training that everyone involved must have, including drivers.
What is ADR training?
ADR training is the approved course a driver takes to qualify for the ADR certificate. It covers the hazards of dangerous goods, the legal duties of drivers, documents and placarding, emergency equipment and what to do if an incident happens, with exams at the end of the course.
Who needs an ADR licence?
The driver of a vehicle carrying dangerous goods must hold an ADR driver training certificate for the goods and vehicle type they carry. In practice, that means:
- drivers carrying packaged dangerous goods above the small-load thresholds in ADR 1.1.3.6
- drivers of tankers, and of most tank containers, carrying dangerous goods
- drivers carrying most loads of explosives (Class 1) or radioactive material (Class 7)
The certificate is limited to the modules and classes the driver has passed, so a driver qualified for packages cannot drive a tanker without the tanks module.
When a driver does not need an ADR licence
Drivers whose loads stay below the 1.1.3.6 thresholds, or who only carry goods in limited or excepted quantities, do not need the ADR certificate. They still need dangerous goods awareness training, so they know the hazards and what to do in an emergency.
Who else needs ADR training?
Chapter 1.3 of ADR requires everyone whose work involves carrying dangerous goods to be trained for their role. That includes staff who classify, pack, mark, load, unload or consign dangerous goods, as well as the people who prepare the paperwork. This is not the driver’s ADR certificate: it is role-specific training, recorded by the employer and refreshed regularly.
Our Dangerous Goods Awareness Training course is designed for those roles, and for drivers working below the thresholds. Businesses involved in dangerous goods may also need a Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser, which is a separate qualification. Our guide Do I need a DGSA? explains when.
How to get an ADR licence
- Choose the right course for the loads you will carry: packages, tanks or both, plus Class 1 or Class 7 if you need them.
- Complete the training with an approved ADR training provider, in a classroom, through a live online course or at your employer’s premises.
- Take a multiple-choice exam for each module, usually on the last day of the course. The exams are taken online, in person, with an invigilator.
- Once you pass, Qualifications Scotland issues your ADR card on behalf of the Department for Transport.
If you fail an exam for one module, you can retake it within 16 weeks without repeating the training for that module.
How long does ADR training take?
An initial course for packaged goods usually takes 3.5 days, and a course covering packages and tanks takes 5 days. A refresher course takes 2.5 days. The exams are included in the course time.
How much does an ADR licence cost?
The cost of an ADR licence is the cost of the training course, which includes the exams. The price depends on the modules and classes you need and whether you take an initial or refresher course. Companies training several drivers can also book a private course at their own premises. Our ADR training page links to current dates and prices.
Up to 14 hours of ADR training can also count towards the 35 hours of Driver CPC periodic training a professional driver needs every five years, so one course can help with both.
How long does an ADR licence last?
An ADR certificate lasts for five years, and the expiry date is printed on the card. To renew it, the driver takes a refresher course and passes the exams in the final year before the card expires. The new certificate then runs for five years from the old expiry date.
If the card expires before the refresher, the driver has to take the full initial course again. Our guide to ADR certificate renewal explains the renewal rules in more detail.
What happens if a driver does not have the right ADR licence?
Carrying dangerous goods without the right ADR certificate breaks the Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations. It is one of the checks DVSA makes at the roadside, and it can lead to a fixed penalty, a prohibition that stops the vehicle until the problem is put right, or prosecution in serious cases. Operators can be held responsible as well as the driver.
Book ADR training with Total Compliance
Total Compliance is an approved ADR training provider. We run open ADR courses in Grantham and through a live online classroom, and deliver training at customers’ premises across the UK. Call 0345 9001312 or see our ADR training courses for dates and prices.