Not sure whether you need to go through a driving test to secure your dream role? Our friends at the RAC Foundation studied our Adzuna job postings data and found that 17.4% of jobs either explicitly or implicitly required those applying to have at least a standard driving licence. A total of 189,608 job ads required candidates to be able to drive in October 2023, accounting for more than one in six jobs.
It’s not just jobs as “drivers” (lorry driver, driving instructor etc) that need that pink licence, a lot of roles need you to be able to drive during your working day.
Here are the jobs that are most likely to require a licence, why you need one, and what your day-to-day job will entail.
Driving instructor
Average salary: £24,435
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 100%
It goes without saying that to teach people how to drive, you need a UK licence to do so. You’ll also need to be 21 or over, have had a driving licence for at least 3 years, and not have been banned (disqualified) from driving in the last 4 years.
You’ll need to be a people person who can keep people calm in what is a very stressful experience for many. As well as an instructor, sometimes listening ear and shoulder to cry on, you’ll also need to know your road safety and car maintenance basics.
HGV driver
Average salary: £28,741
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 100%
HGV (heavy goods vehicle) drivers must have more than just a normal licence. You’ll need a HGV or bus licence (which must be renewed every 5 years) and take a certificate of professional competence too. You also need to be over 18 and take 35 hours of training every five years to stay qualified.
If you’ve been a HGV driver before, you’ll need to do a fair bit to requalify, so this isn’t a career where it’s sensible to let things lapse.
Tanker driver
Average salary: £36,109
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 100%
Tanker drivers need to drive even larger vehicles that often carry hazardous goods such as fuel oil. You’ll need an HGV licence with between one and two years of professional experience.
To work with hazardous goods, you’ll need an ADR driving certificate too.
Courier
Average salary: £38,093
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 96%
Some couriers work on motorbikes, pushbikes, or scooters, but for most couriers, a driving licence is a requirement. We found that 95.6% of the roles advertised either explicitly or implicitly said this was needed.
Couriers don’t require any other qualifications but need to be trustworthy. You’ll often be working with important documents or even medical or transplant supplies.
Delivery driver
Average salary: £29,526
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 96%
Whether you’re working for a big company like Amazon, Uber Eats, or Hermes or simply working for a local takeaway or even a florist, you’ll need to prove to your employer that you have a valid UK driving licence.
Often, you’ll need to have your own car too, but you can usually claim back a lot of these expenses when you’re submitting your tax return.
Plumber
Average salary: £37,785
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 68%
Plumbers who work in people’s homes need to be able to get from A to B with equipment and tools quickly and efficiently. A driving licence is therefore a no-brainer.
Even if you’re working in another setting, for a water board, for example, you’ll normally be based across multiple sites or in places that aren’t accessible via public transport.
Mechanic
Average salary: £41,388
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 64%
You wouldn’t trust a computer engineer who can’t even boot up their home PC and you wouldn’t trust a mechanic who can’t drive either. Apprenticeships can start at 16, so some mechanics won’t be able to get a licence for at least a year but once that bridge is crossed employers will be looking for that driving licence.
As part of the day-to-day role, you’ll need to drive customers’ cars to find out what’s wrong, or even drive to provide roadside assistance when people are stranded.
Electrician
Average salary: £40,899
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 64%
Like plumbers, electricians need to be mobile, whether they’re working in people’s homes or the manufacturing or engineering industry. They also need a lot of kit, so a small van is usually a basic requirement.
You could start your journey into this career with an apprenticeship, training on the job, a college course or getting accredited, and most of these pathways are accessible post-16. So you might not necessarily start with a licence, but you’ll need one as you progress.
Estate agent
Average salary: £37,159
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 59%
Estate agents tend to be known for their flashy cars, and these cars are far more than just a status symbol. Most estate agents will be offered a company car, as they’ll be driving to view properties and show around potential buyers and renters way more than they’re sat at their desks.
It’s a job where you need to be used to driving on tricky residential roads, and keeping your calm when you’re driving clients around to multiple viewings!
Carpenter
Average salary: £36,925
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 38%
Carpenters need to access residential and commercial properties with ease and they need to be ready to carry some very heavy kit (as well as lots of wood) so it’s no surprise to see this role on our list.
At the entry-level, apprentices will often be working alongside a master carpenter with whom they can hitch a lift if they’re too young to pass their driving test.
Carer
Average salary: £33,039
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 34%
Carers help vulnerable people to manage their daily activities and empower them to live as independently as possible. Sometimes this can mean working unusual hours (well beyond public transport times), carrying a lot of equipment, and taking people to appointments to support their health and wellbeing.
34% of the jobs we found required a driver’s licence, but in practical terms for many carers, it’s a necessity.
Social worker
Average salary: £49,502
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 34%
Social workers help to protect vulnerable people (especially children) and change their lives for the better. Your work will involve creating and maintaining safe and stable environments for the most vulnerable, assessing risks, and establishing relationships with wider family and support networks.
You don’t get the time to put your feet up and sit at a desk. You’ll be expected to travel to meet people and engage with the local community. A driving licence isn’t always a requirement, but some jobs do list it as compulsory.
Chartered surveyor
Average salary: £49,632
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 34%
Chartered surveyors are highly skilled professionals who can offer specialist advice, services, and skills in matters relating to construction, property, land, and infrastructure. You’ll need to spend a lot of time on site, visiting construction sites, which means access to a vehicle is expected.
You’ll also need to be chartered by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and need to obtain an accredited degree too.
Sales executive
Average salary: £38,409
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 32%
Our data found that 32% of the sales executive job ads required a driving licence. For a field sales role, where you might be visiting clients and discussing their needs, a car and licence are essential.
Some sales roles require you to be less mobile. A lot of tech sales take place on the phone, on video calls, or via social media.
If you don’t, or can’t drive, you could still succeed in this industry, you’d just need to only work in specific niches.
Forklift driver
Average salary: £23,931
Proportion of jobs requiring a driving licence: 32%
Even though this is a job with “driver” in the title, you’ll need a completely different kind of licence to get this job. You’ll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card and then train with an approved forklift training provider.
Some jobs (32% of them) still want a driving licence, as you’re more likely to have the coordination and skills to operate a forklift.
Do you feel like it’s time to trade in your green licence for a pink one? According to the ONS, driving lessons can cost anywhere between £20 and £60 per hour.
Read more: Top 30 hottest jobs to apply for in 2024