Checked 28 October 2026. Dates and fees from GOV.UK “Book a dangerous goods safety adviser exam”, updated 11 September 2026 and read 28 October 2026. GOV.UK adds new dates as they are set; check it before you apply.
The next DGSA exam is on 26 November 2026 (apply and pay by 5pm on 12 November). After that the sittings are 4 March, 10 June, 9 September and 25 November 2027. Each exam costs £135, so £405 for the three you need. Results take up to 8 weeks.
GOV.UK, Book a dangerous goods safety adviser exam, read 28 October 2026.
- 9 timed papers in the official written-answer layout
- Core, All Classes and Road, 50 marks each
- Your paper marked point by point in about a minute
- Missed points with the reference to read
- Model answers and references for every question
- Score against both published pass marks
Every sitting and its deadline
| Exam date | Applications open | Last date to apply and pay (5pm) |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 26 November 2026 | 11 September 2026 | 12 November 2026 |
| Thursday 4 March 2027 | 27 November 2026 | 18 February 2027 |
| Thursday 10 June 2027 | 5 March 2027 | 27 May 2027 |
| Thursday 9 September 2027 | 11 June 2027 | 26 August 2027 |
| Thursday 25 November 2027 | 10 September 2027 | 11 November 2027 |
From GOV.UK, read 28 October 2026. You have to apply and pay before 5pm on the last date.
A sitting is a single day. The rail and inland waterways exams “all take place at the same time, so you can only do one of these exams on a single exam day”. The official sample papers print these times: Core 09:30 to 10:45, All Classes 11:15 to 13:00 and Road 14:00 to 15:45. Your booking confirmation gives the time and date of your own exam.
The three papers you need: Core, All Classes and one mode
| Paper | Time | Layout on the sample paper | Pass mark | Text you answer from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | 1 hour 15 minutes | 10 questions, 50 marks | 65 % (syllabus); 32 marks (sample paper) | ADR, RID or ADN, your choice |
| All Classes | 1 hour 45 minutes | 8 questions, 50 marks | 65 % (syllabus); 32 marks (sample paper) | ADR, RID or ADN, your choice |
| Road (or Rail, or Inland Waterways) | 1 hour 45 minutes | Road: Section A, one case study (35 marks; the paper offers a choice of three, the sample prints one); Section B, questions (15 marks) | 65 % (syllabus); 32 marks (sample paper) | ADR for Road (RID for Rail, ADN for Inland Waterways) |
From the GOV.UK syllabus and the official sample papers, read 28 October 2026.
Each paper is written by hand in black or blue ink; pencil is not marked. You can take printed copies of the texts the syllabus names. How the papers are marked, and what the official sample papers contain, is in our past papers guide.
How to book and pay
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Apply online | Choose the subjects (Core, All Classes, Road, Rail, Inland Waterways) on the GOV.UK “Apply to book” service |
| 2. Payment details | The DVSA emails details on how to pay within 3 working days |
| 3. Pay by the deadline | Before 5pm on the last date to apply. If you miss it, you apply again when applications reopen |
| 4. Booking confirmation | Qualifications Scotland emails the venue’s full address, the time and date, and what to take |
From GOV.UK, read 28 October 2026.
Every deadline is exactly two weeks before its exam. Payment is a separate step after you apply (the DVSA sends payment details within 3 working days), so apply a few days before the deadline rather than on it.
- 9 timed papers in the official written-answer layout
- Core, All Classes and Road, 50 marks each
- Your paper marked point by point in about a minute
- Missed points with the reference to read
- Model answers and references for every question
- Score against both published pass marks
Venues
| Nation | Venues |
|---|---|
| England | Birmingham, Bristol, Greater Manchester, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Surrey, Yorkshire |
| Scotland | Aberdeen, Stirling |
| Northern Ireland | Belfast |
From GOV.UK, read 28 October 2026. Qualifications Scotland sends the full address once it confirms your booking. There is no venue in Wales on the list.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Each exam | £135 |
| Core + All Classes + Road (to qualify, or to renew) | £405 |
| A resit of one paper | £135 per subject (free if the DVSA upholds an appeal and offers a free resit) |
| Replacement certificate | £30 |
Exam fees from the booking page; the replacement fee from GOV.UK guidance note 19. The resit line is our reading of “You have to pay for every subject you want to take an exam on”, with the appeal rule from the same page.
Each paper you fail costs £135 and up to 8 weeks before you know. The DGSA practice papers are 9 timed papers (3 Core, 3 All Classes, 3 Road) where you write your answers and each one is marked point by point, with the ADR, CDG2009, emergency action code list or derogation reference for every point you missed. One Core question is free to try.
On the day: the rules printed on the paper
| Rule | What the sample papers say |
|---|---|
| Ink | Black or blue ink only; papers written in pencil are not marked |
| Where you write | In the space beside each question; extra space at the end of the booklet, marked “continued” with the question number. No writing on any other paper |
| Rough work | Score it out so the marker does not read it |
| Which text you use | The Core and All Classes covers ask you to tick ADR, RID or ADN, the text you will be referencing |
| Abbreviations | Use the permitted abbreviations for reference documents in the handout |
| Materials | “No unauthorised material may be brought into the examination room.” The syllabus lets you take printed copies of the texts it names |
| Leaving | Not in the first 30 minutes or the last 15 minutes, unless you are ill; hand your booklet to an invigilator |
From the official Core, All Classes and Road sample papers and the GOV.UK syllabus, read 28 October 2026.
If you are renewing: which sitting to book
You renew by passing the exams “within the final year of your certificate’s validity”, and the new certificate runs 5 years from the old expiry date, so passing early in the final year loses nothing. The table below is our arithmetic from the published dates; check your own expiry date on your certificate.
| Certificate expires | Final year starts | Sittings left in the final year |
|---|---|---|
| February 2027 | February 2026 | 26 November 2026 only |
| June 2027 (after the 10th) | June 2026 | 26 November 2026, 4 March 2027, 10 June 2027 |
| October 2027 | October 2026 | 26 November 2026, 4 March, 10 June and 9 September 2027 |
| December 2027 | December 2026 | 4 March, 10 June, 9 September and 25 November 2027 |
Results can take up to 8 weeks, so a failed paper at the last sitting before expiry leaves no time to resit. GOV.UK says “extensions to expired certificates will not be granted”.
Working back from your exam date
| When | What to do (our suggestion) |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks before | Download the current ADR (the 2025 edition in October 2026; check the edition stated for your sitting), CDG2009, the derogations and the EAC list; print and tab them. Sit one sample paper cold to see where you stand |
| 6 to 3 weeks before | Work through the syllabus topics paper by paper; practise writing answers with full references |
| 2 weeks before | The application and payment deadline. Sit a full timed paper for each subject |
| The last week | Re-read the paragraphs behind every mark you lost; check your venue address and what to take |
- 9 timed papers in the official written-answer layout
- Core, All Classes and Road, 50 marks each
- Your paper marked point by point in about a minute
- Missed points with the reference to read
- Model answers and references for every question
- Score against both published pass marks
Changing a booking, illness and refunds
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You want the next exam date instead | Email Qualifications Scotland (dgsa@qualifications.gov.scot) at least 14 days before your exam |
| Bereavement, illness or injury, 14 days or more before | Move to the next date, or get a refund if the next date is not suitable; attach proof (fit note, medical certificate, death certificate) |
| Bereavement, illness or injury, less than 14 days before | No refund; you can still move to the next date |
From GOV.UK, read 28 October 2026.
Results and appeals
After the exam you are sent a letter with your result, and a certificate if you have passed all three exams; “It can take up to 8 weeks to arrive.” You must sign and date the certificate.
You can appeal if your performance was affected by frequent interruptions, noise outside the room, problems with the papers, poor lighting, other candidates cheating, or unfair treatment. Email the appeal and evidence to the DVSA (adr@dvsa.gov.uk) before the results are published. The DVSA aims to reply within 30 working days. It cannot change your result; if the appeal succeeds it could let you resit for free.
After you pass
Sign and date the certificate when it arrives. It shows the modes of transport and the classes you are qualified for, and it is valid for 5 years. If you want to appear on the DVSA’s public list of DGSAs, apply through GOV.UK with your candidate number and your certificate expiry date; the list is opt-in, so businesses looking for an adviser only see those who asked to be on it. A lost, stolen or damaged certificate is replaced for £30, usually within 10 working days of payment; a change of name is free.
From GOV.UK guidance note 19 and the booking page, read 28 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next DGSA exam?
Thursday 26 November 2026. Apply and pay by 5pm on 12 November 2026. The 2027 sittings are 4 March, 10 June, 9 September and 25 November.
How much does the DGSA exam cost?
£135 per exam. The three you need, Core, All Classes and one mode (Road, Rail or Inland Waterways), cost £405 if each is passed first time.
Where can I sit the DGSA exam?
Birmingham, Bristol, Greater Manchester, Middlesbrough, Northampton, Surrey, Yorkshire, Aberdeen, Stirling or Belfast.
How long do DGSA results take?
Up to 8 weeks. You get a letter with your result and, if you have passed all three exams, a certificate.
Can I take Rail and Inland Waterways on the same day?
No. GOV.UK says they take place at the same time, so only one can be taken on a single exam day.
Can I move my DGSA exam?
Yes, to the next date, by emailing Qualifications Scotland at least 14 days before. With proof of bereavement, illness or injury given 14 days ahead you can instead get a refund if the next date does not suit.
Independent — not affiliated with Qualifications Scotland, the DVSA or the Department for Transport. ProSyllabus is an independent study site and nothing here is official. The exam facts on this page are quoted or summarised from GOV.UK, Qualifications Scotland, ADR 2025 or CDG2009, read on 28 October 2026; lines marked as our suggestion, and the lines about our practice papers, are ProSyllabus’s own.
Sources
- official — GOV.UK (DVSA): Book a dangerous goods safety adviser exam (dates, fees, venues, results, appeals; updated 11 September 2026)
- official — GOV.UK (DVSA): Dangerous goods safety adviser exam syllabus (updated 2 June 2026)
- official — GOV.UK (DVSA): Dangerous goods safety adviser exams, with the Core, All classes and Road sample exam papers (PDF)
- official — GOV.UK (DfT): Dangerous goods safety advisers, guidance note 19 (updated 15 January 2026)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
