OFF ROAD 4x4 Training

HIGHER LEVEL

A gray off-road vehicle driving through a muddy stream on a forest trail surrounded by trees and bushes.

All BORDA (British Off Road Driving Association) accredited off road 4x4 training provides practical instruction in safe off-road driving techniques, 4x4 systems, and risk reduction — ensuring drivers stay safe, employers stay compliant and vehicle damage is avoided.

The Higher Level BORDA Off Road 4x4 course is for operators requiring comprehensive knowledge of 4x4 systems, robust off road driving techniques and the ability to operate vehicles and equipment safely in challenging off road environments.

  • Steep, technical, mountainous terrain

  • Soft or boggy sites, such as wetland

  • Steep inclines & declines, above 25 degrees

  • Terrain with limited traction such as sand, mud, snow & ice

  • Operating with loads, trailers or during darkness

  • Situations where self recovery may be required

  • Conditions beyond the vehicle’s limits, which must be avoided

Suitable for all commercial operators, with training delivered to British Off Road Driving Association (BORDA) standards as recommended by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

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What the course covers

  • Operator safety, PPE and environmental considerations

  • Comprehensive vehicle controls and transmission types

  • Pre-use and post-use checks, including equipment

  • Starting and stopping with limited traction on steep slopes

  • Emergency stop procedures

  • Steep ascents and descent

  • Negotiating challenging terrain and performing thorough risk assessments

  • Driving in darkness

  • Shallow wading techniques

  • Optional modules: off road load carrying and off road trailer use

TRAINING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, participants will:

  • By the end of this course, participants will:

  • Explain safety and legal requirements for 4x4 use

  • Carry out daily checks and confirm vehicles and equipment are safe to operate

  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge of 4x4 drive types, gearboxes, differentials, and driver aids, applying systems effectively

  • Plan challenging off-road routes considering terrain & vehicle limits

  • Operate 4x4s safely and confidently on steep terrain, both forwards and in reverse, including on low traction terrain

  • Apply advanced techniques for steep ascents, descents, ruts, ditches, side slopes, obstacles, and shallow water crossings

  • Perform self-recovery after stalls, traction loss, or engine braking issues

  • Carry out basic tow recovery

  • Safely return to the road

  • Understand how to reduce wear & tear, avoid damage and extend service life of vehicles & equipment

  • (Optional) Operate a 4x4 safely off road while carrying loads or towing trailers

Delivery

  • Training can be delivered at your site (if suitable) or at our dedicated training centre in West Dunbartonshire.

VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT

  • We recommend trainees use the 4x4 vehicle they normally operate at work to ensure best understanding of their vehicle’s systems and capability, if this isn’t possible then courses can also be undertaken in one of our Land Rover Defender or Toyota Hilux 4x4 vehicles.

  • All trainees should come dressed for the outdoors, with warm and waterproof layers and sturdy footwear. All other equipment is provided.

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DURATION: 2 DAYS

Black and white illustration of a mountain landscape with a winding path in the foreground.

TERRAIN: CHALLENGING

PRICE: FROM £999 + VAT

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4x4 COURSE COMPARISON

A white Land Rover Defender vehicle is driving through a wooded area with ferns and green foliage, surrounded by trees in a forest setting.

BASIC LEVEL 4X4

DURATION: 1/2 Day
COST: FROM £499 + VAT
TERRAIN: MILD

  • Maintained forrest tracks

  • Unpaved worksites and access roads

  • Agricultural land and private estates

  • Mild slopes up to 15 degrees

  • Terrain with reasonable traction, such as gravel & rock

A silver SUV on a muddy dirt trail surrounded by dense green forest, with overcast skies overhead.

STANDARD LEVEL 4X4

DURATION: FULL Day
COST: FROM £579 + VAT
TERRAIN: MODERATE

  • Unmaintained hill and forest tracks

  • Quarries, remote construction & work sites

  • Moorland & upland, common across utilities & renewables

  • Costal, beach & inland waterways

  • Moderate slopes up to 25 degrees

  • Terrain with mixed traction such as grass, sand, gravel or shingle

A silver pickup truck driving through a muddy water crossing on a dirt trail in a forested area.

higher level 4x4

DURATION: 2 DAYS
COST: FROM £999 + VAT
TERRAIN: CHALLENGING

  • Steep, technical, mountainous terrain

  • Soft or boggy sites, such as wetland

  • Steep inclines and declines above 25 degrees

  • Terrain with limited traction such as sand, mud, snow & ice

  • Operating with loads, trailers or during darkness

  • Conditions beyond the vehicles limits, which must be avoided

  • Situations where self-recovery may be required