OFF ROAD 4x4 TRAINING

STANDARD LEVEL

A white Land Rover Defender off-road vehicle partially concealed by tall grass and surrounded by trees and bushes in a forest.

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 Standard Level BORDA Off Road 4x4 course is our most popular option and the course we recommend for most 4x4 vehicle operators - designed for operators who use 4x4 vehicles in moderate off road conditions, including terrain with reduced traction:

  • Unmaintained hill & forest tracks

  • Quarries, remote construction & work sites

  • Moorland & upland, common across utilities & renewables

  • Coastal, beach & inland waterways

  • Moderate inclines & declines, up to 25 degrees

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

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 and environmental considerations

  • 4x4 vehicle controls and transmission types

  • Pre-use and post-use checks

  • Starting and stopping with reduced traction

  • Emergency stop procedures

  • Moderate ascents and descents

  • Route planning and risk assessment for varied terrain

TRAINING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, participants will:

  • Understand safety and legal requirements for 4x4 use

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

  • Understand drive types, gearboxes, differentials, and driver aids — applying the right systems when required

  • Plan off-road routes that account for terrain & vehicle limitations

  • Operate 4x4s safely and confidently in varied terrain, forwards and in reverse, including with limited traction

  • Apply correct techniques for ascents, descents, ruts, ditches, side slopes, and obstacles

  • Demonstrate self-recovery techniques (e.g. after a stall or loss of traction)

  • Reduce wear & tear on vehicles, avoid damage & minimise downtime

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: FULL DAY

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TERRAIN: MODERATE

PRICE: FROM £579 + 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