I wanna learn to drive a minibus

bluejosiah

I'm applying for a job that may require me to drive a minibus. I thought I would do a bit of research and so far have worked out that I need to fill in forms D2 and D4 from dvla. However, can anyone tell me where I can learn to drive a minibus without having my own vehicle to learn on? I live in Dorset. Any info/advice appreciated. TVM.

wallbash

I must be out of date :rolleyes: what's the difference between a large car and a minibus ?

( don't say size)

I hired a 15 seater minibus ,years ago, never got any training, just did it.
Must be more of that dreaded 'elf and safety'

Nile

Hello bluejosiah

I'll move your thread to the 'Motoring & Public Transport' board.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Regards

Nile

scbk

wallbash wrote: »

I must be out of date :rolleyes: what's the difference between a large car and a minibus ?

( don't say size)

I hired a 15 seater minibus ,years ago, never got any training, just did it.
Must be more of that dreaded 'elf and safety'

A standard car licence (B) obtained after 1997 only lets you drive a vehicle up to 9 seats.
A D1 licence lets you drive up to 16 seats. Or category D for any size bus

tomstickland

I drove minibuses in the mid 1990s with car licence. Minibus is just a large car, basic common sense was enough to work out how to do it. There were a few high profile crashes caused by stupidity (or poor judgement) over the last 15 years IIRC.

System

And of course if there is any hire or reward involved then you need a PCV licence as well.

pianeet

it depends on what job you are applying for,if the company opperates under the small bus permits scheme ,you will be able to drive a mini-bus up to 3.5 tonnes in weight without the d1 entitlement,as long as you receive no extra payment for doing so,
as for driving experience you could just drive the van equivilent of from which the mini-bus has been converted,ie a transit van.

Reggie_Rebel

!!!!!! wrote: »

And of course if there is any hire or reward involved then you need a PCV licence as well.

There is also Driver CPC which came into force earlier this month. You'll need tp prove you have had the required hours training within the timscale to keep your PCV licence once you get it

Conor_3

And you cannot be employed as a driver until you've got your CPC.

Skint_Catt

tomstickland wrote: »

There were a few high profile crashes caused by stupidity (or poor judgement) over the last 15 years IIRC.

One of them killing 12 of my school friends and my maths/music teacher who was neither stupid nor a poor driver. Tiredness however does kill.

tomstickland

IIRC correctly a very long day ending with colliding with a vehicle on the hard shoulder.