Can I drive a minibus

mikey72

Tilt wrote: »

Short and simple answer is no. Unless you passed your normal driving test before 1st Jan 1997 your licence will not cover you to drive any vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats.



To drive a vehicle with more than 8 seats in any event would require a PCV licence if carrying for hire or reward and the vehicle would have to meet with PCV requirements.

Yes I would say those prices are reasonable providing the vehicles are fairly new.

Yes you can, subject to the maximum weight.

and

No it doesn't, normal licence is ok if it's not for hire or reward as here.

Tilt

Plushchris wrote: »

I think you are wrong, there are lots of cars out there that have more than 8 seats that dont require a PCV license.

Land Rover County with 12 seats? No PCV license needed for that (or D1 for that matter)

Doesnt bother me as I have the D1 and D1E license .

If the vehicle has more than 8 and up to 16 passenger seats, it normally becomes a D1 catagory. See here; http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022547

But looking further into this, there does appear to be certain conditions where a catagory B will suffice.

However;

Plushchris wrote: »

A PCV license is needed when driving a 15 or 16 seater for hire or reward, and a PCV license is different to a D1 license. A D1 will entitle you to drive up to 16 seater as long as its not for hire or reward.

is wrong. Catagory D is a PCV licence. D1 simply means that the PCV is limited to 8 to 16 passenger seats and covers for hire or reward.

Dosn't bother me either as I have a D entitlement which is a PSV class 1 in old money.

George_Michael

Exempted passenger carrying vehicles
Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:
a passenger carrying vehicle manufactured more than 30 years before the date when it is driven and not used for hire or reward or for the carriage of more than 8 passengers
a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided the following conditions are met:
i. the vehicle is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body but not for hire or reward
ii. the driver is aged 21
iii. the driver has held a car (category licence for at least 2 years
iv. the driver is providing the service on a voluntary basis
v. the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes including any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022619

MsHoarder

Kua wrote: »

No its nothing official. Just a group of friends.

Then you can't drive it. There is a specific exemption for charities and clubs/societies registered with the local Traffic Commissioner to allow their members to drive minibuses without a D1.

Also, the criteria quoted above are "and" criteria, i.e. you must meet all of them, not just one.

Gloomendoom

George_Michael wrote: »

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022619

And now we have gone full circle.

Gloomendoom

MsHoarder wrote: »

Then you can't drive it. There is a specific exemption for charities and clubs/societies registered with the local Traffic Commissioner to allow their members to drive minibuses without a D1.

Also, the criteria quoted above are "and" criteria, i.e. you must meet all of them, not just one.

Doesn't that exemption apply to charging for the service? Presumably the OP isn't going to charge anybody anything.

All he needs to do is find a 16 seater minibus for hire with a GVW of under 3.5T.

Simples (or not, as the case may be.)

bigjl

The LAS had this issue with the Uni students when they were doing their driving courses, they had to rent Galaxy's for the entire course, rather than the occasional one of two days that other courses had them for.

They all had to fund a C1/D1 course before they could drive a Ambulance or the 17 seater minibuses that we drove during the rest of the course.

I think smaller minibuses, 15 seater? Are not covered under C1/D1, we used to have an F Reg 12 seat minibus a Fulham that was used for the driving assessment vehicles before you where employed, I believe the Uni students also drive it.

I think the only ones you can't drive are 17 seaters. Though it is 10 years since I had any direct dealings with minibuses and the diffeent classes of licence needed, as I got C1/D1 automatically.

After reading your link I think you are not covered without C1/D1 on your licence, it is the same test so you get both from what i have been told.

I would assume that the small minibus at Fulham was driven using the exemption due to the vehicle belonging to an NHS Trust perhaps, though come to think about it they probably just did the driving assessment after they passed their C1/D1.

Happychappy

In your circumstances, The short answer is NO, you need to undergo a medical, complete a D2 and D4 DVLA form to apply for your provisional licence, you then need to book a theory and hazard perception test with a DSA test site, such as Pearson Vue, then after training, book a D1 driving test usually completed at a DSA LGV/PCV test centre, good luck.

Kua

Happychappy wrote: »

In your circumstances, The short answer is NO, you need to undergo a medical, complete a D2 and D4 DVLA form to apply for your provisional licence, you then need to book a theory and hazard perception test with a DSA test site, such as Pearson Vue, then after training, book a D1 driving test usually completed at a DSA LGV/PCV test centre, good luck.

Thanks. That was going to be my next question (how do I obtain a D1?) How much is that likely to cost me?

Flyboy152

Plushchris wrote: »

I think you are wrong, there are lots of cars out there that have more than 8 seats that dont require a PCV license.

Land Rover County with 12 seats? No PCV license needed for that (or D1 for that matter)

Doesnt bother me as I have the D1 and D1E license

A PCV license is needed when driving a 15 or 16 seater for hire or reward, and a PCV license is different to a D1 license. A D1 will entitle you to drive up to 16 seater as long as its not for hire or reward.

If a vehicle has more than eight passenger seats (that's nine including the driver) with a maximum of sixteen passenger seats, it classed as a D1, that includes the Land Rover County.