Minibus license

arcon5

Anybody know what driving license category allows a person to drive a 9 seater minibus? And a 14 seater minibus?
And whether this changes if driving personally and part of employment?

Paully232000

https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus

does this help?

thenudeone

It will all be on the back of the licence, as long as it is a photocard type.

There may be codes which would be shown against a categoty which can in some cases prevent use "for hire or reward" but this code only prevents taxi or private hire use, not any paid employment.

Car_54

thenudeone wrote: »

It will all be on the back of the licence, as long as it is a photocard type.

There may be codes which would be shown against a categoty which can in some cases prevent use "for hire or reward" but this code only prevents taxi or private hire use, not any paid employment.

No, "not for hire or reward" also precludes paid employment, i.e "you’re driving on a voluntary basis and the minibus is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body".

See https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus

patman99

If you are being paid to drive the minibus, then you will need to pass a PCV test in order to drive any vehicle that can carry 9 or more people (including driver).
If, however, you are a volunteer driver (even if paid a maintenance fee to check the oil and tyres etc), then (if your license allows) you can drive a 17-seat minibus.

Tilt

patman99 wrote: »

If you are being paid to drive the minibus, then you will need to pass a PCV test in order to drive any vehicle that can carry 9 or more people (including driver).
If, however, you are a volunteer driver (even if paid a maintenance fee to check the oil and tyres etc), then (if your license allows) you can drive a 17-seat minibus.

If you need the passengers to make any payment towards running costs, you need a minibus permit from your local authority, or contact DVSA.

Richard53

I've just checked my licence entitlements on the .gov.uk website, and apparently I have D1E entitlement (minibuses up to 16 passengers with trailer over 750 kg), and also provisional entitlement to D1 (minibuses with trailer up to 750 kg). The wording is 'Vehicles you can drive' and 'Vehicles you can provisionally drive'.


There's no mention of taking or passing any test, so what does 'provisionally' mean in this context? Anyone any ideas? It's totally new to me.

Tilt

Richard53 wrote: »

I've just checked my licence entitlements on the .gov.uk website, and apparently I have D1E entitlement (minibuses up to 16 passengers with trailer over 750 kg), and also provisional entitlement to D1 (minibuses with trailer up to 750 kg). The wording is 'Vehicles you can drive' and 'Vehicles you can provisionally drive'.


There's no mention of taking or passing any test, so what does 'provisionally' mean in this context? Anyone any ideas? It's totally new to me.

I thought the link in post #2 covered it!

It depends on what purpose you want to drive the mini-bus for... on a self drive basis to take a bunch of mates/family out on a jolly while taking NO payment at all for it or driving a private mini-bus taking a group out (not known to you and not random members of the public) where by a nominal non-profit payment is made or driving a PCV registered commercial mini-bus where you are being paid a wage or payment for profit.

If you tell us which one of the above applies, I can tell you.

Richard53

Tilt wrote: »

I thought the link in post #2 covered it!

It depends on what purpose you want to drive the mini-bus for... on a self drive basis to take a bunch of mates/family out on a jolly while taking NO payment at all for it or driving a private mini-bus taking a group out (not known to you and not random members of the public) where by a nominal non-profit payment is made or driving a PCV registered commercial mini-bus where you are being paid a wage or payment for profit.

If you tell us which one of the above applies, I can tell you.

I have read the link. You may have misunderstood my question. The use for hire and reward is a separate issue (and one that I need to take up with my employer, after I have read that page). I was asking why my D1E entitlement was listed under 'vehicles you can drive' and the D1 was under 'vehicles you can provisionally drive'. (Both are 'not for hire or reward'). What is the meaning of 'provisional' here?


My old-fashioned understanding of a provisional licence is one which is temporary and/or based on a restriction (like the licence you get to enable you to learn to drive in the first place). That doesn't seem to be the meaning here. It seems illogical - I am fully qualified to drive a 16-seater minibus (empty, for the sake of argument) with a heavy trailer, but only provisionally for the same minibus with a light trailer. So, provisional in what sense?

Tilt

Provisional to entitle you to drive (under tuition) to gain a further entitlement (i.e. PCV) so that you can carry passengers for hire or reward.

To be "fully qualified" to drive a vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats, you would need a PCV (D or DE). You also now need a Driver Qualification Card to show that you have taken the relevant CPC course.

However the above isn't required IF you are carrying non-fare paying passengers or random members of the public as long as you have a D1 entitlement.

Richard53

Tilt wrote: »

Provisional to entitle you to drive (under tuition) to gain a further entitlement (i.e. PCV) so that you can carry passengers for hire or reward.

Ah, right, I see. Thanks.

Tilt wrote: »

To be "fully qualified" to drive a vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats, you would need a PCV (D or DE). You also now need a Driver Qualification Card to show that you have taken the relevant CPC course.

However the above isn't required IF you are carrying non-fare paying passengers or random members of the public as long as you have a D1 entitlement.

Assuming no paying passengers, I am qualified to drive a minibus with any trailer and up to 16 seats, and also provisionally qualified to drive a minibus with light trailer under tuition to train for PCV. Is that a fair summary?


My usual thing is driving friends or work colleagues on social occasions with no reward element, so that aspect doesn't really concern me. But I am also asked occasionally to drive my employer's customers around (off public roads) on a 'free' bus service. As we are a commercial organisation, and having read the .gov advice, I am not sure this is permitted on my licence. I have written to our HR people to ask them to clarify.


Anyway, in danger of hijacking this thread, so I will shut up. Thanks for the advice.