Minibus license

Tilt

Richard53 wrote: »

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?

Yes

Richard53 wrote: »

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.

Hmm, that is a tricky one. I think it depends on the area where you are driving them and whether they would be classed as members of the public or not.

If I was you I would refer the question to the DVSA

Richard53

Tilt wrote: »

Hmm, that is a tricky one. I think it depends on the area where you are driving them and whether they would be classed as members of the public or not.

If I was you I would refer the question to the DVSA

Yes, quite tricky. I'm pretty sure that my employer thinks that because we offer the service for no charge (and we do, that's genuine) that D1 is a sufficient qualification. It's all on private land, so it's possible that the licence category is irrelevant and insisting on D1 is simply risk mitigation on their part. I have emailed our HR and H&S people and asked for clarification. (I have also copied the email to my private email address 'just in case'.) I may write to DVSA as well, depending on their reply.


Thank you for the input, very helpful.

Iceweasel

You have mentioned trailers - you even said 'any' trailer - if there is a trailer involved then be careful as there are other limitations if you have not passed a test specifically for these.

Check all the restrictions - you may well find that there are MAM maximum weights mentioned.

Also maximum length of the vehicle on it's own.

Car_54

Richard53 wrote: »

Yes, quite tricky. I'm pretty sure that my employer thinks that because we offer the service for no charge (and we do, that's genuine) that D1 is a sufficient qualification. It's all on private land, so it's possible that the licence category is irrelevant and insisting on D1 is simply risk mitigation on their part. I have emailed our HR and H&S people and asked for clarification. (I have also copied the email to my private email address 'just in case'.) I may write to DVSA as well, depending on their reply.


Thank you for the input, very helpful.

If you're driving as part of your job then it is hire or reward - you're being rewarded. See https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus

Spicy_McHaggis

Tilt wrote: »

Yes



Hmm, that is a tricky one. I think it depends on the area where you are driving them and whether they would be classed as members of the public or not.

If I was you I would refer the question to the DVSA

No, it would depend on whether it was a public place or not.

Private property, with no access to the public no licence required.

It's the control of customers onto the site and not who they are that needs consideration.

onomatopoeia99

Iceweasel wrote: »

You have mentioned trailers - you even said 'any' trailer - if there is a trailer involved then be careful as there are other limitations if you have not passed a test specifically for these.

Check all the restrictions - you may well find that there are MAM maximum weights mentioned.

D1E limits the MAM of the trailer to less than that of the tow vehicle, BUT information code 119 if present suspends this requirement (people who passed their B test a long time ago, like me, will have this code).

Tilt

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

No, it would depend on whether it was a public place or not.

Private property, with no access to the public no licence required.

It's the control of customers onto the site and not who they are that needs consideration.

It MAY have unrestricted access for all you (or I) know so what did you think I meant when I said; "I think it depends on the area where you are driving them"??

specialboy

Tilt wrote: »

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

Not true, they can contribute towards the fuel etc as long as the driver isn't making a profit.

Tilt

specialboy wrote: »

Not true, they can contribute towards the fuel etc as long as the driver isn't making a profit.

Ahh, I see. Then this https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus is obviously wrong then.

specialboy

Tilt wrote: »

Ahh, I see. Then this https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus is obviously wrong then.

I stand corrected (sort of) I was referring to a privately owned minibus which is being used to ferry friends around not a social club or the likes. Code 101 allows this as long as it not for profit.