Minibus license

Richard53

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.

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

The website is quite specific about the weights of trailers and MAM, so I am clear on that. However, I haven't ever (and doubt I will need to) tow a trailer with a minibus. I only mentioned trailers because, according to .gov.uk, I am "allowed to drive" a minibus with a trailer of 750 kg or more, whereas I am "provisionally allowed to drive" a minibus with a trailer up to 750 kg. I was a bit confused as to why there was a difference, and what the meaning of 'provisional' was in that context. I think Tilt has answered that one for me.

Andy_L

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.

Assuming the "53" in your username is your age, and thus you got your licence years ago, then you have "grandfather rights" to have the full minibus entitlement and can drive it for anything except paying passengers. Anyone who got their licence since 1997 can only dirve them, on a car licence, for social use or voluntary bodies, an exemption to let charities, scout groups etc still use minibus

Tilt

Andy_L wrote: »

Assuming the "53" in your username is your age, and thus you got your licence years ago, then you have "grandfather rights" to have the full minibus entitlement and can drive it for anything except paying passengers. Anyone who got their licence since 1997 can only dirve them, on a car licence, for social use or voluntary bodies, an exemption to let charities, scout groups etc still use minibus

You would still need a mini-bus permit from your LA for those.

Spicy_McHaggis

Tilt wrote: »

You would still need a mini-bus permit from your LA for those.

Why?

I thought that was if you charged to cover costs.

Tilt

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

Why?

I thought that was if you charged to cover costs.

Well as it's likely not to be a self drive hire mini-bus, I would imagine somewhere along the line, someone has got to contribute to the running costs.

Iceweasel

This whole minibus licence thing is a minefield of exemptions and 'grandfathers rights'.

The same thing goes for driving goods vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes driven on a pre 1997 car licence.

Lots of people in the UK are driving minibuses without checking the exact rules - note I'm NOT saying the OP is one of those.

In Calais in the summertime I have frequently seen a minibus, full of young people, towing a trailer full of camping gear or carrying canoes stopped by the French police who turn it around back on the ferry. Or park it up until they get a driver with the appropriate licence.

The UK gained exemption from many of the EU rules for domestic drivers who find that when they venture abroad that things are different.

Tachograph rules can apply to minibuses for example.

Tilt

Iceweasel wrote: »

This whole minibus licence thing is a minefield of exemptions and 'grandfathers rights'.

The same thing goes for driving goods vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes driven on a pre 1997 car licence.

Lots of people in the UK are driving minibuses without checking the exact rules - note I'm NOT saying the OP is one of those.

In Calais in the summertime I have frequently seen a minibus, full of young people, towing a trailer full of camping gear or carrying canoes stopped by the French police who turn it around back on the ferry. Or park it up until they get a driver with the appropriate licence.

The UK gained exemption from many of the EU rules for domestic drivers who find that when they venture abroad that things are different.

Tachograph rules can apply to minibuses for example.

There lies the problem. As you say there are a mine field of rules which only PCV drivers would normally be aware of. At the end of the day you are carrying passengers so it should matter not if/who/whether is paying for what whether you are suitably qualified (or not). There should be more simplicity about it and less "exemptions".

Car_54

Tilt wrote: »

There lies the problem. As you say there are a mine field of rules which only PCV drivers would normally be aware of. At the end of the day you are carrying passengers so it should matter not if/who/whether is paying for what whether you are suitably qualified (or not). There should be more simplicity about it and less "exemptions".

Totally agree. The rules are there for safety. An untrained driver is no less dangerous just because he's a boy scout.

Spicy_McHaggis

Car_54 wrote: »

Totally agree. The rules are there for safety. An untrained driver is no less dangerous just because he's a boy scout.

So in your opinion they shouldn't be allowed to drive a transit van without additional training?

Tilt

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

So in your opinion they shouldn't be allowed to drive a transit van without additional training?

Are you being sponsored to see how many posts you can do in a month or something?

There is a quite a difference in driving a mini-bus to driving a "transit van". For a start, mini-buses tend to carry passengers who's safety is regarded as paramount thus the reasons for the difference in regs. What is bizzare is that it appears that depending on whether it's being driven for "money" or not, varies the importance of it's "cargo". The minute a profit is being made, the driver has to be more qualified and the vehicle is subject to more stringent rules.