Minibus license

Spicy_McHaggis

Tilt wrote: »

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.

But often it's the same vehicle, so there's no difference in the actual ability to control or manoeuvre it.

Tilt

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

But often it's the same vehicle, so there's no difference in the actual ability to control or manoeuvre it.

Lol! Well obviously the physical dimensions may "often" be the same but that is where the similarity ends as far as the law is concerned and in regards to the "ability" of the driver. There are no requirements or conditions when it comes to driving a Transit sized van other than you hold a category B entitlement on your licence but it's a different story when it comes to driving the equivalent mini-bus.

Richard53

Andy_L wrote: »

Assuming the "53" in your username is your age

It's worse than that - it's my date of birth. 61 last birthday.

Andy_L wrote: »

, 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

I know about grandfather rights - my employer loves us older employees because we can jump in and drive the minibus without any additional training and certification, which would cost them money I always believed that I had full rights to drive any minibus (up to 16 seats) and it was the word 'provisional' which made me wonder. 'Provisional' to me in licensing terms implies 'not full'. Hence the question. Nothing to do with the specifics of trailers and hire and reward, interesting though they are. I think Tilt had the answer - the D1 acts as a provisional licence for training for the PCV.

Ectophile

Is it possible that the DVLA have messed up your driving categories at some point? They do that from time to time, when licences are renewed/replaced.

I checked mine on-line, and it shows as a full D1 (and C1) licence. nothing "provisional" about it.

I don't see how you can have a D1+E, but not a D1. It doesn't make sense.

Tilt

Ectophile wrote: »

Is it possible that the DVLA have messed up your driving categories at some point? They do that from time to time, when licences are renewed/replaced.

I checked mine on-line, and it shows as a full D1 (and C1) licence. nothing "provisional" about it.

I don't see how you can have a D1+E, but not a D1. It doesn't make sense.

If you have a D1 entitlement on your licence, you can drive a mini-bus up to 16 seats on a non-profit or hire and reward basis. Your passengers also must not be random members of the public.

If you want to drive a mini-bus for a profit or for hire and reward, then you must first acquire a PCV entitlement (mini-bus is still D1 but most people would obtain a D category which is to drive full size bus/coach). Until you have acquired your PCV entitlement, your current D1 acts as a provisional licence so that you can take the necessary practical tuition.

I would agree that to non-PCV drivers, it's as clear as mud.

Spicy_McHaggis

Tilt wrote: »

If you have a D1 entitlement on your licence, you can drive a mini-bus up to 16 seats on a non-profit or hire and reward basis. Your passengers also must not be random members of the public.

If you want to drive a mini-bus for a profit or for hire and reward, then you must first acquire a PCV entitlement (mini-bus is still D1 but most people would obtain a D category which is to drive full size bus/coach). Until you have acquired your PCV entitlement, your current D1 acts as a provisional licence so that you can take the necessary practical tuition.

I would agree that to non-PCV drivers, it's as clear as mud.

Question for you, you may enjoy it as its topical for you.

Police vans, driver is paid and often employed for that day to drive the van.

PCV or normal licence?

Tilt

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

Question for you, you may enjoy it as its topical for you.

Police vans, driver is paid and often employed for that day to drive the van.

PCV or normal licence?

Off the top of my head without digging into Google:

Normal licence if the "van" has up to 8 passenger seats irrespective of the status of the passengers. Normal licence if the "van" has up to 16 passenger seats providing the passengers are not random members of the public otherwise PCV or would be required. Mini-bus would require either a full or restricted "O" licence as well.

Of course there maybe exemptions for the police and armed forces but I don't think this is relevant to the OP.

Spicy_McHaggis

Tilt wrote: »

Off the top of my head without digging into Google:

Normal licence if the "van" has up to 8 passenger seats irrespective of the status of the passengers. Normal licence if the "van" has up to 16 passenger seats providing the passengers are not random members of the public otherwise PCV or would be required. Mini-bus would require either a full or restricted "O" licence as well.

Of course there maybe exemptions for the police and armed forces but I don't think this is relevant to the OP.

They don't have operators licence and carry random members of the public.

Tilt

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

They don't have operators licence and carry random members of the public.

Your'e talking about carrying people in custody (under arrest)?

AFAIK these vehicles only have 9 seats (including the driver). But as I said, there are possibly certain exemptions for police use. Maybe our resident police officer; Brat might know.

But as it's not relevant to the thread, I shan't look into it further.

Richard53

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.

Well, I've had a reply and the matter is being raised with the CEO and Directors with a view to amending the driver policy, so it was worth mentioning it. Thanks all.