Minibus Licence - What do I need?

Runningfast

Recently set up a business and looking to get my minibus licence but a bit unsure about what I actually need for my circumstances.

I have set up a tour company i.e. Client pays me a fee for a package and I provide numerous things for that fee including return (minibus) transport etc.

I would like to get the minibus licence for myself so that I can be on standby driving duty.

I understand I need the D1 entitlement but do I need the full 4 part Passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) licence? What about the and Public service vehicle operator (PSV) licence?

Thanks

Runningfast

Sorry it isn't clear in my first post. Our current set up is we hire a minibus and driver from a local firm for our tours. Our plan is to move away from this as it is an expensive way of doing things!!

i.e. Potentially if I can get the licence we would hire the vehicle and I drive it etc.

System

Runningfast wrote: »

Recently set up a business and looking to get my minibus licence but a bit unsure about what I actually need for my circumstances.

I have set up a tour company i.e. Client pays me a fee for a package and I provide numerous things for that fee including return (minibus) transport etc.

I understand I need the D1 entitlement but do I need the full 4 part Passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) licence? What about the and Public service vehicle operator (PSV) licence?

As long as the vehicle is a minibus that has no more than 16 passenger seats AND has a gross vehicle weight on the plating certificate of 3.5 tonnes or less then you only need the D1. If the gross weight is over 3.5t then you need a PCV licence and you will most likely need to have a Driver's Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) for each driver too.

You need a PSV operators licence for any vehicle that can carry 9 passengers or more where it is for hire or reward, whether that is being paid direct or payment in kind. It means you'll need an operating centre and someone with a CPC to support your licence application and to act as a transport manager. You'll also need to have proof of a minimum amount of funding available per vehicle and submit things like a planned maintenance schedule including who you intend to use to do the maintenance and periodic safety checks if required. Assuming you're not going to be going out of the UK you'd need a standard national O licence.

You can apply online, it takes 7-8 weeks to get a decision and you cannot operate before you are granted an operators licence.

Happychappy

Tarambor wrote: »

As long as the vehicle is a minibus that has no more than 16 passenger seats AND has a gross vehicle weight on the plating certificate of 3.5 tonnes or less then you only need the D1. If the gross weight is over 3.5t then you need a PCV licence and you will most likely need to have a Driver's Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) for each driver too.

I think you are confusing the weight of 3500kgs and those restrictions that apply to voluntary, charitable or non profit making organisation ?

The OP is running a profit making business for hire or reward, and therefore needs a full D1 he/she needs to do the full D1 licence application of medical, theory, hazard perception test and driving test, this will then allow them to drive a mini bus with up to 16 passenger seats and the 3500kgs is irrelevant

There are few 16/17 seat mini buses under 3500kgs, these lghtweight ones as they are referred to, are purely mentioned for the requirements of the non profit making sector.

A full D1 licence holder can drive a mini bus and trailer up to a maximum of 12000kgs.

Runningfast

Hi everyone. Thanks for the replies I realise my initial post was quite sparse so here is more information on what we do and where the minibus fits in to our plans. Does this change anything?

If I detail a typical day that requires a minibus can you advise on what you think? I have spoken to different providers and the costs range is huge so don’t want to spend money on the wrong licence.
Overall, the driving is ancillary to the main activities (paid) provided i.e.

We offer adventure sport activities/days/weekends.
Clients book a day or weekend or week of activities etc.
Our customers (up to 12 depending on activity) meet at our base on the morning of the event/activity where they leave their cars etc.
A minibus then transports clients and instructors/guides to the activity venue and returns them to our base at the end of the day/weekend/week etc. We do this because it reduces our impact on carparks and rural roads etc.

At present, we hire a minibus and driver from a local hire company which as you can imagine the costs stack up. Due to the venues and remoteness we pay for the minibus and driver for the entire day even though the driver might only actually drive for 2hours max each day. We also pay for a reserve driver because on several occasions we have been let down.

Our overall plan, is to still hire the minibus but for myself and my colleague to do the driving as we are always available/with the groups etc. as we are the activity instructors/guides.

So basically, a day would be like this:

Customer arrives at our base and check in for their chosen activity.
All clients board the minibus.
The driver who is also their activity instructor drives the group to the venue.
They undertake their activity
The instructor (i.e me) then drives the group back to our base.

Does that make a difference to what we require with the driving not being the main part of the job/service paid for?

Thanks

Car_54

Runningfast wrote: »

Does that make a difference to what we require with the driving not being the main part of the job/service paid for?

AFAIK none whatsoever.

Runningfast

Car_54 wrote: »

AFAIK none whatsoever.

Thanks, I didn't think it did but just wanted to see what others thought as I don't find the information on the .gov.uk website that easy to follow.

System

Happychappy wrote: »

I think you are confusing the weight of 3500kgs and those restrictions that apply to voluntary, charitable or non profit making organisation ?

Nope, the information I posted is directly from the government website for PSV operators licences.

The OP is running a profit making business for hire or reward, and therefore needs a full D1 he/she needs to do the full D1 licence application of medical, theory, hazard perception test and driving test, this will then allow them to drive a mini bus with up to 16 passenger seats and the 3500kgs is irrelevant

You're talking about drivers licences, I'm talking about operators licences.

System

Happychappy wrote: »

I think you are confusing the weight of 3500kgs and those restrictions that apply to voluntary, charitable or non profit making organisation ?

Nope, the information I posted is directly from the government website for PSV operators licences.

Runningfast

Tarambor.

How does the PSV apply to us based on my most recent more detailed comments. We don't own any vehicles we just rent them from a hire company for the period we need them. I.e pick up at 8am and give it back at 18:30 that day etc.

You talked about minimum funding, maintenance etc.

Happychappy

Tarambor wrote: »

Nope, the information I posted is directly from the government website for PSV operators licences.

You said "As long as the vehicle is a minibus that has no more than 16 passenger seats AND has a gross vehicle weight on the plating certificate of 3.5 tonnes or less then you only need the D1. If the gross weight is over 3.5t then you need a PCV licence and you will most likely need to have a Driver's Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) for each driver too.

What were you referring to as only needing a D1 ? a D1 is a driving licence category, not an O licence ?