Driving Minibuses - The Licensing Regulations

Driving Minibuses -  The Licensing Regulations

Changes to the regulations in January 1997 affected the entitlement to drive a minibus.

Holders of full car licences obtained before 1st January 1997 (showing entitlement to drive
groups "A" and "B Automatic" on old licences, and groups "B" and "D1 not for hire or reward" on new licences), can drive a minibus with a maximum of 16 passenger seats as long as they are at least 21 years old. In addition, the vehicle must not be driven for hire or reward.

To drive a minibus with nine or more passenger seats for hire or reward,
a Passenger-Carrying Vehicle (PCV) category D1 or D licence is required. An additional driving test is required for a category D1 or D licence and higher medical standards must be met.

Drivers who obtained full car licences after 1st January 1997 are restricted to driving vehicles with up to eight passenger seats, and would  need to take an additional driving test and meet higher medical standards before driving higher capacity vehicles. Information on the necessary medical standards and additional testing can be obtained from Traffic Area Offices or the DVLA.

Exemptions

In certain circumstances drivers may be allowed to drive a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats without having category D1 entitlement, where the following criteria are met:

The minibus is being driven for a noncommercial body (i.e. a charity) for social  purposes, and not for hire or reward
The driver is over 21 (if over 70, they must meet Group 2 health standards)
The driver has held a full car licence  (category B on the new licences) for at least two years
The service is provided voluntarily
The minibus does not exceed 3.5 tonnes (or 4.25 tonnes if fitted with specialist  equipment for the disabled)

Within the UK, Minibus and Community Bus Permits3 can also enable drivers with a
standard car licence to drive minibuses with up to 16 passenger seats where a charge is made  for carrying passengers. This is as long as the organisation that runs the minibus is concerned with education, religion or other services that benefit the community. In all other cases, if a minibus is operated for hire or reward, a PCV category D1 or D licence is required.

The information on this page is not definitive and here are many more factors to consider when driving a minibus, and extra care needs to be taken when evaluating eligibility for PCV licences, the towing of trailers, etc. and the financial arrangements under which the minibus will be operating. Consult the DVLA or Traffic Area Offices if you are in any doubt over eligibility.

Please note that the test vehicle for Category D1 must be a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) with 9-16 passenger seats with a Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of at least four tonnes, be of at least five metres in length and capable of 80 km/h (50 mph), have a Tachograph, ABS, seatbelts and examiner mirrors fitted. 

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