What is a minibus?
A minibus, for the purpose of this information, is a passenger carrying vehicle having more than 8 seats but not more than 16 seats in addition to the driver’s seat.
Driving licence held before 1 January 1997
If you check your licence you should find that it shows entitlement to drive Category D1 this means you can drive a minibus with up to 16 seats without needing an additional test you will also find a code printed next to this on your licence (101) which means not for hire or reward. If you have the old style paper licence it should show group A (B for automatics). (If unsure check chart below)
Not for hire or reward
Not for hire or reward means you must not drive the vehicle if a fare or charge is made for the service, eg a local bus service or even a minibus provided as a courtesy by a hotel could be interpreted as hire or reward. To drive a minibus for hire and reward a driver must hold a vocational D1 passenger carrying vehicle licence (PCV) and will need to undertake a additional test via the driving standards agency (DSA).
Driving licence held after 1 January 1997
If you check your licence you will notice that you do not have category D1 and therefore cannot drive a minibus without taking the additional test. The only exception to this rule is for the driver of a minibus to have a minibus permit, even then the following rules apply.
- The driver must be at least 21 years old and have held a Category B licence (car) for at least 2 years.
- The driver must be driving on a voluntary basis.
- The minibus must not exceed 3500kgs GVW (gross vehicle weight).
Section 19 Small Bus Permit Scheme
Non-profit making organisations can make a charge to passengers for providing transport to the people whom the organisation serves without the need to obtain a PSV Operator’s Licence.’ (extract from the Department for Transport Guide for Operators – passenger transport provided by voluntary groups under the Section 19 or 22 permit system– PSV 385, copies of which are available from the North Eastern and North Western Traffic Area Offices, Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds LS9 6NF).
Payment for providing transport
If no charge is made for the use of the bus at all, no permit is required. However, the word 'charge' covers more than just the payment of a fare. Any payment which directly or indirectly gives a person a right to be carried on the vehicle (the legal term for this is ‘Hire or Reward’) would require the operator to hold either a Section 19 Permit or PSV Operator’s Licence.
Payment can:
- be made by the person themselves or by someone else on their behalf;
- be direct (for example, a fare); or
- be indirect (for example, a subscription membership, payment for a hotel room or an admission charge - where, without the 'right to be carried' on the vehicle, they would not be able to use the hotel or reach the place for which they had paid admission).
Additional Information:
- Any non-profit making body concerned with education, religion, social welfare, recreation or other activities of benefit to the community can apply for a permit
- A Small Bus Permit can be issued for vehicles able to carry 9-16 passengers excluding the driver.
- It is not necessarily the owner of a vehicle that is required to obtain a Section 19 permit, but the user. (These may of course be one and the same)
- A Section 19 permit currently costs £8 and is valid indefinitely.
- A Section 19 permit is available from a Traffic Area Office. For Bury MBC teaching establishments from the Licencing Section, Town Hall, Bury.
- For each permit granted, a disc will be issued which must be displayed on the inside windscreen of the vehicle.
- Only one vehicle can be operated under each permit, but the disc can be moved from one vehicle to another.
- If a school or organisation hires or lends the vehicle to another non-profit making body, they cannot use the school’s permit, but must operate the vehicle under their own permit and disc.
- All permit bus drivers MUST be 21 or over.
- The permit system only applies to journeys entirely within the UK. The business of taking minibuses abroad is highly complex and schools contemplating this are advised to contact the Road Safety Unit or the DSA for more information
Vehicle category descriptions
Listed below are the vehicle category descriptions that are shown on a driving licence.
- Category B: Car (including cars with a trailer weighing up to 750kgs)
- Category A: Motorbikes
- Category P: Mopeds
- Category B: Vans and lorries weighing up to 3500 kgs (including vehicles with a trailer weighing up to 750 kgs)
- Category C1: Vans and lorries weighing between 3500 and 7500 kgs (including vehicles with a trailer weighing up to 750 kgs)
- Category B: Buses with fewer than 9 seats (including vehicles with a trailer weighing up to 750 kgs)
- Category D1: Buses with more than 8 but fewer than 17 seats (including vehicles with a trailer weighing up to 750 kgs) provided they are not used for hire or reward
- Category B plus E: Any vehicle in category B with a trailer weighing more than 750kgs
- Category C1 plus E: Any vehicle in category C1 with a trailer where the combination weighs no more than 12000 kgs (in Northern Ireland, towing a trailer weighing over 750kg with a combined weight of 1200-8250 kg for licences issued before 1 January 1997
- Category D1 plus E: Any vehicle in category D1 with a trailer weighing more than 750 kgs where the combination weighs no more than 12000 kgs
Category B1: 3 or 4 wheeled cars or vans where the unladen weight is no more than 550 kgs
- Category B1: Motor tricycles
- Category B1: Invalid cars
- Category F: Agricultural tractors
- Category K: Mowing machines
- Category K: Pedestrian-controlled vehicles
- Category G: Road Roller
- Category H: Tracked vehicles
- Category L: Electrically propelled vehicles
- Category N: Vehicles exempt from vehicle excise duty
Local companies offering driver training
Red Rose Training
Red Rose Training, Europa Way, Stoneclough, Manchester, M26 1GG
Telephone: (Bolton) 01204 864000
Fax: (Bolton) 01204 864002
Email: info@redrosetraining.co.uk
Red Rose Training will offer a managed package which includes:
- Medical Appointment
- Licence Acquisition via DVLA
- Theory Test
- Theory Book
- Free Hazard Perception Training.
- Free Driver Training Assessment per candidate to determine the number of hour’s driver training required.
- Driver Training - • 16 hours driver training - Monday to Thursday and a practical driving test on Friday. (4 hours on the day)
Cost of £952.50 per candidate.
If you require a retest this usually takes 4 hours plus the test and costs £253.50.
They can guarantee the same vehicle and instructor throughout the training and training will be on a one to one basis - instructor and candidate.
Their staff will manage, monitor and remind each client throughout the process.
North Manchester HGV-D1 Training
Phone: 01204 523235
Mobile: 07977 477 017
In order for someone to start a D1 course they must have a provisional D1 on there licence.
D1 Package
Medical/Licence/Theory Fees - £75
Course Fees - Standard Course (approximately 20 hours) - £650 + VAT
DOT Test fee - £93
The courses run for five half days with the test on the fifth day.
TRUCK Training UK limited
Truck Training UK, Weston Street, Bolton, BL3 2AW
Phone: 01204 525454
www.trucktraininguk.com
Medical/ Licence Application/ Assessment Drive - £49
1 x DSA Theory Test (inc loan of books + DVD’s ) + Hazard Perception Training - £32
PCV Cat D1 Practical Course (subject to assessment) - £420 + VAT
1 x DSA Cat D1 Practical Test - £90
The costs are per person.
More information
For the most up to date information on driving a minibus go to the go to the DirectGov website
