Minibus permit eligibility
You can apply for a minibus permit if you need to charge passengers, as long as:
- you're driving it for a voluntary organisation that benefits the community, such as an educational, religious or sports organisation
- the minibus service is only available for members of that organisation and not to the general public
- the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes (or 4.25 tonnes including any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers)
- any charges are to cover running costs of the vehicle and are not for profit.
The minibus driver must:
- have a full category B car driving licence, held for at least two years to drive a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats
- be 21 years old or over
- if over 70 years of age, the driver must be able to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle.
Minibus permit types
There are two types of permits for minibuses:
- Small vehicles: carrying between 9 and 16 passengers
- Larger vehicles: for carrying more than 16 passengers.
Small vehicles are not classed as public service vehicles (PSV's), meaning a PSV Operators licence or PSV drivers licence are not required.
Larger vehicles are classed as PSV's and will require either a certificate of fitness or of initial fitness. The vehicle will be subject to inspection and prohibition by certifying officers and PSV examiners, however, the vehicle will not require a PSV licence or a PSV Operators licence.
Apply for a minibus permit
You can apply and pay online for a minibus permit. The permit fee is £25.
When applying online, you'll need to upload a copy of the vehicle MOT certificate.