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Minibus Training ...

Drivers who have minibus entitlement (Category D1)

If you had entitlement to drive cars prior to 1 January 1997 - shown as group A (B for automatics) on an old style green or pink licence or as category B and D1 not for hire or reward on a pink and green or photocard licence - you can drive a minibus provided :

You are 21 or over, the minibus has a maximum of 17 seats including the driver's seat and is not being used for hire or reward.

To drive a minibus which has 9 or more passenger seats for hire or reward you will normally need passenger carrying vehicle entitlement [PCV] (category D1 or D). To obtain this you must meet higher medical standards and take a further driving test.

Hire or reward encompasses any payment in cash or kind by (or on behalf of) passengers which gives them a right to be carried.

However, if you drive a minibus for an organisation under the Minibus or Community Bus Permit Scheme, you will NOT need a category D1 or D licence even if a charge is made to passengers.

Drivers who do not have minibus entitlement (Category D1)

If your driving licence does not allow you to drive minibuses, there are certain circumstances where you still may be able to do so.

You may drive a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats if:

• you drive on behalf of a non commercial body for social purposes but not for hire or reward, unless operating under a permit.
• you are aged 21
• you have held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years
• you are providing your service on a voluntary basis and
• the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes excluding any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers. Minibuses up to 4.25 tonnes will be permitted in certain circumstances.
• if you are aged 70 and over, you are able to meet the health standards for driving a vehicle (i.e. minibus) which comes within the D1 class.

When driving a minibus under these conditions you may not receive any payment or consideration for doing so other than out of pocket expenses or tow any size trailer; you may only drive minibuses in this country.

Drivers aged 70 or over will need to make a special application which involves meeting higher medical standards. If you wish to carry fare paying passengers then you are required to pass an additional driving test in order to remove the "101" licence restriction, you will also need to meet the higher medical standards and apply for your provisional licence, pass a PCV theory test and undertake the practical training and test.

Drivers who passed a car test on or after 1 January 1997 are required to pass an additional driving test in order to gain this category of licence, will not have this licence category, to apply you will need to meet the higher medical standards and apply for your provisional licence, pass a PCV theory test and undertake the practical training and test. For more information on Minibuses and the law follow this link.

You may drive a minibus at the age of 18:

• While learning to drive or taking passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) test; or
• After passing a PC V test when:
• driving on a regular service where the route does not exceed 50km, or
• driving a PCV constructed to carry no more than 16 passengers, and
• the vehicle is operated under a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operator's licence or permit.
• Not engaged in the carriage of passengers