Drivers who do not have minibus entitlement (category D1) If your car licence does not allow you to drive minibuses, there are certain circumstances where you may still be able to do so. You may drive a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided: (i) you drive on behalf of a non-commercial body for social purposes but not for hire or reward (unless operating under a permit); (ii) you are aged 21 or over; (iii) you have held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years; (iv) you are providing your service on a voluntary basis; (v) 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 (see below); and (vi) you do not tow a trailer. Note: There is no specified method of calculating the weight of specialist equipment such as tail lifts or wheelchair security fittings, but there is an allowance of 750kg for the extra equipment for minibuses which are intended for the carriage of passengers with disabilities or wheelchair users. This would cover minibuses with a weight of 4.25 tonnes and would be comparable with the weight threshold which new drivers of cars/light goods vehicles are permitted to drive. 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. |
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