Theory online - Driving a minibus

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Driving a minibus

These pages include extracts from the DVLA's D100 leaflet called "What you need to know about driving licences". You can download the original document by following this link.
This leaflet and these pages gives general information. It is not a statement of law.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information reproduced is correct, Select All cannot not be held responsible for any inaccuracies.

Car licences

Entitlement gained before 1 January 1997 – if you passed a car test before 1 January 1997 and hold a valid licence for group A, group B, category B, or category B for automatics, you should have entitlement to drive minibuses category D1 (not for hire or reward).

Entitlement gained from 1 January 1997 – your minibus entitlement will be valid in the UK and on temporary visits abroad until you renew your licence. When your licence needs to be renewed, your minibus entitlement (D1, D1+E not for hire or reward) can only continue if you make a special application which will involve meeting higher medical standards.

In general, car licences have to be renewed when drivers reach age 70, but younger drivers with restricted medical licences are affected by the rules when their licence ends.

For more details see DVLA leaflet INF28.

Test passes after 1 January 1997 – if you passed your car test after January 1997, you may drive a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats as long as:

• you drive it for social purposes, but not for hire or reward;

• you are aged 21 or over;

• you have held a car (category B) licence for at least two years;

• you are providing your services on a voluntary basis; and

• the minibus weighs no more than 3.5 tonnes (not including any specialist equipment for carrying disabled passengers), or no more than 4.25 tonnes in certain circumstances.

To drive a minibus with more than eight passenger seats for hire or reward you will normally need entitlement to PCV category D1 or D. To get this you must meet the higher medical standards and take a further driving test.