Understanding Your Licence
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Understanding a 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 photo card 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.
Driving Licences & Trailers
When you apply for a driving licence, and pass the associated test, the type of vehicles that you are able to drive are separated into different categories. These are:
Category B: A vehicle with up to 8 passenger seats plus the driver.
Vehicle mass less than or equal to 3500kg
Category C: A Vehicle with mass 3500kg to 7500kg
Category D: A minibus is defined as a vehicle with up to 16 passenger seats plus the drivers' seat.
Category E: A Trailer
There are now two main types of driving licences.
- Existing drivers: People who passed their driving tests before 1st January 1997 have full entitlements to drive minibuses and tow trailers. These are in the form of having B, D1 B+E, and D1E.
- New Drivers: People who passed their tests since January 1st 1997 only have Category B.
- The driver has held a full B licence for an aggregate of at least two years
- The driver receives no payment or other consideration for driving the vehicle other than out of pocket expenses
- The vehicle weighs no more than 3500kg
- There is no trailer attached
- The vehicle is to be used for social purposes by a non-commercial body. (This extends to private use of a vehicle otherwise used under permit.)
Use of Union vehicles falls under this exemption. Note, you are not allowed to tow a trailer with a minibus without a category D1E.
Trailers: Existing drivers, with D1+E entitlement are able to drive minibuses with a trailer of any weight (subject to construction and use rules). New drivers have to take a D1 test to tow trailers up to 750kg, and before taking a D1+E test for trailers over 750kg.
Existing drivers can generally tow a combination of vehicle and trailer up to 8250kg.
A vehicle weighing 3500kg may tow a trailer up to 750kg (combined combination weight of 4250kg). A trailer over 750kg may be towed if the maximum authorised mass of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. The combination must not exceed 3500kg.
If you wish to drive towing trailer, please discuss your need with the Transport Coordinator to arrange extra training or practice.
