Right I've been asked to drive a mini bus for work. The purpose is to take a group of people to visit another site. The mini bus is from a hire compnay. I will not be rewarded in anyway.

According to the DVLA you can drive a mini bus if you dont have a D1 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 licence for at least 2 years;

iv) you are providing your service on a voluntary basis; and

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);

Now I dont fully understand the first one. Is work classed as a commercial body?

Thanks

You're doing it for work, on behalf of work, so no, you can't drive it sadly.

If you were taking a bunch of mates to Alton Towers, then yes you can drive it.

I'm in the category that allows me to drive a normal wheel base minibus but not one of the newer longer wheel base models until I pass my D1. It's a right pain!

Agreed. If you got your car licence before April '97 you have the D1 classification automatically on your licence, but it still excludes for hire or reward.

If you got your licence after April '97 you have to pass a PCV D1 theory and practical driving test to drive a Minibus up to 16 passengers.

If you're at work, you're being paid to ferry people about. If stopped by cops you could be reported for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, and driving with no insurance. They could impound the vehicle and you could be disqualified from driving, or get 6 points and a two hundred pound fine.

Just say no!

On a similar note I drove a minibus for the college a while back. I have category D on my license does this entitle me to drive the minibus for this purpose? I was driving a group of students to a school.

Phil

Just say no!

On a similar note I drove a minibus for the college a while back. I have category D on my license does this entitle me to drive the minibus for this purpose? I was driving a group of students to a school.

Phil

full rules can be found here ... Driving a minibus : Directgov - Motoring

It's worth noting that schools / colleges don't count as commercial bodies so you can get away without a D1 under certain conditions as per the info on one of the pages you can jump to from the link.

Its all sorted now. 2 People carriers

Good one. I passed my test in July 1996, so just scraped in there with a D1 on my license. Despite having it, work wouldn't put me on the minibus driver list when we went to France on a golf trip.... My reputation precedes me!

I used to drive the minibus for the ski team at uni in my final year, a bit of a shock compared to a Fabia.

bit of a shock compared to a Fabia.

TBH I find it harder driving a minibus than a full sized bus... don't know what it is about them! lol

Sorry to hijack the thread but its on topic (ish).

Does anyone know where I stand with transporting passengers on a bus that has had its original seats taken out and had custom seating made at the back and its primary use is now as a mobile classroom?

Knowbody seems to know the answer to this one as it is out of the norm.

Might be a call to DVLA or something me thinks.

Phil

Phil, I take it you have C1 and D1 classes, or a real PSV?

In that case, I think the real question is over whether or not the new seating is designed for use in a moving vehicle, and strongly suspect that it won't be.

I have a PSV license.

Yeh thought as much... Will have to get it checked out.

Thanks

Phil

I thought the rule was no matter what your doing if the vehicle has more than 8 permanent seats you needed a D1 licence upwards......

From experience if the company is not a registered charity you can forget it.

If the company is a registered charity, you must be driving it for no reward (eg getting paid means you shouldn't be driving it).

Basically, don't touch it unless you have a D1 or there is a good chance you will end up in court for driving without a licence and without insurance.

Easier option is just to hire 2 6/7 seater people carriers and drive them up as they don't need D1.

TBH I find it harder driving a minibus than a full sized bus... don't know what it is about them! lol

Sorry to hijack the thread but its on topic (ish).

Does anyone know where I stand with transporting passengers on a bus that has had its original seats taken out and had custom seating made at the back and its primary use is now as a mobile classroom?

Knowbody seems to know the answer to this one as it is out of the norm.

Might be a call to DVLA or something me thinks.

Phil

Fine provided the seating is approved and the vehicle has been inspected after the conversion ie mobile libraries, motorhomes etc

I drive a minibus for my local school, we borrow it from the local secondary school as its little used during the day , I have a full cat D (passenger vehicle with more than 8 seats) anyhow so doesnt come into the D1 restriction

TBH I find it harder driving a minibus than a full sized bus... don't know what it is about them! lol

Phil

Vehicles that sort of size tend to be okay to drive slowly, or flat strap, but are dodgy to drive at quite quick but not fast IME.