carrying passengers in a minibus

[a1burns]

Right, long story short need to resolve an argument...

As a 21 year old who has held a license for more than 3 years could I drive a minibus with up to 8 passengers... The dvla website seems to agree but my friend is adamant I cant without additional qualifications...?

[alangla]

8 seats is a car (class B) not a minibus (D1) so you're fine as far as I can tell - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring/driverlicensi...

Edit to add - I assume this is something about the size & shape of a Transit van & under 3.5 tonnes.

[TheEnd]

Yea, that's roughly it, but it's down on seats, not passengers, so you wouldn't be allowed to drive an 18 seater by yourself.

You'll have to check the numbers, but that was the general gist of it.

[R0G]

As said - its the number of seats fitted that makes it a B or a D1 category vehicle

For what purpose is the minibus being used?

[Monkeylegend]

a1burns said:

Right, long story short need to resolve an argument...

As a 21 year old who has held a license for more than 3 years could I drive a minibus with up to 8 passengers... The dvla website seems to agree but my friend is adamant I cant without additional qualifications...?

As long as they are not fare paying, ( to you ) passengers, although I think you need at least 6 GCSE's.

[dowahdiddyman]

Check the back of your licence, that will tell you.

[R0G]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring/driverlicensi...

Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:

•a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided the following conditions are met:

i. the vehicle is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body but not for hire or reward
ii. the driver is aged 21
iii. the driver has held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years
iv. the driver is providing the service on a voluntary basis
v. the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes including any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers


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.