Bus Licence Urgent Question
Discussion
Hope someone can help - not sure where to post this!
Because i'm a grade A idiot, I've decided to do up a bus to rent out for glamping. I want to locate it in my garden in France, for now.
Obviously, though, I don't have a bus licence, because that would be sensible wouldn't it.
Now, someone told me I can remove the seats and drive it on a car licence (that I got before 1997) - IS THAT TRUE?
Otherwise, i'm either shelling £2,000 for a bus licence, or hiring a bus driver to drive to France
HELP!
Because i'm a grade A idiot, I've decided to do up a bus to rent out for glamping. I want to locate it in my garden in France, for now.
Obviously, though, I don't have a bus licence, because that would be sensible wouldn't it.
Now, someone told me I can remove the seats and drive it on a car licence (that I got before 1997) - IS THAT TRUE?Otherwise, i'm either shelling £2,000 for a bus licence, or hiring a bus driver to drive to France
HELP!
I assume when you say bus, you mean one of these, or a coach, i.e. full size:
If so you'll need the proper licence as even if you remove the seats it's still categorised as a bus. You might be able to change it, but chances are you'd have to have it inspected, then it'd be changed to a commercial as they're heavy buggers.
If so you'll need the proper licence as even if you remove the seats it's still categorised as a bus. You might be able to change it, but chances are you'd have to have it inspected, then it'd be changed to a commercial as they're heavy buggers.
Krikkit said:
I assume when you say bus, you mean one of these, or a coach, i.e. full size:
If so you'll need the proper licence as even if you remove the seats it's still categorised as a bus. You might be able to change it, but chances are you'd have to have it inspected, then it'd be changed to a commercial as they're heavy buggers.
Yep, a great big single decker bus. OK thanksIf so you'll need the proper licence as even if you remove the seats it's still categorised as a bus. You might be able to change it, but chances are you'd have to have it inspected, then it'd be changed to a commercial as they're heavy buggers.
James_33 said:
I've got a bus license and never heard of been able to take seats out for it to be alright to drive on a car license, kinda similar to saying if you don't tow the trailer on the back of a truck then it's not a truck?
Stand to be corrected.
I thought as much...was sort of grasping at straws a bit there :-)Stand to be corrected.
I think the 'exemption' the op might have heard comes from some people converting smaller buses in to campers, which could be driven on pre 1997 car licences, but iirc that was dodgy ground...
I'm pretty sure a full size single decker couldn't fall into that category on weight, have to be under 7.5maz weight...
I'm pretty sure a full size single decker couldn't fall into that category on weight, have to be under 7.5maz weight...
A passenger vehicle is a vehicle constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects - tick.
It doesn't cease to be a passenger vehicle if seats are removed.
A passenger vehicle with fewer than 8 seats would be covered by Category B on the driving licence (upto 3.5 tonnes MAM if you passed your test after 01/01/1997, upto 8.25 tonnes if you passed before that date) - check the photocard for your entitlements
Should you leave some seats in, a vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 but less than 16 seated passengers falls under the definition of a 'minibus' - Category D1 on the driving licence.
Note that if the weight of a passenger vehicle exceeds 3.05 tonnes, it will be limited to lower speed limits on single and dual carriageways.
It doesn't cease to be a passenger vehicle if seats are removed.
A passenger vehicle with fewer than 8 seats would be covered by Category B on the driving licence (upto 3.5 tonnes MAM if you passed your test after 01/01/1997, upto 8.25 tonnes if you passed before that date) - check the photocard for your entitlements
Should you leave some seats in, a vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 but less than 16 seated passengers falls under the definition of a 'minibus' - Category D1 on the driving licence.
Note that if the weight of a passenger vehicle exceeds 3.05 tonnes, it will be limited to lower speed limits on single and dual carriageways.
SmoothCriminal said:
Super helpful that, thanks. It's not going to work I really ought to think things through
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