Mechanic driving a 17 seater - No D1

[The Rotrex Kid]

Whilst I am on hold to the DVLA to try and clarfiy this I thought I would ask the PH hive mind for thoughts on this.

I have 2 sites that are 134m apart.

Site 1 is storage
Site 2 is servicing and maintenance.

I have a Mechanic at site 2 that needs to collect vehicles from 1 and complete servicing, then return them Pretty simple.

Mehanic is 24, has had license for 4 years. NO D1 entitlement - Technically he cannot drive a 17 seater for hire or reward as he does not have this or a CPC. But. The DVLA site states here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driver-cpc-exemptions-... that if:


'Empty vehicles within 62 miles of your base if driving is not your main job
You do not need Driver CPC if you meet all of these conditions:

your main work activity is not driving lorries, buses or coaches
the vehicle is being driven within a 62 mile (100km) radius of your base
you’re the only person in the vehicle
the vehicle is empty, except for equipment (including machinery) permanently fixed to it
Example 1: mechanic moving empty buses between depots
A mechanic employed by a local bus company moves empty buses between depots in the local area.

They do not need Driver CPC, as driving is not their main activity (as long as they spend less than 30% of their rolling monthly working time driving), and they’re not carrying any passengers.'

They do not need a CPC - What it doesn't say is if they need a D1?

The D1 rules are here - https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus - but they don't cover this scenario at all. The above link does WRT to CPC.

Any thoughts? I'll see what the DVLA have to say on it but I can't seem to find a clear enough answer (surprise)

[Doesitdrive]

The vehicle is probably rated at 4.2 tonnes and needs a license to cover driving above 3.5 tonnes.

Not sure you even get 3.5 tonne entitlement now?

[stressd]

I’d guess the DVLA will say you need a D1 to be covered by insurance etc.

[Landlubber]

Doesitdrive said:

The vehicle is probably rated at 4.2 tonnes and needs a license to cover driving above 3.5 tonnes.

Not sure you even get 3.5 tonne entitlement now?

Nope, used to be grandfathered in but now it's a test.

[jeremyc]

How have you previously managed this with other mechanics - have they had D1 entitlement?

[The Rotrex Kid]

jeremyc said:

How have you previously managed this with other mechanics - have they had D1 entitlement?

We have only had our own mechanic in the last few months, previous to that we used external workshops and whether they had D1 or not was their problem! Now it’s mine!

[Wheel Turned Out]

Weight would be the issue I would have thought. Anything over 3.5t and the licence will be necessary, even if CPC isn't.

[trickywoo]

Landlubber said:

Doesitdrive said:

The vehicle is probably rated at 4.2 tonnes and needs a license to cover driving above 3.5 tonnes.

Not sure you even get 3.5 tonne entitlement now?

Nope, used to be grandfathered in but now it's a test.

Are you saying 3.5 is a separate test? I know up to 7.5 used to be given with a car license but isn’t any more but I thought 3.5 was still standard.

[Landlubber]

trickywoo said:

Landlubber said:

Doesitdrive said:

The vehicle is probably rated at 4.2 tonnes and needs a license to cover driving above 3.5 tonnes.

Not sure you even get 3.5 tonne entitlement now?

Nope, used to be grandfathered in but now it's a test.

Are you saying 3.5 is a separate test? I know up to 7.5 used to be given with a car license but isn t any more but I thought 3.5 was still standard.

Category C1
You can drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg maximum authorised mass, used to be part of your entitlement, now it ain't.

[the-norseman]

Doesn't need the CPC but still needs the correct licence.

[martinbiz]

Landlubber said:

Doesitdrive said:

The vehicle is probably rated at 4.2 tonnes and needs a license to cover driving above 3.5 tonnes.

Not sure you even get 3.5 tonne entitlement now?

Nope, used to be grandfathered in but now it's a test.

Total bks, you can drive up to and including a 3.5t on a normal B licence,you can even learn and take your test in one if you were silly enough to want to. You are getting confused with grandfather rights permiting 7.5t use if you passed a test before Jan 1997

[The Rotrex Kid]

martinbiz said:

Landlubber said:

Doesitdrive said:

The vehicle is probably rated at 4.2 tonnes and needs a license to cover driving above 3.5 tonnes.

Not sure you even get 3.5 tonne entitlement now?

Nope, used to be grandfathered in but now it's a test.

Total bks, you can drive up to and including a 3.5t on a normal B licence,you can even learn and take your test in one if you were silly enough to want to. You are getting confused with grandfather rights permiting 7.5t use if you passed a test before Jan 1997

Minibuses are weird. You can drive a 3.5t on a B license but it can be 4.25t if wheelchair adapted or electric. It’s all very grey IMO

[martinbiz]

The Rotrex Kid said:

martinbiz said:

Landlubber said:

Doesitdrive said:

The vehicle is probably rated at 4.2 tonnes and needs a license to cover driving above 3.5 tonnes.

Not sure you even get 3.5 tonne entitlement now?

Nope, used to be grandfathered in but now it's a test.

Total bks, you can drive up to and including a 3.5t on a normal B licence,you can even learn and take your test in one if you were silly enough to want to. You are getting confused with grandfather rights permiting 7.5t use if you passed a test before Jan 1997

Minibuses are weird. You can drive a 3.5t on a B license but it can be 4.25t if wheelchair adapted or electric. It s all very grey IMO

Not really, a minibus isn't a van

[POIDH]

the-norseman said:

Doesn't need the CPC but still needs the correct licence.

This.

[paul_c123]

For this use case*, so long as not too heavy*, doesn't need CPC and can drive it on a B licence.

• He can only drive it solo, can't take any passengers at all. Giving a lift to another employee would invariably be seen as some kind of benefit to them, ie better than walking, so would fall into hire/reward.

• Weight is 3.5t if not fitted with a specialist (eg wheelchair, etc) ramp/lift. If it is, then its UP TO 4.25t but the allowance over 3.5t is the weight of the additional equipment, eg if that weighed 600kgs then the max weight would be 4.1t. (You can't just add a 20kg lift and then enjoy the weight exemption to 4.25t.)

[The Rotrex Kid]

paul_c123 said:

For this use case*, so long as not too heavy*, doesn't need CPC and can drive it on a B licence.

• He can only drive it solo, can't take any passengers at all. Giving a lift to another employee would invariably be seen as some kind of benefit to them, ie better than walking, so would fall into hire/reward.

• Weight is 3.5t if not fitted with a specialist (eg wheelchair, etc) ramp/lift. If it is, then its UP TO 4.25t but the allowance over 3.5t is the weight of the additional equipment, eg if that weighed 600kgs then the max weight would be 4.1t. (You can't just add a 20kg lift and then enjoy the weight exemption to 4.25t.)

Seems to be the answer. My issue is that they are 4.6t gross so way over.

Ah well, someone else will have to drive them for him!

[Landlubber]

martinbiz said:

Landlubber said:

Doesitdrive said:

The vehicle is probably rated at 4.2 tonnes and needs a license to cover driving above 3.5 tonnes.

Not sure you even get 3.5 tonne entitlement now?

Nope, used to be grandfathered in but now it's a test.

Total bks, you can drive up to and including a 3.5t on a normal B licence,you can even learn and take your test in one if you were silly enough to want to. You are getting confused with grandfather rights permiting 7.5t use if you passed a test before Jan 1997

You Sirrah, are correct, dashed rude, but correct. I humbly apologise for my errant stupidity and general crassness and shall promptly retire to the room of easemnt and there upon procede to slit my wrists with a rusty teaspoon.

I remain,

Your Beadsman.