9 Seat Mini Bus and License

[paulrockliffe]

Hello,

A quick question about driving mini busses etc. I passed my test after 1997 so don't have category C on my license. I would quite like a Ford Tourneo 9 seater for mountain biking and general adventures. What are my options? What's involved with getting the right category on my license? Is it possible to have the Tourneo reduced to 8 seats in a away that makes it legal for me to drive? It is just a Transit van, which I can drive on my normal license.

Cheers.

[odyssey2200]

I think you can drive it as long as it's not for Hire or Reward.
101 on your licence codes iirc.

[paulrockliffe]

My understanding of the exemption for charitable purposes (I drove mini buses for my University) is that it only applies when driving for charitable purposes, which excludes driving myself to the shops as well as charging people for a lift.

I'm happy to be educated on that though.....?

[vonhosen]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensi...

[paulrockliffe]

Thanks, the following is the key part from that link that supports my understanding of the exemption:

"The vehicle is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body but not for hire or reward" I am not a non-commercial body.

The link also defines the vehicles you can drive on different license categories. They're defined based on weight and the number of seats. So is removing a seat enough? Or would the vehicle need to have it's V5 ammended? Could you argue that a front bench seat only counts as one or two seats?

Cheers.

[paulrockliffe]

Anyone?

[PottyMouth]

I have also driven university minibuses with up to 16 seats on a B only licence.

My understanding was that the only stipulation is it cannot be for hire or reward.

I also hired a 16-seater minibus under my own name from a private firm at the age of 21 and was told the same thing.

[Dwight VanDriver]

Does this help?

UK drivers who passed their ordinary car driving test prior to 1 January 1997 will normally have been issued an old style UK Driving Licence showing
vehicles of Group A or a new style EC Driving Licence showing vehicles of
Categories B, C1 and D1.

Drivers who passed their ordinary driving test after
1 January 1997 are only issued a Driving Licence showing vehicles of
Category B (up to 8 passenger seats); Categories C1 and D1 are no longer
issued automatically.

Driving Licence Category D (9 or more passenger seats) or Category D1
(9 to 16 passenger seats).

All drivers of minibuses (9-16 passenger seats) are required to hold a valid
driving licence showing either Group A on an old style UK Licence or
Category B and D or D1 on a new EC style Licence issued in any EU
Country.

Drivers who passed the car test (Category B) after the 1st January 1997 and
who wish to drive a minibus are required to take a further Statutory Driving
test for vehicles in Category D or D1. However; certain drivers who passed
the car test (Category B) after 1 January 1997 are permitted to drive a vehicle in Category D1 (minibuses) without the need for a further test so long as all of the following conditions are met: -

• A full driving licence has been held for at least two years
• The driver is aged 21 years or over
• The driver receives no payment (or any other consideration) other than out
of pocket expenses (i.e they are a volunteer)*
• The vehicle is driven for social purposes only
• There is no trailer attached
• The maximum authorised mass (mam) of the vehicle does not exceed
3.5 tonnes, or if fitted with specialised equipment used for disabled
passengers, does not exceed 4.25 tonnes.**

• To establish if a person can be categorised as a volunteer driver, the

following issues should be addressed:-

• Is the organisation a non-commercial body?
• Is the driving for social purposes?
• Can the driver be compelled by his / her employer to drive?
• Is the driver being paid specifically for the driving?

If the first two questions can be answered positively, and the answer to the
latter two is no, the driver may be considered to be driving on a voluntary
basis.

dvd

[mhill]

Long and short of it is "Not for hire or reward" or over 3.5GT, which can be harder than you think to keep under on newer busses.

[Aardvark27]

9 seats including driver does not need a special license for private use and for Private Hire use only normal insurance, license etc is needed but with relevant specific vehicle details.

Above 9 seats in total is PSV territory which caught-out the stretched limo trade in years gone past. Stretched 20 seater Hummers being captured wholesale!!!