In our mission to provide reliable and competitively priced Minibus Insurance, we often get asked two questions by new minibus drivers:
- Can I drive a minibus without a D1?
- What licence do I need to drive a minibus?
In response to these questions, we’ve written a blog which answers your queries about the often-complicated rules around minibus licences and what you need to have in order to drive legally and safely.
Can you drive a minibus without a D1 licence?
In short, yes, you can, drive a minibus without a D1 licence providing you’re not driving the minibus for ‘Hire or Reward’ (i.e. you’re not transporting passengers in exchange for payment), you are driving on a voluntary basis, and you meet the following criteria:
- The minibus has no more than 16 passenger seats.
- There is no trailer attached to the minibus.
- You need to be 21 or over.
- You need to have held a full driving licence for at least two years.
- You’re medically fit to drive if you’re over 70 years of age and meet the ‘Group 2’ medical standards; click here for more details on what your GP is looking for in this assessment (for example; diabetes, psychiatric conditions, visual disorders, and cardiovascular disorders).
- The maximum authorised mass (MAM) (i.e. the vehicle weight) does not exceed 3,500kg, including passengers. For hydrogen or electric vehicles, the MAM is 4,250kg. Bear in mind that if the minibus has disabled equipment such as a wheelchair ramp, this is considered an additional MAM of 750kg which you will have to factor in when calculating the weight (MAM).1
If you meet all the above criteria, you can potentially drive a minibus using your car licence.
What is a D1 licence?
If you drive a minibus for ‘Hire or Reward’ (for example: community transport or commercial purposes); it has 9-16 passenger seats; and is no more than 8 metres long, you will usually need a D1 driving licence. Note that if you drive a larger bus or coach, you will need a D-category licence which is used to drive vehicles of any length with more than 16 passenger seats. To secure your D1 licence, you must:
- Be 21 years old or over
- Have held a full category B car driving licence for 2+ years2
- Pass the Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) theory and practical (driving) test
- Pass a medical assessment via a D4 form that has been completed by a GP or medical professional
- If you’re planning to drive for ‘Hire or Reward’, you will need a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) – a qualification which lasts for five years. If you hold a CPC, you must complete 35 hours training before the five-year expiry.3
- There are professional training centres in the UK which can help you prepare for these qualifications and tests.
What if I have a licence from before 1997?
If you passed your driving test before 1st January 1997, your licence should feature a D1 with a 101 code.4 This means you can use your driving licence to drive a minibus, if it is not for ‘Hire or Reward’, and you are driving on a voluntary basis.
What happens if I drive a minibus with the wrong licence?
If you drive a minibus in the UK without the right driving licence you could face:
- Penalties and fines
- Penalty points on your licence (which could increase the cost of your vehicle insurance)
- Disqualification from driving
- Prosecution / Court appearance / Heavy fine / Imprisonment
Your insurance could be invalidated if you drive with an incorrect licence, leading to severe consequences if you’re involved in a road traffic incident or a liability claim is brought against you.
Get specialist Minibus Insurance from BCD
If you have secured the right minibus licence, the next step is arranging appropriate Minibus Insurance. Business Choice Direct (BCD) hold strong relationships with leading insurers, enabling us to secure coverage at competitive prices. We also have a 24-hour claims service, providing you with round-the-clock claims support should you experience an emergency and need to make a claim.
- https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus
- https://www.minibus.co.uk/blog/do-i-need-a-d1-licence-to-drive-a-minibus#:~:text=Are%20there%20any%20exceptions%20or,a%20trailer%20with%20the%20minibus.
- https://www.gov.uk/driver-cpc-training/when-to-take-training#:~:text=Your%20Driver%20Certificate%20of%20Professional,of%20your%20existing%20driving%20experience.
- chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://ctauk.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/Driver%20Licensing%20Guide%20Great%20Britain.pdf#:~:text=Drivers%20who%20passed%20their%20driving%20test%20before,removed%20by%20DVLA%2C%20usually%20for%20medical%20reasons.