Driver Training North East can provide you with minibus training

Ordinary driving licences held before 1 January 1997
If you had entitlement to drive cars prior to 1 January 1997 – shown as group A (B for automatics) on an old style licence or as category B and D1 not for hire or reward on a new style licence – you can drive a minibus provided: The minibus has a maximum of 17 seats including the driver’s and is not being used for hire or reward. To drive a minibus which has 9 or more passenger seats for hire or reward you will normally need passenger carrying vehicle entitlement (PCV) (category D1 or D). To get this you must meet higher medical standards and take a further driving test.

Drivers who do not have minibus entitlement (category D1)
If your car licence does not allow you to drive minibuses, there are certain circumstances where you may still be able to do so. You may drive a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided:

• you drive on behalf of a non-commercial body for social purposes but not for hire or reward (unless operating under a permit)
• you are aged 21 or over
• you have held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years
• you are providing your service on a voluntary basis
• the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes excluding any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers. Minibuses up to 4.25 tonnes will be permitted in certain circumstances (see below); and
• you do not tow a trailer

Descriptions of Vehicle Categories

Note 1
At age 16 you can get a licence if you receive the higher-rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance. However, if you stop getting the higher rate, the normal minimum age for driving a car (17) applies.

Note 2
You can drive at age 17 if you are a member of the armed services. You can drive age 18;
(i) while learning to drive or taking your passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) test or CPC Initial Qualification or
(ii) After passing a PCV test and CPC Initial Qualification when:

• Driving on a regular service where the route does not exceed 50km, or
• Not engaged in the carriage of passengers, or
• While undergoing a national vocational training course to obtain a CPC Initial Qualification; or
• If the PCV licence was obtained before 10 September 2008, when:
• Driving on a regular service where the route does not exceed 50km, or
• Not engaged in the carriage of passengers, or
• Driving a vehicle of a class included in sub-category D1, and
• Driving under a bus operator’s licence, Minibus permit or Community bus permit.