Does anyone know how you go about applying for a minibus licence? I know you can drive one in the UK if you are over 21 and have been driving 2 years,
but this is for a little trip abroad this summer.
Had a look on the DVLA website, but all i could find was what you need to drive one, not how to apply.
I used to have a Transit minibus,and drove on my ordinary licience, I think if you are doing it for reward then you may need a PSV licience.
If you are just wheeling your family about then you dont. I took mine to France, But you may need a Tachograph now.
Unless they have changed it.
Steve,
[Edited on 4/4/06 by stevec]
You need to check on the DVLA website.
I know for a minibus you need a D1 classification on your licence. If you passed you licence a long time ago you got D1 as std. This changed a few
years ago, and its now a separate job.
I think you need to be over 21 as well.. but not 100% sure on that.
Check you livence for the D1 (or D-Something) category.
The information i got from the DVLA website was that if you had your licence before 1998 then you can or could drive one on that. But as i passed my
test in 2001 i have to apply for a licence, how, it doesnt say.
I'm 21 and have been driving for over 4 years now so fall into all the right catagories.
If i wasnt taking it abroad it wouldnt be a problem as you can drive one in the UK on a full licence provided you are 21 and have been driving 2
years.
I passed my test 30 years ago, thats probably why I was OK. But I still think the bus will have to have a Tachograph to go abroad which is a real
pain.
Steve.
See link.
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/drvmbus.htm
[Edited on 4/4/06 by stevec]
ive never heard of the 21/ 4 year rule, i thought it was all down to d1 entitlement. Hire company wouldnt let me take a minibus due to not having the right sections on my license. I have the same dilema regarding trailers, which im also technically not allowed to tow.
joel is right, doesn't matter how long you've been driving if you passed after 1997 then you won't automatically have a D1 on your
license and therefore won't be able to drive a vehicle with more than 7 seats. if you want to go over (i think) 13 seats then i believe you need
a full blown psv license!
exception is if you are driving for charity then you get away with it!
had to laugh when i passed my HGV2 i can drive a 32 ton truck but can't drive a transit with seats in the back!
its a joke...
does anyone know what test exactly i need to do to cover either trailers or mini buses? Please no one say psv and hgv! 
(sorry for the hijack!)
i believe trailers are category E, it'll cost you the same to get training and take a test to tow a 3ft trailer as it would to train to drive a
full on artic with 40ft trailer! it's also easier to control a 40ft trailer attatched to a tractor unit as it turns a lot slower than a tiny
trailer attached to a tow bar!
i keep trying to get works to put me in for my HGV1 but they aren't going for it as yet 
after some research, it seems that category B (what you have if you passed after '97) is allowed to tow trailers, provided the combined MAM
(maximum authorised mass) doesnt exceed the standard 3.5 tonne weight limit. For full details, search 'inf30 dvla' through google.
quote:
Category B vehicles may be coupled with a trailer up to 750kgs MAM (allowing a combined weight up to 4.25 tonnes MAM) OR a trailer over 750kgs MAM provided the MAM of the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, and the combination does not exceed 3.5 tonnes MAM.
Think there is some information with a driving licence renewal form that may be of help.