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Minibus training courses

If your school, college or organisation uses minibuses to transport passengers in Plymouth, you should as best practise, ensure that your minibus drivers have first attended a Minibus Driver’s Assessment course which has been approved by Plymouth City Council. The course is mandatory for those driving minibuses that are owned and insured by the Council. The course certification will be valid for five years before having to be re-assessed.

Who needs the minibus test?

Anyone wishing to drive a minibus with passenger seating capacity of up to 16 seats while on Plymouth City Council business (not for hire or reward) or when 'hiring in' Plymouth City Council owned minibuses must first obtain a certificate of competence.

Those eligible, will be drivers who passed their basic driving test before the 1 January 1997 and must:

hold a D1 driving licence category for more than two years
be aged between 21 and 65
be able to read a number plate from 20.5 metres

Holders of a current category D passenger carrying vehicles (PCV) licence are exempt. However you will be required to supply evidence of this to your line manager.

Category B licence holders can drive a minibus only under certain conditions. Please read the leaflet in the documents table below about driving a minibus.

Category B licence holders must:

be at least 21 years old
have held a driving licence for at least two years
be driving on a voluntary basis
be driving for an organisation with a community bus permit
not tow a trailer
not drive a minibus that weighs no more than 3.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM)
only drive within the UK

Can anyone drive a minibus?

No.

You must be aged 21 to 70. Anyone over 70 can still drive a minibus, but only with a successful doctor's report.

Drivers who passed their driving test after 1 January 1997, must wait two years before driving a minibus. They may only drive on a purely voluntary basis, receiving no more than out of pocket expenses, with or without a small bus permit.

What is a small bus permit?

A small bus permit allows certain organisations to charge passengers for the running costs of the vehicle (but not to make a profit). The permit also enables drivers who passed an ordinary driving test before 1 January 1997 with D1 (minibus) entitlement (not for hire or reward) to drive. The permit belongs to the organisation and each of its minibuses must display its own permit (Section 19) in the minibus windscreen. The permit is obtained from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

Please note: - Guidance issued by the DfES states that employees without the D1 (101) entitlement can drive a minibus for work under a Section 19 permit and the above conditions, provided they are not paid for doing so (it is not part of their contract of employment). However, if an employee is regularly required to drive a minibus, then it should be part of their contract and they should hold a full D1 licence by test. For further information visit the teachernet website.

Can I drive a minibus abroad?

Any driver needing to drive a minibus abroad will need a full PCV D1 licence. EU Countries do not recognise the Small Bus Permit Scheme.

Can I drive a minibus abroad with my family on a personal trip?

Yes.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) leaflet INF 28 provides additional information and is available direct from the DVLA on 0870 240 0010.

Points on licence

We have a duty to ensure that driving standards are maintained by those driving any Council insured or owned minibus. Those with three points or more on their licence have to attend a driver profile assessment programme.

They must inform their line manager and cease driving on behalf of Plymouth City Council until they have successfully completed the assessment. The driver profile assessment programme involves elements of hazard recognition, decision making, safety knowledge, practical driving assessment and a driver’s eye sight test.

Approved training course providers

As from 1 September 2009 you can contact the following training providers to arrange a course or a re-assessment direct. These are the only assessors which are approved by Plymouth City Council’s Sustainable Transport Team.

Road Safety Solutions - Geoff Moore (minibus/PCV, five year re-assessment and driver profile)
Telephone: 01752 846600
Email: geoff@trssl.co.uk
Website: www.trssl.co.uk
Roger Jewell (five year re-assessment and driver profile only)
Telephone: 01752 405926
Email: rogerjewell63@yahoo.co.uk
Devon Drivers Centre – (minibus training for D1 licence holders only no Cat B)
Telephone: 01392 444773
Email: drivers@devon.gov.uk
Website: www.devon.gov.uk