Bus permits
Bus Permits are issued to organisations concerned with education, religion, social welfare, recreation or other activities of benefit to the community.
Bus Permits allow certain organisations to make a charge without having to comply with the full public service vehicle operator licensing requirements and without the need for their drivers to have PCV (category D1 or D) entitlement. The service must be provided for their own members or for groups of people whom the organisation serves. The service must not be provided to members of the general public and the charges made must be on a non-profit basis.
If you had entitlement to drive cars prior to 1 January 1997 you will continue to be able to drive minibuses under the Permit Schemes, provided your entitlement to drive minibuses (Category D1, not for hire or reward) remains in force.
New drivers who passed their car test (category B) on or after 1 January 1997 may also drive a permit minibus provided the driver licensing conditions here are met.
Permit minibuses and buses carrying 9 or more passengers can be driven by holders of B & D1 entitlement (in effect full car licences issued prior to 1/1/97) provided they are 21 or over and have held a full driving licence for a least 2 years.
NOTES
The Permit Arrangements Apply Only In The UK
You cannot take a permit minibus abroad if it is used for hire or reward unless
you hold either PCV D1 or D entitlement.
Further information is available in the booklet `Passenger Transport Provided by Voluntary Groups' available from
Road Transport Licensing Division,
148-158 Corporation Street,
Belfast
BT1 3DH.
Telephone 028 9025 4100
