Driving school minibuses advice: schools and local authorities
Advice on when a school employee with a car driving licence may drive a minibus and when a section 19 permit might be required.
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Under certain circumstances, drivers without a full category D1 entitlement may drive a minibus within the UK provided that it is not being used for hire or reward (ie provided there’s no payment from or on behalf of the passengers).
Those who passed their driving test before 1 January 1997 automatically received category D1(101) (not for hire or reward) entitlement. So school staff with such a licence can drive a minibus carrying up to 16 passengers with no maximum weight limit.
Those who passed a driving test on or after 1 January 1997 may drive a minibus with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3.5 tonnes, and not for hire and reward under certain conditions outlined in the document.
Non-profit-making organisations including schools may provide transport for their own members or for the local community on a hire and reward basis under a section 19 permit.