Why do i need a PCV licence?
Although many minibuses may look the same and built to carry 16 passengers, there are circumstances where you cannot drive a minibus on your normal car licence.
For example: A 16 seater minibus owned and operated as part of a private hire business, carrying a private group of passengers to an airport who have "paid the minibus owner for the hire of the minibus", would require that driver to hold a PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) category on their licence.
The D1 category commonly seen on a photo card licence, issued through passing a car test before 1997 has a restriction which forbids the holder to drive a minibus as described above, this is identified with the licence code "101" (not for hire and reward). This specific category is NOT a PCV licence but was only granted as a grandfather right to existing licence holders when licence changes were made back in 1997.
Any driver now wishing to attain a PCV category must successfully pass the DSA's (Driving Standards Agency) PCV theory and practical driving tests, in addition to those already taken for a normal car licence.
From September 2008 the laws regarding PCV licencing and entitlements to drive changed again, as there are now two types of PCV (D1) licence entitlements commercial and non-commercial.
A commercial entitlement, otherwise known as the Driver CPC acquisition will entitle the driver to drive a minibus regardless of whether it is used by a charity under a section 19 permit or abroad within the EC for a private business.
Alternatively if you wish to upgrade your car licence to one which will allow you to drive a minibus just used by a charity or organisation with a charitable status under a section 19 permit, then you need to add just the basic non commercial PCV category to your licence.
Please use the following Step by step and reference guides to help you decide which category and training you need.
PCV licence Reference Guide
- Why do i need a PCV licence?
- Which PCV licence category do i need?
- I hold a PCV licence with an "Automatic" restriction do i need a re-test?
- The medical
- The provisional entitlement
- Official DSA Theory test publications
- The Theory test
- Help me pass the PCV theory test
- The Practical Driving Test
- Advice & information about driver training in your area
- Driver CPC
