pogweasel Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 My idiot friend has decided he no longer wants to be constrained by mere bricks and mortar, a free spirit & a life on the open road (i.e. he has not paid his rent for a while), and wishes to buy and live in a bus. However, I am sure that he will not be legally entitled to drive said vehicle. I'm sure though that there's some loophole wherein old buses are not counted as buses and can be taxed/mot'd/driven as some kind of car/lorry affair to avoid this.... obviously it will help that it won't be a 53-seater any more but a six seater with lounge diner, kitchen, bathroom & two bedrooms. Anyone know the rules on this?Also if he buys one still a bus, can this rule bend be applied when collecting it? And does having a post-96 license blow this all out of the water (so he'd need a pre-96 qualified driver..... shit.... !) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 To answer the last question first... yes, being a post-96 qualified driver bollockses the whole thing up completely. None of the funny little loopholes apply if you passed your test after '96 - you're restricted to 3.5 tonnes and 9 seats, end of.For pre-96 drivers it's another story. If you're using a bus as a private vehicle you can drive it on a car license, as long as you don't carry over 8 passengers. With only six seats this shouldn't be an issue. I seem to recall though that there's some obscure rule which allows you to drive even a 53-seater on a car license as long as you're not carrying passengers, but don't quote me on that as I'm not sure if it was a UK rule or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted November 21, 2008 Author Share Posted November 21, 2008 Interesting. So he'd have to 'test' all the way up to the relevant category in order to drive it. And sure as eggs is eggs I'm not going with him Next daft idea will be a canal boat no doubt (cos yeah they are really cheap )Sometimes I really really despair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Case Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 This site should help your friend (if it is indeed a friend and not a 'I have a friend with an embarrassing itch who has asked me to....' type friend ) http://reddragonbus.proboards40.com/index.cgi There's a section on licences in the forum. It looks pretty mind-boggling, so I'll leave it to him to try and make sense of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksy Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I've tried, and failed (twice), to pass my bus test.. They are unbeleivably strict, and have very small quotas according to my instructor. I didnt even want the licence to drive a bus! It was for one of these things... An overland truck, I got a job driving one of these around the world, I've spent over £2k on bus lessons and tests, and still no joy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torsten2001 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 To answer the last question first... yes, being a post-96 qualified driver bollockses the whole thing up completely. None of the funny little loopholes apply if you passed your test after '96 - you're restricted to 3.5 tonnes and 9 seats, end of.On the contrary, anyone who passed their test after 1996 can drive a minibus up to 17 seats and 3.5t (4t if disabled access) if they are over 21 and have had their licence over 2 years if driving for personal use. I've got 11 seat tour buses see! This only applies within the UK however, anyone taking a bus over 9 seats outside the UK must have a D1 catagory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Ross Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Passed me test in 84.............I drive owt that's chucked my way.One day in the 80s, someone asked me if I could drive an Artic.My reply?"Dunno, never tried!"I got to drive it from Inverness to Nottingham for £230 in my hand! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk2_craig Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 I think there's a "30 year rule" i.e. you can drive any bus older than that on any car licence (including 97-on), provided it's not carrying more than 8 passengers and not for hire or reward. You can also tax any bus as PLG, again provided it's not for hire or reward.If you want to drive a bus that's been converted to camper etc, that's fine as long as (a) it's been downseated to 9 or less and DVLA have been informed of the change to seating capacity, and ( its gross weight doesn't exceed that on your licence - so if that's pre-97, a standard car licence allowed you up to 7.5t - 97-on, only 3.5t.So perhaps matey should start with a LWB Transit minibus... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Aren't you allowed 16 passengers if it's not for hire or reward or 8 if it is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share Posted November 22, 2008 Though I have discovered this beastie:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LANDROVER-101-EXP ... 0305924853Mega. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Passed me test in 84.............I drive owt that's chucked my way.Surely even then there was a seperate HGV test? I can't imagine it's ever been true that you can drive an articulated after passing a car test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owain-328i Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Passed me test in 84.............I drive owt that's chucked my way.Surely even then there was a seperate HGV test? I can't imagine it's ever been true that you can drive an articulated after passing a car test.Yeah there would have been a seperate licence for a HGV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 So in that case, this:One day in the 80s, someone asked me if I could drive an Artic.My reply?"Dunno, never tried!"I got to drive it from Inverness to Nottingham for £230 in my hand!Is either not the whole story, or was somewhat illegal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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