Bus Question

[pompei]

What licence is needed to drive a bus for one's own personal use - ie not used for carting passengers?

[Inspector Morose]

As far as I know, it is possible to drive any bus/coach over thirty years old on a car licence as long there is not more than eight passengers. Anything younger than that you need a PCV license corresponding to the type of vehicle it is. If the bus is semi automatic - i.e with a little gear change lever but no clutch; an automatic licence is all that is required.

 

Hope this helps.

[Volksy]

I heard that it is possible to get a Bus re-classed as a PLG class, is this no longer the case?

[Inspector Morose]

Yes, it's still possible but your driving licence is based on the number of seats not the taxation class in this case. Theoretically you could pull out all but eight seats of your PLG class double deck arctic Neoplan coach (Yup it exists and IIRC someone is trying to restore one - mega respect) and drive it as a large car but If you were pulled, I wouldn't like to argue the toss as it is a grey area and open to interpretation by the judge.

[hammy]

From the Direct Gov website

 

Exempted passenger carrying vehicles

Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:

 

1) A passenger carrying vehicle manufactured more than 30 years before the date when it is driven and not used for hire or reward or for the carriage of more than 8 passengers

 

2) a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided the following conditions are met:

i. the vehicle is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body but not for hire or reward

ii. the driver is aged 21 iii. the driver has held a car (category licence for at least 2 years

iv. the driver is providing the service on a voluntary basis

v. the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes including any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers

vi. if the driver is aged 70 or over, is able to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle

 

Biggest problem is finding insurance cover for drivers under 25 or without a PSV licence, most won't touch you with a ten foot barge pole.

 

You can tax a bus as PLG if it is not used for commercial service and is then MOT'd as a Class V (private bus) standard. You'll need to send the V5 to DVLA to have it changed over (probably 10 times given my experience).

[dollywobbler]

Don't forget - historic vehicle status applies to buses too. Cheaper road tax than an Eighties Mini!

[hammy]

True, although buying a running routemaster or Lodekka will set you back the best part of £15k to get free tax.