Vehicles you can drive

You might be able to drive a bus if you have a category D entitlement on your licence

Check if you have a category D entitlement online.

Otherwise, you’ll normally have to wait until you’re 24 to drive one.

Driving a bus at 17

You can only drive a bus when you’re 17 if you’re a member of the armed forces.

Driving a bus at 18

You can drive a bus when you’re 18 if you’re learning to either:

• take your Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) driving test
• get your Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

You can only drive this type of vehicle if any of the following also apply:

• you’re not carrying any passengers
• you are carrying passengers, but driving on a regular route that’s less than 31 miles
• you do not drive the vehicle abroad

If you’ve passed your PCV driving test

You can drive a category D1 vehicle (such as a minibus) if you’ve passed your PCV driving test and have one of the following:

• a Driver CPC
• a bus operator’s licence
• a minibus permit
• a community bus permit

Driving a bus at 20

You can drive a bus in the UK when you’re 20 if you’ve passed your PCV driving test and got your Driver CPC. You cannot drive a bus abroad.

Driving a bus at 21

You can drive a bus in the UK or abroad when you’re 21 if you’ve passed your PCV driving test and got your Driver CPC.

You can also drive a bus in the UK when you’re 21 if the bus is either:

• being used by the fire service or by the police to maintain public order
• being road tested after it’s been repaired or serviced

Your answers

Start again

• 1. What kind of vehicle do you want to drive?: Bus (category D)
• 1. What kind of vehicle do you want to drive?: Change
• 2. Do you have a full car driving licence?: Yes
• 2. Do you have a full car driving licence?: Change
• 3. How old are you?: Under 24
• 3. How old are you?: Change