Can I drive a minibus on a standard car licence?

You can drive a 9-16 seat minibus with a standard car licence, with no D1 entitlement, if certain conditions are met including:

• You are operating under a Section 19 Permit
• Drivers are over 21, have held their licence for over 2 years, and are not being paid to do so (other than out-of-pocket expenses)
• The vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is less than 3.5 tonnes for diesel minibuses, 4.25 tonnes for electric or zero-emission vehicles. There is an additional allowance of 750kg for wheelchair equipment. These vehicles are often called Lightweight or B1 minibuses.