One of the first questions people ask before booking is whether you need a special licence to hire a minibus. The short answer is that it depends on your driving licence and, in particular, when you passed your test. Here is a clear guide to what you need before you hire a minibus from Parkers.
The short answer: you need category D1
A minibus is legally defined as a vehicle with 9 to 16 passenger seats, which means 10 to 17 seats once you include the driver. To drive one, your licence needs to include category D1. To hire any minibus from Parkers, you must hold a full UK driving licence that includes D1 entitlement. This is a requirement set by our insurers and it applies across our 7, 9 and 17 seater range, so it is worth checking your licence before you book.
How to check if you already have D1
You may already hold the entitlement without realising it. Look at the back of your photocard licence, where your categories are listed. If D1 appears there, you are covered.
Whether you have it usually comes down to the date you passed your car test:
- Passed before 1 January 1997: you will normally have category D1 automatically, through what are often called acquired or grandfather rights. It is usually shown with restriction code 101, meaning “not for hire or reward”. That restriction is fine for private hire. It simply means you cannot charge your passengers for their seat, so a family trip, group outing, sports fixture or event is no problem at all.
- Passed on or after 1 January 1997: you will hold category B (a standard car licence) only, and you will not have D1 by default.
What if you do not have D1?
If D1 is not listed on your licence, you have two options. You can apply to add the entitlement through the DVLA, which involves a medical and a separate D1 test, or you can talk to our team about the right vehicle for your group. We are always happy to help you work out what you can drive on your current licence before you commit to a booking.
Drivers with a non-UK licence
If you hold a licence issued outside the UK, please contact us before booking so we can talk through your options. Requirements vary depending on where your licence was issued, and we would rather sort this out in advance than at the branch counter.
The other requirements for minibus hire
Alongside the D1 entitlement, our standard rental requirements apply to minibus hire:
- Drivers must be aged between 21 and 75.
- No more than 6 penalty points if you have held your licence for less than 5 years.
- No driving bans within the last 10 years.
- No more than one accident in the last 3 years.
When you collect your minibus, please bring two utility bills as proof of address (for example a bank statement plus a phone or electricity bill), your full photocard licence, and a DVLA licence check code. You can generate the code online before you arrive and bring it with you. Additional drivers can be added for £5.00 per day, and the same licence requirements apply to them.
Our minibus range
Parkers offers 7, 9 and 17 seater minibuses from our two branches in Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, serving customers across Mid Sussex and beyond. If you are unsure whether your licence covers the minibus you have in mind, get in touch with our team and we will help you find the right option.
