Passing my Bus Driving Test

In July 2005, I managed (at the fourth attempt) to pass my PCV driving test. PCV stands for Public Carrying Vehicle. In the context of driving licences a bus (or more correctly a PCV) is a category D vehicle, a rigid HGV (previously a class 2) is a category C, and a car is category B. The term PSV (public service vehicle) is not used in the context of driving licence entitlement as a PSV Operators Licence is something very different.

This page, aimed at other preservationists really, is intended to help others, it should not be regarded as a definitive statement of Law, and appropriate advice should be taken before relying upon anything contained herein. However, some of the content is equally relevant to lorry driving tests.

Back in the 1970s and 80s, it was considerably easier to pass a vocational licence (as in bus or lorry). However recent changes, for example reducing the sizes of vehicles that can be driven on a standard car licence (for new holders) and introducing specific requirements for vehicles presented for test, has complicated the issues slightly. Persons who passed their car test before 1997 can still drive these intermediate vehicles (lorries upto 7.5 tonnes and minibuses upto 16 seats) but not for hire and reward - this is known as a grandad licence.

As things stand at the moment anyone with a category B (car) licence who wishes to drive a bus (a bus 30 years (or more) with more than eight passengers on, or a bus younger than that which is fitted with more than eight passenger seats irrespective of how many are actually used) is required to first attend a medical, which if successful will result in the issuing of provisional PCV entitlement (please note, on the provisional licence application form their is the option to tick either (or both) of provisional PCV or provisional HGV licence - IT COSTS NOTHING EXTRA TO TICK BOTH, WHICH IS WHAT I DID). This means that tuition under supervision can then be undertaken. The driver is required to pass a PCV theory test (which includes both questions and a hazard perception test) and then to sit the full practical test with an examiner. Once this is passed, the driver can then drive any bus or coach (subject to whether the test was taken in a manual or automatic (which includes semi-automatic, pre-select or I-shift gearboxes) vehicle) of any length including articulated buses (regardless of whether the engine is located on the front or the rear section) but not buses towing a trailer over 750 kg (max gross weight) - a trailer below that weight can however be towed legally within the category D licence.

Automatic or Manual?

I will start off with by saying that anyone involved with vehicle preservation really needs to have a manual PCV licence - however there is an interesting way to get it. For your information, both 45 (MUA45P) and 1751 (B818YKR) require a manual PCV (category C) licence to drive them - 1751 at 20 seats being too big for minibus entitlement (category D1) and, whilst 45 has now attained the age of 30 (during 2006), that will only allow the holder of a category B (car) licence (who meets certain conditions) to drive with a maximum of eight other people on board, and (in the general case) we are finding that insurance companies will simply not allow old buses to be driven by the holders of a car licence, and are instead insisting upon a full PCV licence being held.

Midway through undergoing my own tuition (which was in a manual vehicle) I became aware of an interesting concession given by the DVLA - that anyone with an automatic PCV licence (category D with restrictions 78, 106 or 113) who sits and passes a manual rigid HGV licence (category C, previously known as "class 2") automatically gets their category D entitlement upgraded from automatic to manual. In addition, if both PCV and HGV boxes are ticked on the provisional licence application form, then a seperate medical (for the HGV) will not be necessary as the provisional entitlement will already be on your licence.

The above idea is then continued such that anyone who holds category D (bus) who is upgrading category C (rigid HGV) to category C+E (articulated lorry or rigid lorry plus drawbar trailer) also receives (once the manual C+E test is passed) their (auto or manual) category D upgraded to manual category D+E entitlement.

The above rules can be verified by visiting the DVLA's Upgrading Page

Why Do I Need a HGV Licence?

You tell me. Might you ever need to move house and want to hire a larger vehicle than a transit?

If you are involved in bus preservation, might you one day be called upon to drive a Recovery Truck? Unlike buses, there is no rolling 30 years old concession, though there is a concession allowing a category B licence holder to drive a truck manufactured prior to January 1960 unladen (i.e. with no load nor trailer, which includes a vehicle being towed) and another concession allowing the holder of a category D licence to drive a recovery vehicle of any age (of the same transmission as the licence held) if it is operated by the PSV Operator whose disabled vehicle is carrying their PCV Operators Licence - there is more about this on the DVLA's Special Licensing Arrangements Page.

However the real reason you might want to do this is to exempt yourself from the CPC Drivers requirement that is due to become law around 2008 - more information on the DSA's website.

If you might at some time in the future wish to have a vocational licence (that is, a licence to drive buses or trucks) then the clear advice is to try to sit the test (or both tests, if you want the future flexibility to be able to drive any type of large vehicles) during 2006 or 2007.

The PCV Test For An Enthusiast

As a resident of Leeds, there are three local driving schools who offer PCV tuition in their vehicles (if there are any other companies in Yorkshire or the surrounding areas who would like to be included here please follow the "contacting us" link above):

L&T Transport 01977 618228 or 0800 542 0721

Tockwith Training 01904 737049

Atkins 01274 686211

I attended an assessment drive at all three schools (after attending my medical and receiving my provisional licence) and found all to be excellent, my final choice being L&T Transport purely because they could fit me in on certain dates that I could make myself available.

There isn't really much to say, apart from that their instructors were very helpful and supportive and fully respectful of my reasons for sitting the PCV test.

I would like to emphasise a couple of financial matters to people: first of all, remember that in addition to the monies you pay out you may also have your own loss of earnings to factor into your equation (or possibly you will be able to take several days' holiday), and also remember that you may well fail the test and have to resit, which involves not only the test fee, but also a few hours' time of the driving school. It is worth emphasising that your drive on the test has to be near enough perfect for you to pass the test - to this end I list below my reasons for failing the tests that I sat:

Test One - went fine, apart from there is a change in speed limit (from 50 to 30) on the A58 near Bardsey that is completely obscured both sides by trees, with the result that one doesn't see it until the last minute. I thought I did the right thing by slowing down smartly, however I was told that (for the safety and comfort of my passengers) I should have slowed down much more gradually even if this meant speeding in the 30 zone for a short while.

Test Two - failed because (in the examiners' opinion) I was going too fast for the conditions (even though I did not break any speed limits).

Test Three - failed because my nearside wheel came into contact with a kerb.

Test Four - passed!!!

Next stop will be the HGV test (category C) which (in addition to your webmaster) four other members/friends of our group hope to pass during 2007 in order to drive towtrucks (and generally to avoid the approaching CPC legislation) which two people will also use as a free upgrade to manual PCV entitlement. Please wish us luck! If there are any HGV Driver Training Schools (other than the three referenced above) please do get in touch, whether or not you offer the PCV Test aswell.