What is a D1 licence and why do you need one?

If you're planning to drive a minibus or hire a vehicle that carries multiple passengers from us here at Intack Self Drive, you may already be vaguely familiar with the idea of the D1 category on a driving licence. This specific entitlement determines whether you’re legally allowed to drive certain types of larger passenger vehicles. Without it, you could be limited to standard cars, smaller vans and minibuses up to 9 seats, even if you have a full car driving licence. The D1 classification affects your eligibility for vehicle hire and has strict legal boundaries, so it’s always worth refreshing your knowledge on exactly what it covers and when you need it.

With more than 500 vehicles to choose from here at Intack Self Drive, it’s particularly useful if you’re considering minibus hire or flexi hire. So, here’s what you need to know.

What is a D1 licence?

A D1 licence is a driving entitlement that allows you to drive minibuses with specific charac­te­ristics. You’ll see it listed as a category on the back of your photocard driving licence. The D1 classification covers vehicles with between 9 and 16 passenger seats, in addition to the driver’s seat. These vehicles must not exceed 8 metres in length and may be fitted with a trailer of up to 750kg.

It’s possible that you may already have a D1 entitlement on your licence without needing to take a separate test. If you passed your car test before 1 January 1997, you would have automatically received it through acquired rights. This means you can legally drive certain minibuses as long as you’re not using them for hire or reward. For anyone who passed their test after that date, the D1 category isn’t included by default, and has to be earned through further testing. Either way, this entitlement plays a key role when hiring or operating larger passenger vehicles.

What can you drive with a D1 licence?

A D1 licence essentially allows you to drive a specific type of minibus. As we’ve covered above, these vehicles must seat between 9 and 16 passengers, and you must be 21 or older to drive them. The minibus can be no longer than 8 metres and must weigh no more than 3.5 tonnes, or 4.25 tonnes if it includes specialised equipment such as wheelchair ramps or lifts. You can tow a trailer with this vehicle, provided the trailer doesn’t exceed 750kg.

This entitlement is useful if you need to hire or operate a vehicle for group travel, such as school runs, sports teams, charity trips, or community transport. If you’re planning on driving the minibus for commercial reasons – for example, to carry passengers for payment or run shuttle services – you’ll need to meet additional legal requirements. This includes obtaining a driver’s Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) if the work involves commercial transport. The D1 licence only grants the base entitlement, so you need to be sure you’re covered for the specific way you’ll be using the vehicle.

How to get a D1 licence in the UK

If you passed your car test after 1 January 1997 and don’t already have D1 entitlement, you’ll need to apply for it through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). First, you’ll need to request a D2 application pack, which includes the forms you’ll need to fill in. You also have to complete a D4 medical form, which involves a medical examination with a registered doctor. This checks whether you’re fit to drive a minibus and meets the medical standards required for passenger vehicles.

Once the forms are submitted and approved, you can book your D1 theory test. This includes both multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception test. After passing these, you’ll move on to the practical test, which involves off-road manoeuvres and on-road driving assessments in a suitable minibus. The vehicle used for your test must meet D1 standards and be properly insured for learner drivers. If you’re successful, the DVLA will add the D1 category to your driving licence, allowing you to legally drive and hire vehicles that fall under this entitlement.

When do you need a D1 licence for vehicle hire?

If you’re planning for the van or minibus to be driven by someone who’s passed their test after January 1997, there’s a good chance that the driver may well need a D1 licence. However, there are a few exceptions to this.

We can hire our minibuses out to schools or charitable foundations, as the law says that you can drive a vehicle with up to 16 passenger seats if it’s being used “for a non-commercial organisation.”

Having said that, the legislation around D1 licences is somewhat notorious for being surprisingly complex, and the exact requirements you’ll need to follow will be dependent on the specifics of your circumstances. With that in mind, generally speaking we’d advise simply getting in touch with a member of our team about what you have planned, and we’ll be able to tell you whether or not you need a D1 licence to hire the vehicle you’d like.