double decker bus

[atl]

do you need a special licence to drive a double decker bus (empty without seats)

[Buenchico]

I can remember something in the press, years ago, when the driver of a charity's 'playbus' appeared before a court for having the wrong licence. The charity had paid for their driver to attend a 'Public Service Vehicle' course and obtain a PSV licence but the court ruled that, because the bus didn't have seats, he should have held a 'Heavy Goods Vehicle' licence. (i.e. his licence allowed him to drive the bus full of people but it didn't allow him to drive it empty!!).

Vehicle categories have changed since then but a bus with fewer than 8 seats is still no longer classified as a bus. It's a 'Large Vehicle'. Assuming that you've got a normal car licence, you can drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes (or up to 7.5 tonnes if you obtained your licence prior to 1997). Unfortunately, a quick web search for the typical weight of a double deck bus came up with a specimen figure of 14.5 tonnes. This brings the 'bus' into the same category as a 'rigid' truck (i.e. one step down from an 'artic'). So, yes, you will need a special licence.

I always take care to try to provide accurate information to AB questions but I'm not infallible! I strongly suggest that you contact DVLA for a definitive answer:
http://www.dvla.gov.uk/contact/dvla_contact.htm

Hoping this helps,

Chris

[atl]

thanks chris!

i did read an article about the company that bought all the old london doudle deckers busses.

They put the figures at 7.5 ton.

Could be driven on a class D licence(if you are over 21yrs old)  

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your message, atl.

If you do buy one of these buses (and it's no more than 7.5 tonnes), there might some other things to think about:

If the vehicle is no longer officially a bus then it needs to be taxed as a lorry. This means that the registration document needs to be amended to show that the vehicle has changed categories which, in turn, might mean that you'll have to take it to one of the DVLA's 'type approval' testing centres.

Chris

[atl]

thanks again chris!

To be honest i have a plan to convert one to live in.I did notice a play bus which was taxed plg @ 160 pounds for a year.i will hopefully see the owner soon and get some more ideas.If not can anybody give me Jordens number (i heard she has a converted double decker)

regards

Andrew.

[Melliexr]

I'm not too sure about modern buses but I do know an old double decker such as the Routemaster can be driven on an ordinary car licence so long as it's not used for hire or reward, and does not carry more than 9 people, including driver. Insurance will be about �150 per year fully comp, road tax is free. Check out http://www.routemaster.org.uk/ for more info.