PCV Licensing Categories and PCV Entitlements 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What licence category is required to drive a vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats and a maximum authorised mass (MAM) above 5 tonnes?
- Category D1
- Category D (Correct answer)
- Category C1
- Category B+E
Correct answer: Category D
Category D covers vehicles constructed for carrying more than 8 passengers with no MAM restriction above Category D1 threshold.
Category D entitlement authorises the holder to drive motor vehicles constructed for carrying more than 8 passengers in addition to the driver. It is the standard category for bus and coach drivers. Category D1 is restricted to minibuses (not more than 16 passenger seats, length not exceeding 8 metres). Category D allows driving of any size bus or coach including those with trailers up to 750 kg.
Question 2: At what minimum age can a person in Great Britain take a Category D driving test?
- 17 years old
- 18 years old
- 21 years old (Correct answer)
- 24 years old
Correct answer: 21 years old
The minimum age for a Category D licence in Great Britain is 21, except in specific young worker programmes.
In Great Britain, the minimum age to obtain a Category D licence is 21. Under the EU/GB young driver exception, drivers undertaking a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) programme may drive from age 18, but only on registered national services. Without this exception, 21 is the standard minimum age. This is higher than Category B (17) to reflect the additional responsibility of carrying passengers.
Question 3: What does a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) require PCV drivers to do?
- Pass a new driving test every 5 years
- Complete 35 hours of approved periodic training every 5 years (Correct answer)
- Pass a medical every year
- Attend a DVSA inspection annually
Correct answer: Complete 35 hours of approved periodic training every 5 years
PCV drivers holding a Driver CPC must complete 35 hours of periodic training every 5 years to maintain their qualification.
The Driver CPC is a professional qualification separate from the driving licence. PCV drivers must complete 35 hours of periodic training (typically 7 modules of 5 hours each) every 5-year cycle, recorded on a Driver Qualification Card (DQC). Failure to complete the required hours means the driver loses their professional entitlement to drive commercially. DVSA maintains the training records digitally.
Question 4: What is the difference between a Category D and Category D+E licence?
- D+E allows driving of electric buses; D covers diesel only
- D+E allows the holder to drive a bus with a trailer exceeding 750 kg; D covers buses without trailers or with trailers up to 750 kg (Correct answer)
- D+E is the professional category; D is the learner category
- D+E is for international driving; D covers national routes only
Correct answer: D+E allows the holder to drive a bus with a trailer exceeding 750 kg; D covers buses without trailers or with trailers up to 750 kg
Category D+E extends the entitlement to drive a bus with a trailer over 750 kg — typically a coach towing a luggage trailer.
Category D licences cover buses without trailers or with trailers up to 750 kg MAM. Category D+E extends this to combinations where the trailer exceeds 750 kg, such as a coach towing a large luggage or bicycle trailer. Separate tests for the trailer combination are required. The D+E entitlement is increasingly common for touring coaches that regularly tow large trailers.
Question 5: A PCV driver's licence shows code 101 as a restriction. What does this indicate?
- The driver may only drive automatic transmission vehicles
- The driver may only drive vehicles with special controls for disability
- The driver must wear corrective lenses when driving (Correct answer)
- The driver may not drive on motorways
Correct answer: The driver must wear corrective lenses when driving
Licence restriction code 01 (displayed as 101 in some formats) means the driver must wear corrective lenses.
DVLA endorsement and restriction codes on the driving licence photocard indicate conditions on the licence. Code 01 (corrective lenses) means the driver must wear glasses or contact lenses while driving. If stopped without them, the driver commits an offence and their insurance may be invalidated. PCV drivers should ensure their vision is assessed at every medical and their prescription is current.
Question 6: How often must a PCV driver over the age of 45 renew their licence on medical grounds in Great Britain?
- Every 10 years
- Every 5 years (Correct answer)
- Annually
- Every 3 years
Correct answer: Every 5 years
PCV licence holders must renew their licence (including a medical declaration) every 5 years from age 45.
Group 2 licences (which include Category D PCV entitlement) must be renewed every 5 years from the age of 45. Each renewal requires the driver to complete a medical examination (D4 form completed by a GP or occupational health physician) and submit it to the DVLA. From age 65, annual renewals with medical examination are required. This ensures ongoing fitness to drive commercially.
PCV Licensing Categories and PCV Entitlements 1
What licence category is required to drive a vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats and a maximum authorised mass (MAM) above 5 tonnes?