Minibus Permits

If your community group runs a community transport scheme – either as a minibus or community bus, you may be eligible for a permit which means that your drivers will be licensed to drive your group’s vehicle on a volunteer basis and you may be permitted to charge fares from your passengers. 

Minibus Permits 

Section 19 Standard Minibus permits (for vehicles with a maximum of 16 passenger seats) allow certain community groups or organisations to make a charge for their services without having to comply with the full licensing requirements of a Public Service Vehicle Operator (PSV) and without the need for their drivers to have category D or D1 (PCV) entitlement on their driving license.

To qualify for a minibus permit, your group:-

  • needs to have aims concerned with education, religion, social welfare or recreation, or any other activities which offer community benefit
  • must not make your services available to the general public but provide them exclusively for your members or for the people who your group was set up to serve
  • ensure that any charges you make are used exclusively to further the purposes of your group

Community Bus Permits

Your community group may qualify for a Section 22 Community Bus permit if you are:-

  • contracted to provide a community transport scheme offering a local bus service
  • using unpaid voluntary drivers
  • carrying general public passengers

The bus service you provide must be registered with the Traffic Commissioner who may, at their discretion, allow your group to use the vehicle for non-local services (such as contract hire) to help finance the main service.   

Where to apply for a permit

Minibus and Community Bus permit applications should be made to the office of the Traffic Commissioner which in turn is part of VOSA.  Any payments should be made payable to VOSA.

Other Community Toolkit Topics to look at:



Further sources of information

We are always interested in your views and experience of using the Community Toolkit. If you have any feedback or questions please complete our Feedback Form

The Community Toolkit is owned and maintained by Skye and Lochalsh CVO Conditions of Use
Last Updated 22/11/2011 11:56