Bus and coach licence training (Category D)

D1 covers minibuses with no more than 16 passenger seats and a maximum length of 8 metres. Category D covers any bus or coach with more than 8 passenger seats, so it is the full bus and coach (PCV) licence. Both allow a trailer up to 750kg. See our D1 minibus and Category D courses.

No. You only need a full car licence. Apply for provisional bus entitlement with a D2 form and a D4 medical report completed by a doctor; there is no application fee.

The bus and coach theory test (100 multiple-choice questions and a hazard perception test), then an off-road test with an S-shaped reverse into a bay, and an on-road driving test with vehicle safety questions. If you will drive buses or coaches for a living you also need the full Driver CPC, which adds a case study test and a practical demonstration test.

You need to be over 18 to apply, but the minimum age for some bus and coach work depends on the type of driving and your Driver CPC. Call us on 01387 256528 and we will explain what applies to you.

Category D and D1 allow a trailer up to 750kg. To tow anything heavier you need D+E or D1+E. Ask us if you need trailer entitlement as well.

Since 2001. Nithcree grew out of a family haulage business and opened its Dumfries training centre that year. Our Perth centre has been open since 2021, and we have been a registered NPORS plant training centre since 2024. Read our 25-year story.

90% of candidates who train with Nithcree pass. Our instructors have more than 260 years of industry experience between them, and two are DVSA reverse examiners. See how we do it.

Possibly. Scottish funding, No One Left Behind employability support and English schemes can cover some or all of a course, depending on where you live and your circumstances. See funding options or ask us to check before you book.

Every course runs at our Dumfries centre in Heathhall. LGV and B+E courses also run at our Perth centre.

Yes. We train individuals and whole teams, from complete beginners to experienced staff who need refreshers, Driver CPC hours or an NPORS experienced worker test. Call us to plan training around your work.

Call 01387 256528 or send an enquiry. Tell us what you want to drive or operate and your experience, and we will recommend the right course and check funding before you commit.