D1 Minibus Licence Cost UK: Verified Fees and Current Course Options

D1 minibus licence costs: verified DVSA test fees, D4 and training budgeting, Driver CPC when needed, and the current GS price table.

Planning for a D1 minibus licence is easier when the fixed official fees and the course price are kept separate. This guide is for drivers who need the D1 minibus route, not a goods-vehicle licence. Before you spend money, check whether you can drive the minibus under the car-licence conditions; if those conditions do not apply, you may need minibus provisional entitlement.

Start with the official D1 costs

To apply for bus or minibus provisional entitlement, DVLA requires a D2 application and a D4 medical examination report. There is no DVLA application fee. A GP, optician or private medical provider may charge for completing the D4, but that charge is not set by DVLA, so get the provider's written price rather than relying on a generic range.

The official DVSA fees for the Part 1 theory tests are:

  • Part 1a multiple-choice test: £26
  • Part 1b hazard-perception test: £11

These are the official booking fees. Check whether your chosen course option already includes booking or revision support before paying for the same item separately.

Part 3a and Part 3b are separate practical tests

Do not treat the practical assessment as one unnamed test. Part 3a is the off-road exercise, including the reverse manoeuvre. Part 3b is the on-road driving test and can be taken only after Part 3a has been passed. The official fee table lists Part 3a at £40 and Part 3b at £115 on a weekday or £141 in the evening, at weekends or on bank holidays. If Part 3a is taken with an approved test provider, GOV.UK says it may cost up to £40.

These are DVSA booking fees, not an all-in training quote. Vehicle use, tuition, test booking arrangements and retests can change what a course covers. The current GS D1 minibus course price table is the source to use for the live options, VAT treatment and inclusions. It states whether the D1 practical tests are included for the option being considered; do not add Part 3a or Part 3b fees again if they are already included.

Budget for the route you actually need

A single national total is not reliable because the D4 provider's charge, training time, included services and any retests differ. Use this checklist when comparing D1 options:

  • the D4 provider's quoted fee and the free D2/D4 provisional application;
  • Part 1a and Part 1b if they are not included;
  • Part 3a and Part 3b as separate practical stages, plus confirmation of any vehicle and test-booking inclusion;
  • the current course option, its training hours, VAT and written inclusions; and
  • possible extra tuition or retests, which are not part of a first-attempt budget unless a written course term says otherwise.

Read the course option and its terms before checkout. If you are considering optional Pass Protection, check the current course-page description and terms, including eligibility, what counts as an attempt and when it must be added; it is not a substitute for confirming the course inclusions.

Driver CPC is conditional, not automatic

A D1 licence and the full Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) are different things. GOV.UK says a driver normally needs the full Driver CPC when driving a bus or coach as the main part of their job, but exemptions can apply, including non-commercial passenger carriage and some work where driving is not the main activity. Check the official exemption guidance for the intended use before choosing a CPC route.

If the full initial CPC applies to you, it has its own stages, including Part 2 case studies and Part 4 practical demonstration. Do not assume those stages are included in a D1 driving course. Choose a course option that expressly lists the relevant initial CPC modules if you need them, and avoid counting a listed inclusion twice.

Looking for Class 2 / Category C costs instead?

Class 2 (Category C) is a goods-vehicle route, not the D1 minibus route. If you arrived here looking for rigid-lorry training, use the current GS HGV Class 2 (Category C) course page. For the wider cost comparison and the factors that affect a Category C route, see the maintained HGV licence-cost guide.

Check live D1 details before booking

For current D1 course information and price options, use the D1 minibus course price table and confirm the option that matches your licence, test and CPC requirements. GS Driver Training's base is Dunsfold Airport, Cranleigh, GU6 8TB. Call 01252 447808; the office is open 08:00–17:00 Monday to Friday and closed at weekends and on bank holidays.

Official sources

For help selecting the relevant existing course, contact GS Driver Training.

Read the full article on GS Driver Training Blog.

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For more information about HGV training courses, call 01252 447808 or visit our courses page.