Cat D Licence & D1 - Coach & Mini Bus Driver Training

Cat D, D1 Coach & MiniBus Training

Are you interested in becoming a coach or bus driver? Our training courses can help you achieve this goal, whether you’re a first-time driver or looking to upgrade your licence. With our comprehensive training, you’ll be on your way to becoming a safe and confident bus driver in no time.

The process for either minibus or large bus or coach is initially the same.

Obtaining Your Category D & D1 Driving Licence

To obtain your Category D or D1 driving licence, you need to be at least 18 years old and hold a full UK driving licence. The next step is to obtain a provisional PCV (passenger carrying vehicle) licence by completing a medical and sending the forms to the DVLA in Swansea.

Once you have your provisional licence, we can arrange the required theory tests. All this is done as part of our starter package. More information can be found on our Starter Package page.

Practical Driving Course

After successfully completing your theory test, you can book your PCV driver training course with us. Our Category D training is undertaken in one of our coaches (Volvo or SCANIA) with automatic gearbox, while Category D1 training is carried out using our Ford Transit 17 seat mini-bus.

Take Your Test at Our Test Centre

At our own test centre, we have been a customer site for lorry, bus & coach driver tests since 2012. This means that the examiner comes to our training centre to start your driving test, so you’ll be in familiar surroundings and take your test on the same area that you practice.

Coach & Bus Driver Training with L&T Transport Training Services

L&T Transport Training Services delivers dedicated Category D (coach) and Category D1 (minibus) driver training with a clear, structured path from provisional application through to the practical test. The company has operated as a DVSA Approved customer test site since 2012, which means your practical test starts from L&T’s own site. You train on local routes around the centre and test from the same location, so there are fewer surprises on the day.

Who Each Category Suits

Category D (Coach): For driving full-size single or double-deck buses and coaches on public roads.
Category D1 (Minibus): For driving a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats (typically 17 seats including the driver).

You must be 18 or over and hold a full car licence. Before booking practical training you need a PCV provisional. That involves a medical and sending the forms to DVLA Swansea. L&T’s Starter Package then helps you book the theory tests so admin doesn’t hold you back.

Training Vehicles and Approach

Cat D: Practical training is delivered in a modern automatic coach (Volvo/Scania). You’ll learn smooth passenger-friendly driving, accurate bus stop approaches, and how to manage vehicle size and overhang safely.
Cat D1: Training takes place in a 17-seat minibus (Ford Transit). This reflects what many operators use, so the handling you learn transfers directly to real work.

Vehicles are kept in consistent training setup so you get familiar controls and predictable feedback from session to session.

What You’ll Cover

Training follows the competencies examiners assess, with time allocated on the roads used for testing:

Vehicle safety checks: Full daily walk-round, emergency exit checks, tyres, mirrors, doors, defect reporting.
Control skills: Progressive acceleration and braking, effective mirror-signal-manoeuvre routines, judgement of length/width, and appropriate use of gears in automatics.
Manoeuvring and positioning: Lane discipline, setting up for junctions and roundabouts, safe reversing where required, and precise stop positioning for passenger boarding.
Urban and faster-road driving: Speed management, anticipation, pedestrian awareness, approach to bus stops/lay-bys, and reading developing hazards early.
Passenger comfort and safety: Planning to avoid harsh inputs, securing the vehicle at stops, and clear, safe pull-away procedures.
Professional standards: Legal responsibilities specific to PCV driving and habits that keep you compliant in daily work.

How the Test Works at L&T

Once your theory stage is complete, L&T schedules your on-vehicle coaching and your practical test to start from the L&T customer test site. You warm up on familiar routes before the examiner ride, which helps keep nerves in check and performance consistent with your lessons.

Driver CPC Support (If Required)

If you need Driver CPC periodic training, L&T is a JAUPT Approved Centre and can deliver the modules you require. Keeping training and CPC with one provider makes planning simpler and avoids gaps between qualification steps.

The Process at a Glance

Medical + DVLA forms for PCV provisional.
Starter Package to arrange and complete your theory tests.
Book practical Cat D or D1 training dates with L&T.
Train on the test vehicle you’ll use for the assessment.
Take your practical test starting from L&T’s site.

If you are unsure whether D or D1 suits your intended role, L&T will advise based on the vehicle you plan to drive.

Why Candidates Choose L&T

Consistent environment: Train and test from the same DVSA-approved site (in use since 2012).
Relevant vehicles: Full-size automatic coach for Cat D and a genuine 17-seat minibus for D1.
Experienced instructors: Coaching tailored to examiner expectations and everyday PCV work.
End-to-end support: From provisional and theory through to practical and (where needed) Driver CPC.

Ready to start Cat D or D1? Call 01977 618228 or use the enquiry form to check availability and next course dates.

Contact Us Today

If you’re ready to take the first step towards becoming a coach or mini bus driver, contact us today to learn more about our driver training courses in the bus industry. Don’t let the process of obtaining your Category D or D1 driving licence be daunting – we’re here to help you every step of the way.

Go to the news page to find out how L&Ts Coach driver training changed Leanne’s life.