PCV estimate Prices

NEW AND WANNABE DRIVERS (INTERACTIVE)
21

As Peter said, doing an entire course may be unnecessary, although you will obviously need to take and pass the PCV theory / hazard perception and take the practical test.

I had my C+E and did, from memory, 3 x 2 hour training sessions in a bus (which would probably cost you £300 now, plus vehicle hire for the test) and passed first time with zero driver faults.

That’s not a brag, I am just saying that if you haven’t managed to get into too many bad habits :grimacing: it won’t take you too long to get to test standard for Cat D from a C+E licence.

With the lighter evenings, a flexible training school may be happy to give you a couple of hours at the end of each day, so you could do the test the same week, given test and vehicle availability.

It would keep you independent (no money to pay back, leave if you need to) and possibly fast track you into a job, as you would already have your licence.

Good luck with whatever you decide. :slight_smile:

22

at that time you could’nt drive in service without your badge

As this is a newbies forum, I hope no-one minds if I point out that the drivers and conductors badges were dispensed with around 30 years ago. Cant remember exactly when - but I do know I paid 2 shillings and sixpence (12.5p) deposit on mine and when they changed the system they refunded 12p as the deposit. I’ve often wondered how much HM government gained by screwing us all for a half p. Some things never change!!

Hope I may have pre-empted some “badge” questions. Pete :laughing: :laughing:

23

I am sure I am going to need an excavator to dig myself out of this hole… But …

I was told by my trainer that it was near impossible to fail a company test and you would need to be dangerous to extreme before they would fail you.

So yes that backs up what Pete has said.

I would also reiterate that a couple of assessments would not do any harm. And if you are confident in a C or CE vehicle it should be a breeze.

Best of luck Gaz in whatever you choose.

24

Thanks mate :smiley:

25

bowser:
badly behaved cattle springs to mind and it gives me the shivers … :open_mouth:

I will second that, if only the parents could see there little angels when there on a school coach, would rather a rugby team anyday…

And im sure others reading this will think were exagerating !!!

Madguy :imp:

26

Gazza7682:
Hey

Does anyone know how much PCV Licence costs and if you would have to repeat the CPC or does the one for HGV count. And is there anything else you would need to drive a bus/coach for a living? (Just exploring my options)

Thanks

Gareth

Gareth

Did mine in Belfast wih Swift Transport Training . Bus a bit ancient but as they were flexible with dates ( I wanted four Saturdays to avoid taking time off work ) suited me . Cost of course is £600 . In my case I paid £40 per hour . If you already have Cat C should find it straight forward . Remember to use bus lanes and also important to stop as close to the kerb at bus stops . ( without touching the kerb ) .

27

why on earth would you want to take it in manual coach?

take it in an Automatic it is automatically upgraded to as manual licence anyway

28

djw:
The D1 ‘not for hire and reward’ entitlement included with a pre-1997 car test does not give grandfather rights for PCV DCPC as the restriction precludes vocational PCV driving. Pre-1997 car tests gives grandfather rights for LGV DCPC as the C1 entitlement is valid for vocational driving.

Only holders of unrestricted D or D1 entitlement at the PCV DCPC implementation date gained grandfather rights.

Unrestricted D? you mean D1 is ony thing restricted on Cat D is an Auto box I dont know the number but they still got the grandfather rights to the DCPC.

I have a full PCV but I still have restrictions on my D1 but is not affected due to having CAT D

29

discoman:

djw:
The D1 ‘not for hire and reward’ entitlement included with a pre-1997 car test does not give grandfather rights for PCV DCPC as the restriction precludes vocational PCV driving. Pre-1997 car tests gives grandfather rights for LGV DCPC as the C1 entitlement is valid for vocational driving.

Only holders of unrestricted D or D1 entitlement at the PCV DCPC implementation date gained grandfather rights.

Unrestricted D? you mean D1 is ony thing restricted on Cat D is an Auto box I dont know the number but they still got the grandfather rights to the DCPC.

In this context, “unrestricted” meant “not accompanied by the 101 “not for hire and reward” restriction code”, though I was trying to avoid the typical lawyer’s mistake (I’m a law student) of writing sentences that are so long and ■■■■■■■■■■ that the meaning is unclear. Another challenge is avoiding double negatives - not “not for hire and reward”.

Let’s try again.

Drivers who, on the PCV DCPC introduction date, had either passed a PCV test or had acquired PCV entitlement by grandfather rights when PSV licences were originally introduced gained PCV initial DCPC by “grandfather rights”, even if their D or D1 entitlement had other restriction codes including 78 “automatic transmission only”.

I realise a lot of D tests are taken on automatic buses these days, especially when candidates are trained by bus companies. Manual PCVs are rarely found these days - some coaches have manual boxes, as do some van-based minibuses. The majority of PCVs, especially those used on stage fare work, almost invariably have auto boxes.

Anyone who holds or gains manual C entitlement has the 78 restriction code removed from B, D1 and D entitlements if held. It works the other way round, too - if you hold manual C entitlement and take a D test on an automatic bus, you get manual D entitlement.

Those drivers who only held D1 and D1E entitlement with a 101 “not for hire and reward” restriction code that was granted with a pre-1997 car test did not gain PCV initial DCPC by “grandfather rights”. These drivers must take PCV modules 2 and 4 if they gain D1 or D entitlement and want to drive PCVs commercially, even if they hold LGV initial DCPC. This contrasts to the C1 and C1E with a 107 restriction code (“not more than 8250kg”) entitlements also gained with a pre-1997 car test - as the C1 entitlement is valid for “hire and reward” commercial driving, it exempted the driver from LGV initial DCPC.

30

My dad has a class one had it for 50 years i told him i was thinking of taking my hgv and he said don’t bother take your psv just think of all the tips you get when you take the old dears out for the day and the holidays .
I’m still set on the hgv but i wouldn’t mind the psv as another option

31

djw:

discoman:

djw:
The D1 ‘not for hire and reward’ entitlement included with a pre-1997 car test does not give grandfather rights for PCV DCPC as the restriction precludes vocational PCV driving. Pre-1997 car tests gives grandfather rights for LGV DCPC as the C1 entitlement is valid for vocational driving.

Only holders of unrestricted D or D1 entitlement at the PCV DCPC implementation date gained grandfather rights.

Unrestricted D? you mean D1 is ony thing restricted on Cat D is an Auto box I dont know the number but they still got the grandfather rights to the DCPC.

In this context, “unrestricted” meant “not accompanied by the 101 “not for hire and reward” restriction code”, though I was trying to avoid the typical lawyer’s mistake (I’m a law student) of writing sentences that are so long and ■■■■■■■■■■ that the meaning is unclear. Another challenge is avoiding double negatives - not “not for hire and reward”.

Let’s try again.

Drivers who, on the PCV DCPC introduction date, had either passed a PCV test or had acquired PCV entitlement by grandfather rights when PSV licences were originally introduced gained PCV initial DCPC by “grandfather rights”, even if their D or D1 entitlement had other restriction codes including 78 “automatic transmission only”.

I realise a lot of D tests are taken on automatic buses these days, especially when candidates are trained by bus companies. Manual PCVs are rarely found these days - some coaches have manual boxes, as do some van-based minibuses. The majority of PCVs, especially those used on stage fare work, almost invariably have auto boxes.

Anyone who holds or gains manual C entitlement has the 78 restriction code removed from B, D1 and D entitlements if held. It works the other way round, too - if you hold manual C entitlement and take a D test on an automatic bus, you get manual D entitlement.

Those drivers who only held D1 and D1E entitlement with a 101 “not for hire and reward” restriction code that was granted with a pre-1997 car test did not gain PCV initial DCPC by “grandfather rights”. These drivers must take PCV modules 2 and 4 if they gain D1 or D entitlement and want to drive PCVs commercially, even if they hold LGV initial DCPC. This contrasts to the C1 and C1E with a 107 restriction code (“not more than 8250kg”) entitlements also gained with a pre-1997 car test - as the C1 entitlement is valid for “hire and reward” commercial driving, it exempted the driver from LGV initial DCPC.

You are corerct in what you say however any person who held a Licence prior to 01/01/1997 will have C1 on there licence so will obtain grandfather rights.

any person who passed after 97 would have to take a test therefore would still have to do the DCPC. for bus and truck ■■ maybe I am missing something here?

32

Its stating that having a pre 97 licence means you still have to do mods 2 + 4 for a pcv licence unless you had pcv entitlement already.

33

discoman:
You are corerct in what you say however any person who held a Licence prior to 01/01/1997 will have C1 on there licence so will obtain grandfather rights.

As I said:

djw:
This contrasts to the C1 and C1E with a 107 restriction code (“not more than 8250kg”) entitlements also gained with a pre-1997 car test - as the C1 entitlement is valid for “hire and reward” commercial driving, it exempted the driver from LGV initial DCPC.

discoman:
any person who passed after 97 would have to take a test therefore would still have to do the DCPC. for bus and truck ■■ maybe I am missing something here?

There are two different types of DCPC - LGV and PCV. The initial DCPC for LGV and PCV is different, though if you hold one already and take the Module 2 for the other, you supposedly do a slightly different type of Module 2 test. Periodic DCPC hours are counted for both LGV and PCV.

Those who passed a pre-1997 car test who held no other LGV or PCV entitlement gained LGV initial DCPC by ‘grandfather rights’ because they held C1 entitlement valid for hire or reward. They did not gain PCV initial DCPC by ‘grandfather rights’ because their D1 and D1E entitlements not valid for vocational driving because they were subject to a ‘not for hire or reward’ restriction code.

As you rightly say, those who took their car test in 1997 or later who held no other LGVÂ or PCV entitlement did not gain either LGVÂ or PCVÂ initial DCPC by ‘grandfather rights’. 1997 or later car tests only grant entitlements in category B, f (tractors), k (mowing machines / pedestrian controlled vehicles) and p (mopeds - test passes from 1 February 2001 grant this entitlement subject to having passed CBT once). 1997 or later car licences typically show B1 as well, but any holder of B is entitled to drive a B1 vehicle, whether or not B1 is explicitly shown. LGV initial DCPC is not granted by ‘grandfather rights’ because these licences lack C1 and C1E.

1997 or later car tests do not give entitlement to BE, C1, C1E (maximum of 8250kg), D1 (not for hire and reward), D1E (not for hire and reward, weight limit does not apply), l and n.

Some of these don’t matter much - l (electric vehicles) and n (vehicles only used for a short distance on public roads) have become obsolete and may well disappear from licences when the third Driving Licence Directive comes into force. Electric vehicles now fall into the main EU categories, whilst it hasn’t been possible to licence a new category n vehicle for a long time and I suspect none remain. The “not for hire and reward” D1 and D1E entitlements do not make much difference either - someone who has held a 1997 or later car licence for two years and is over 21 is allowed to drive a minibus up to 3.5t “not for hire and reward” if the minibus is on a Section 19 permit or is driven for a not-for-profit organisation for social purposes. Pre-1997 car test passes grant slightly wider permission to use minibuses, including towing trailers, use for strictly private purposes and driving vehicles with 16 passenger seats (invariably more than 3.5t MAM - though organisations typically avoid these because they can, in some circumstances, require a PCV operator’s licence and usually require a tachograph).

However, the BE, C1 and C1E (up to 8250kg) entitlements gained with a pre-1997 car test are useful to some - those who passed a 1997 or later car test may go on to take further tests to gain these entitlements. BE is needed to to tow a heavy trailer including quite a few caravans. C1 is needed not just for 7.5t lorries, but paramedics typically need C1 as many ambulances are built on >3.5t van chassis. Drivers of the heaviest MAMÂ Transits, Sprinters and the like also need C1.

34

And this is so relevant to PCV prices :unamused: :unamused: :unamused:

Turned into a who’s the expert on driver licencing and probably confused the hell out of most newbies, may ending up with it posing more questions than answers :open_mouth:

35

Typical thread drift, I think - we moved from consideration of how much training an LGV driver would need for category D to talking about the PCVÂ DCPC situation of such a driver.

Unfortunately the regulations on driver licensing are complex and get worse each time there is a major change because of the measures to ensure that existing entitlements are not eroded. That is why it would be good to see the back of arguably obsolete bits of the regulations such as categories l and n.

As you have already said, Noworries, the initial DCPC entitlement situation is quite simple.

Pre-1997 car tests, assuming category C1 is on the driver’s licence, grant LGVÂ initial DCPC by ‘grandfather rights’ but do not grant PCVÂ initial DCPC.

1997 or later car tests do not grant LGVÂ initial DCPC or PCVÂ initial DCPC.

Any ‘grandfather rights’ from vocational entitlements held on the DCPC start dates are added to those deriving from the car entitlement.

Life will be simpler after September 2014, when all UKÂ licence holders with DCPC will have a DQC showing their DCPC expiry dates.

36

The anomaly at the moment is if you have acquired rights for lgv, then do initial mod 2+4 for pcv you will end up with different expiry dates on cpc for pcv and lgv , though this can work in your favour :wink:

37

All the OP has to do is to contact one or two reputable trainers, have assesssments and be talked through the rest.

Life really isn’t that hard!!

Pete :laughing: :laughing:

38

Hey all.

Thanks for all advise.

Got some good news. Just went for an informal interview with a coach company in north wales… And… He is willing to pay for my PCV licence. :smiley:

He said i can do my theory over in stoke and he uses a company in wales that have said i could do it in 3 days. Just means a travellodge for 2 nights :smiley:

I do have one question now though. I need to get my theory sorted for mod 2 cpc. Where can i get the book or cd rom to learn? As i was lucky and didnt have to do it for hgv (grandfather rights) no clue what it looks like or where to get it.

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