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Bus licence category D. Has anyone done it recently?

Commotion Ocean

I have a few questions:

Firstly, why is the theorytest for it so damn expensive compared to the car and motorbike tests? It's not like doing the test is more time or money-consuming.

Do you have to get your medical before applying for the learner permit or before applying

I was thinking about going for the ISM. I was thinking two sets of ten lessons should cover it if I absorb the information quickly. Are ISM recommended or would you go somewhere else?

Airport School of Motoring have a test pass guarantee. Is this gimicky or are they a good school? They never really specified after how many lessons you'd pass. So that could mean after 50 lessons.

Stupid question, but if I got my test in a category D in a single-storey coach, would I be eligible to drive double deckers if I did my CPC at a later stage?

Do you have to do retests every so often?

Any other hints / do's and don't's ??

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neris

Did mine back in June started lessons around February but had to wait for test as Id passed theory tests few years back and had to sit a missing module so probably cost me a month extra in lessons but was worth it in the end. Where are you planning on doing lessons/test? If your going Finglas I,d recommend another driving school up there. They only have the 1 coach and its not as shiny or new as the other 2 youve mentioned but the instructor is good. If you get the D license you can drive any bus from a mini bus up to a double decker. You need to do the theory tests before you get the permit but you can do CPC later but it,s much easier to do it on the day as you,ll have the bus there. You need medical when applying for permit and again when applying for the full license.

Commotion Ocean

neris wrote: »

You need medical when applying for permit and again when applying for the full license.

Can you do this at a normal GP?

neris

yeah its a very quick test. the doc just fills out the forms. I spent more time in the waiting room then it took the doctor to the test and fill in the form. you may need an eye sight test if you wear glasses

Commotion Ocean

http://www.ism.ie/driving-lessons/coach wrote:

**Special: 10 hours + Vehicle Test Hire (including 1 hour before) is now €940.00 (SAVING of €100)

So €25 for revision material, €75 for the theory test, €940 for lessons and test hire and €120 for the test, (without doing CPC).

So €1,160 in total - assuming I pass first time. Doesn't seem bad.

neris

think of budgeting for extra lessons aswell. I take it that 10 hours of lessons is actually 5 lessons at 2 hours.

neris

Also whydo u want to drive a bus and not have the cpc? No one will give you a bus driving job without a cpc.

DakarVert

What does the actual test have to be done in, Will anything with more than 16 seats do or does it have to be a full fat 53 seater coach?

Commotion Ocean

DakarVert wrote: »

What does the actual test have to be done in, Will anything with more than 16 seats do or does it have to be a full fat 53 seater coach?

D1 is a small bus (>8 seats, not incluuding the driver) if I'm not mistaken and D is a full bus.

boardsuser1

DakarVert wrote: »

What does the actual test have to be done in, Will anything with more than 16 seats do or does it have to be a full fat 53 seater coach?

For a full D licence it must be done in a full size Coach.

neris

There's a minimum size and weight on what you can use in the tests for categories D & C. It's on the driving test website

boardsuser1

neris wrote: »

There's a minimum size and weight on what you can use in the tests for categories D & C. It's on the driving test website

An example of what is acceptable for the bus driving test is a Dennis Javelin Plaxton or a Scania L94 irizar Century.

Silvera

KC161 wrote: »

For a full D licence it must be done in a full size Coach.

There is a school of motoring based in Athlone who use a (6-speed?) relatively-small bus for category D lessons and tests. When I did my C+E lessons / test there in 2014 my instructor said it would be a good vehicle to use due to it's small size and simplcity (he was from a different school).

I also spotted these in Galway today..
Would this be a 53-seater?

boardsuser1

Silvera wrote: »

There is a school of motoring based in Athlone who use a (6-speed?) relatively-small bus for category D lessons and tests. When I did my C+E lessons / test there in 2014 my instructor said it would be a good vehicle to use due to it's small size and simplcity (he was from a different school).

I also spotted these in Galway today..
Would this be a 53-seater?

Hi Silvera, yes that coach is a 53 seater 6 speed manual Volvo B10M Plaxton, a 1997 Cork reg as it happens. Owned by Philip Rice. Regulations changed in June 2014. I done my D licence in a 33 seater Mercedes in Cork in 2013 so can understand what the instructor meant by the more preferable smaller coach. They are gone sadly.

Commotion Ocean

Just out of curiosity, is there any reason why the theory test for buses and lorries is so expensive? It's not like there's more expense involved in doing the theory test

I even fail to see why the driving test itself is so expensive for buses, it's the person sitting the test who pays for the bus rental anyway. You're just paying for the tester's time, regardless of whether you're driving a Vespa or an army tank.

Pat Dunne

dfeo wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, is there any reason why the theory test for buses and lorries is so expensive? It's not like there's more expense involved in doing the theory test

I even fail to see why the driving test itself is so expensive for buses, it's the person sitting the test who pays for the bus rental anyway. You're just paying for the tester's time, regardless of whether you're driving a Vespa or an army tank.

In all fairness your questions are well beyond the scope of this topic.

If you're so excerised about the costs, contact your local TD requesting them to table a Parlimentary Question on the matter you wish to raise in regard of the costs. By law the relevant Minister will have to respond to your TD's, PQ.

Did my own course of leasons with Airport School of Motoring in August/September just gone, a really great team of instructors, who have brilliant practical experience of the industry. Two excellently maintained 50 seater Mercedes Coaches.

Did my test in October at Finglas and passed, was delighted. Got a job in November, with plenty of variety and lots of hours.

Commotion Ocean

Pat Dunne wrote: »

In all fairness your questions are well beyond the scope of this topic.

If you're so excerised about the costs, contact your local TD requesting them to table a Parlimentary Question on the matter you wish to raise in regard of the costs. By law the relevant Minister will have to respond to your TD's, PQ.

Did my own course of leasons with Airport School of Motoring in August/September just gone, a really great team of instructors, who have brilliant practical experience of the industry. Two excellently maintained 50 seater Mercedes Coaches.

Did my test in October at Finglas and passed, was delighted. Got a job in November, with plenty of variety and lots of hours.

I've heard they're a good crowd.

Is it difficult to schedule lessons due to them only having two buses?

I'd say you'd be waiting a while for the test too

Pat Dunne

dfeo wrote: »

I've heard they're a good crowd.

Is it difficult to schedule lessons due to them only having two buses?

I'd say you'd be waiting a while for the test too

No, its very easy to schedule lessons with them, give them a shout they're sound to deal with.

Applied for my test at the end of August (just gone), sat it six weeks later and passed first go.

neris

The schools will generally give you priority on test day to use the bus over lessons.

boardsuser1

neris wrote: »

The schools will generally give you priority on test day to use the bus over lessons.

Commotion Ocean

If I passed my D license and subsequently did DE, would that entitle me to BE?

I currently have B and W

If I did D and DE would I then have:

B
BE
W
D
D1E
DE

boardsuser1

dfeo wrote: »

If I passed my D license and subsequently did DE, would that entitle me to BE?

I currently have B and W

If I did D and DE would I then have:

B
BE
W
D
D1E
DE

Are there schools that even do DE lessons? Yes is the answer to the question however.

Commotion Ocean

KC161 wrote: »

Are there schools that even do DE lessons? Yes is the answer to the question however.

If I did CE then I assume it'd cover me for all of the E categories.

boardsuser1

dfeo wrote: »

If I did CE then I assume it'd cover me for all of the E categories.

If you have the D to go with it yes!

Commotion Ocean

KC161 wrote: »

If you have the D to go with it yes!

Can you just get a C learner permit and go straight for the CE test, or do you have to do C first?

I can't imagine a driver being allowed to go straight for BE test without having first done B.

neris

dfeo wrote: »

Can you just get a C learner permit and go straight for the CE test, or do you have to do C first?

I can't imagine a driver being allowed to go straight for BE test without having first done B.

Youve to do the C category 1st and then you can go for CE

cantdecide

DE (or any bus+trailer category) does NOT give you BE or expand any of your truck categories to truck+trailer. However, if you have pre-existing bus categories and you pass a truck+trailer category, you WILL THEN get the equivalent bus+trailer category automatically. The only way to earn BE is to pass a BE test or a CE test. C1E will not give you BE automatically even though C1E is bigger than BE.

In short; having truck+trailer categories will automatically give you bus+trailer categories on passing bus tests. The reverse is not true.

Silvera

cantdecide wrote: »

DE (or any bus+trailer category) does NOT give you BE or expand any of your truck categories to truck+trailer. However, if you have pre-existing bus categories and you pass a truck+trailer category, you WILL THEN get the equivalent bus+trailer category automatically. The only way to earn BE is to pass a BE test or a CE test. will not give you BE automatically even though C1E is bigger than BE

In short; having truck+trailer categories will automatically give you bus+trailer categories on passing bus tests. The reverse is not true.

I wasnt aware of that! Thats a strange situation isnt it?
You'd imagine that if a person passes C1E then they should automatically get BE?!

boardsuser1

cantdecide wrote: »

DE (or any bus+trailer category) does NOT give you BE or expand any of your truck categories to truck+trailer. However, if you have pre-existing bus categories and you pass a truck+trailer category, you WILL THEN get the equivalent bus+trailer category automatically. The only way to earn BE is to pass a BE test or a CE test. C1E will not give you BE automatically even though C1E is bigger than BE.

In short; having truck+trailer categories will automatically give you bus+trailer categories on passing bus tests. The reverse is not true.

So if I did my test in a 40ft coach with a trailer with a capacity greater than 750 kg I wouldn't be entitled to category BE?

Why can't the RSA be on boards .

***Shakes head***

Commotion Ocean

cantdecide wrote: »

DE (or any bus+trailer category) does NOT give you BE or expand any of your truck categories to truck+trailer. However, if you have pre-existing bus categories and you pass a truck+trailer category, you WILL THEN get the equivalent bus+trailer category automatically. The only way to earn BE is to pass a BE test or a CE test. C1E will not give you BE automatically even though C1E is bigger than BE.

In short; having truck+trailer categories will automatically give you bus+trailer categories on passing bus tests. The reverse is not true.

So you're saying that if I passed C, then CE, then did D I would not get DE.

But if I did D first, then CE I'd get DE ??

neris

Youd get the DE if you have the CE already whenyou pass the D test