Bus operator licences and permits

10b bus permits

A bus operated under a permit cannot be used to carry members of the general public and cannot be used to make a profit, or for commercial purposes. A bus used under a permit is not available for private hire.

Permits for large buses

Permits for large buses over 16 seats are issued by Passenger Transport Licensing Division (PTLD) of the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA).

Permits for small buses

Permits for small buses are not issued by PTLD but by 'designated bodies'. The information below is as reported by these designated bodies and cannot be certified as complete or accurate.

Organisations with permits

The document at the link below has details of the organisations which have either a large or small 10b permit issued by ‘designated bodies’.

• 10b bus permits 

Licensed bus operators

The DVA can refuse to grant, or can withdraw, a bus operator’s licence. 

International licence holders can operate cross-border. National licence holders operate within Northern Ireland. A list of bus operators can be viewed below, this is updated monthly:

• Licensed bus service operators 

Commercial bus service permit

You need a commercial bus service permit from the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) to operate a public passenger transport service in Northern Ireland.

The types of service which need a permit are:

• regular stopping services
• express services
• sightseeing services
• demand responsive services
• event-specific services
• taxibus services

DfI will consider service permit applications according to:

• the suitability of the route
• any other ongoing or previous applications
• how the needs of people likely to use the service are currently catered for
• the effect that granting a service permit would have on other permit holders or the contracted network
• the need to make sure fair competition

For commercial bus service application forms and more information go to: Commercial bus service permits 

More useful links

• Guidance on the use of section 10B permits and FAQs
• Bus Operator Handbook 
• Manage my DVA taxi and bus account