How to become a bus and coach driver
Official title: Bus and coach drivers
Also called: Driver, Bus driver, Pcv driver, Psv driver, Bus shunter, Coach driver, Bus operator, Driver-fitter, Minibus driver, Coach operator, Mini bus driver, Driver-mechanic
Bus and coach drivers drive road passenger-carrying vehicles such as buses, coaches and mini-buses.
Main tasks
- Checks tyres, brakes, lights, oil, water and fuel levels and general condition of the vehicle before start of journey
- Drives single- and double-decked vehicle over pre-determined route, complying with traffic regulations and keeping to time schedule
- Stops and opens and closes doors at pre-arranged places to allow passengers to board and alight, observing regulations concerning the number of passengers carried
- May collect fares from passengers and issue tickets or ensure that they use a ticket machine
- May plan routes in conjunction with private hirer and assist with loading and unloading of luggage
- Balances cash taken with tickets sold and may be responsible for cleanliness of vehicle
- Maintains records of journey times, mileage and hours worked
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though candidates must be in possession of a full car driving licence. All bus and coach drivers are required to hold the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). This incorporates a theoretical examination and assessed driving. Entrants to the CPC test must be at least 18 years old. NVQs/SVQs in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving are available at level 2.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Passenger transport driver - bus and coach or tram (level 2). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0338.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £36,340 a year The middle half earn £30,889 to £43,855.
- About 118,300 people work in this job now, and about 117,700 are projected by 2035. (-0.6%)
Related jobs
- Heavy and large goods vehicle drivers
- Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs
- Delivery drivers and couriers
- Driving instructors
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Questions people ask
How do I become a bus and coach driver?
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though candidates must be in possession of a full car driving licence. All bus and coach drivers are required to hold the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). This incorporates a theoretical examination and assessed driving. Entrants to the CPC test must be at least 18 years old. NVQs/SVQs in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving are available at level 2.
How much does a bus and coach driver earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £36,340 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £30,889 to £43,855.
Is a bus and coach driver a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 118,300 people now and 117,700 later (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a bus and coach driver?
Usually not. Only 15% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Passenger transport driver - bus and coach or tram (level 2).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03