Who sits the Category D paper
One bus theory test covers every passenger-carrying category: D, DE, D1, D1E. A driver going for a 16-seat minibus and one going for a full touring coach sit the same exam.
It is 100 questions in 120 minutes, needing 74 correct, and you must already hold a category B licence before you can sit it.
Category D1
D1 is the minibus category, up to 16 passenger seats, and it is where most drivers start. There is no separate shorter D1 theory paper: you sit the full Category D test.
Category DE and D1E
The E categories add a trailer to a bus or minibus. They need no additional theory test, because your Category D certificate already covers them.
What the bus questions emphasise
The material that separates this from the car paper is mostly about carrying people: passenger safety and supervision, door and boarding procedures, vehicle height and overhead clearance, driver hours and tachograph rules, and the handling of a long vehicle with a rear overhang.
Our bank holds 401 questions labelled Truck and Bus, reflecting how much the two syllabuses share. If you are considering taking both categories, the combined CD paper lets you sit them in one go.
Before you book
The truck and bus guide covers the licensing route and where Driver CPC fits in, which is a separate qualification from this test. See truck practice for the Category C side, and test day for what to bring.
Common questions
Is there free bus theory test practice?
Yes. You can practise a 40-question sample of the bus and truck bank here without an account or a card. The full bank is part of Truck Pro.
How many questions are in the bus theory test?
The Category D paper is 100 questions in 120 minutes, and you need 74 correct to pass. It is the same length and pass mark as the truck paper.
Is D1 a different theory test from D?
No. One D paper covers category D, DE, D1 and D1E, so a minibus driver and a full coach driver sit the same theory test.
Do bus and truck share a question bank?
Largely, yes. The syllabuses overlap heavily on vehicle systems, driver hours and load or passenger safety, which is why the questions are grouped as Truck and Bus. The exams are still sat separately unless you take the combined CD paper.
What is the combined CD test?
Sitting truck and bus together as one paper: 140 questions in 180 minutes with 104 to pass. One sitting instead of two if you need both categories.