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Transport and Communications Agency

Getting a driving licence for a bus

You need a Category D driving licence to drive a bus or coach, and a category DE driving licence to drive a vehicle combination. The minimum age requirement for categories D and DE is 24 years.

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You need a Category D1 driving licence to drive smaller buses or coaches and a Category D1E driving licence to drive a vehicle combination. The minimum age requirement in categories D1 and D1E is 21 years.

Do the following

  1. Step 1

    Apply for a driving licence permit

    You need a driving licence permit to participate in the theory and driving test.

    Apply for a driving licence permit for upgrading your driving licence.

    What is a driving licence permit?
    How to apply for a driving licence permit for upgrading your driving licence
  2. Step 2

    Participate in driving instruction, i.e. theory lessons and practical driving instruction

    You can obtain the instruction required for the driving examination at a driving school, at a vocational institution or with a driving instruction permit.

    At a driving school or with a driving instruction permit, you can start driving instruction six months before you meet the minimum age requirement.

    When you participate in driving instruction for a bus and coach, you must have a valid Category B driving licence, which is a driving licence for passenger cars.

    You may only take driving instruction for vehicle combinations, or Category D1E or DE vehicles, when you have been issued with a right to drive a towing vehicle.

  3. Step 3

    Take the theory test

    You can take the theory test one month before you meet the minimum age requirement.

    Bring the following to your theory test:

    • a valid photo ID, such as a passport or an ID card
    • the certificate of instruction and examination. You get the form from your driving school, educational institution or instructor with a driving instruction permit.
    • an approval document if you are under 24 years of age and do not have professional competence. You get the approval document from your educational institution.

    In addition, you need a valid driving licence permit. The service provider who organizes the theory test will verify its validity in Traficom’s system.

    Book an appointment for the theory test with the service provider.

  4. Step 4

    If necessary, take the handling test

    The handling test is completed only in categories D1E and DE. You can take the handling test when you have passed the theory test and meet the age requirement. If you are banned from driving, you cannot take the handling test.

    In addition, you need a valid driving licence permit. The service provider who organizes the handling test will verify its validity in Traficom’s system.

  5. Step 5

    Take the driving test

    You can take the driving test when you have passed the theory test, the handling test in categories D1E and DE, and you meet the minimum age requirement. If you are banned from driving, you cannot take the driving test.

    Bring the following to your driving test:

    • a valid photo ID, such as a passport or an ID card
    • the certificate of instruction and examination. You get the form from your driving school, educational institution or instructor with a driving instruction permit.

    In addition, you need a valid driving licence permit. The service provider who organizes the driving test checks its validity from Traficom’s system.

    Book an appointment for the driving test with the service provider.

  6. Step 6

    After you have passed the driving test, you will receive your driving licence in the mail

    After you have successfully completed the driving test, you will receive an examination certificate that will entitle you to drive a bus or coach in mainland Finland for up to 6 months. This will serve as your driving licence as long as you also carry your photo ID. Keep the document with you until you receive your official driving licence.

    Your driving licence will be delivered to your home address in approximately 2 weeks.

    The driving licence for a bus and coach is valid for 5 years at a time. When you reach the age of 68, the driving licence is valid for 2 years at a time. The driving licence must be renewed when its validity ends.

Exceptions to the minimum age requirement in categories D and DE

You may obtain a Category D or DE driving licence when you are under 24 years of age in the following situations:

  • The minimum age requirement is 23 years, if you have completed the basic professional competence training for bus drivers on the fast-track scheme (140 hours).
  • The minimum age requirement is 21 years, if you have completed the basic professional competence training for bus drivers on the standard-length course (280 hours).
  • The minimum age for Category D is 18 years, if you have completed a vocational upper secondary qualification for bus drivers and the basic professional competence training for bus drivers.

Driving instruction for a driving licence for a bus and coach and professional competence of a bus and coach driver

Driving instruction provided for a driving licence for a bus or coach includes practising the handling of a bus or coach and driving it in varying traffic situations and environments.

In driving instruction, you learn to act responsibly in traffic and to promote a safe, economical and flexible driving style. You learn anticipation, in other words, to identify and avoid dangerous situations in traffic. In addition, you will get the first aid training required for acting at an accident site.

See the amounts of instruction in the table below:

The sought right to drive

D1

 

D

 

D1E

 

DE

 

Instruction methodTheoryDrivingTheoryDrivingTheoryDrivingTheoryDriving
Valid right to drive Category B15152740----
Valid right to drive Category C1 or C9101530----
Valid right to drive Category D1--615810--
Valid right to drive Category D----810810
Supplementary amount of instruction (professional competence)335103333

 

You can take the bus driver’s driving examination with supplementary amount of instruction when:

 

  • you have reached the basic professional competence, and
  • you have a professional competence card or your driving licence has a special condition indicating professional competence, which has been issued at least one year before you take the examination, and
  • you have not taken another driving examination for a lorry or a bus with supplementary instruction during the previous 12 months

or

  • you were granted a driving licence for a bus and coach before 10 September 2008, and
  • you have valid professional competence, and

you have not taken another driving examination for a lorry or a bus with supplementary instruction during the previous 12 months.

Turun ammatti-instituutti: D (in Finnish)

Trafi Opetussuunnitelma: D1E, DE (in Finnish)

Suomen Ammattiliikenne Akatemia Oy: D1, D (in Finnish)

Suomen Kuljetusturva Oy: D1 and D (in Finnish)

All bus and coach drivers working in commercial transport must also have valid professional competence of a bus and coach driver.

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