24 calendar months
If your passengers are not in danger
You can drive a taxi or a 15 passenger van. When it comes to a bus designed to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver), you can't even drive the bus empty - let alone transport passengers - on a learner's permit. You must have the passenger endorsement in order to drive the bus, and you don't get that endorsement until you take the road test in the appropriate class of passenger vehicle - hence, by the time you get the endorsement, you actually have a CDL.
Yes. The vehicle would require a Class C CDL with the Passenger endorsement.
Up to 15 passengers (including the driver). Anything more requires a CDL and passenger endorsement.
The type of license you might need really just depends on how you want to use your mini bus.Of course if you want to transport passengers you will need an appropriate endorsement.
If it's being operated for-hire, you need a CDL with a passenger endorsement in any state. In any other instance, you need to get a letter of determination from the NCDOT. Any vehicle designed to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver) requires a CDL with a passenger endorsement.
You are allowed the same number of passengers as there are seat belt sets. If there are 5 seat belts in a car then 5 people is the maximum allowed, including the driver, by law in ANY state.
Yes, you do. You would need, depending on the vehicle weight, either a Class C CDL (for vehicles under 26,000 lbs) or Class B CDL (for vehicles over 26,000 lbs). If the vehicle was equipped with air brakes, you would have to take the written air brakes test and road test on a vehicle so equipped (there is no actual air brake endorsement - only a restriction), and you would need a "P" endorsement for passengers, or "S" endorsement if you actually were transporting children.
On a for-hire or commercial use basis, a vehicle may have up to 15 persons (including the driver) before a CDL with passenger endorsement is required. This does not vary between states - this is federal law.
To drive a party bus you need a special commercial driving license.A safe driver is very important as the occasion could be ruined and the bus carries a lot of liability in terms of passengers.
2200 passengers
A bus designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver) requires a CDL appropriate to the class of vehicle with a passenger endorsement. This applies whether the vehicle is actively carrying passengers or not.