Councils pay local drivers to take children to school every day. Here is how to get on the list and win routes, step by step.
Many children have free transport to school. The council pays for it. Some children live far from school. Some have special educational needs or a disability (SEND).
The council does not drive the children itself. It pays local taxi, private hire, minibus and coach operators to do it.
Each journey is called a route. A route is usually one school, a set pick-up time, and the same children every day. Most routes run morning and afternoon, on school days only.
To give out routes, most councils use an approved list of operators. This list is often called a DPS (dynamic purchasing system) or a dynamic market. You apply once. If you meet the rules, you are on the list.
Most lists are open all the time. You can apply on any day. There is no closing date to miss, and no limit on how many operators can join.
Find your council's list. Look on our transport pages, or search your council's website for "school transport providers". The notice tells you which website (called a portal) to apply on.
Register on the portal. It is free. Then fill in the application form. It asks about you, your licences, your insurance and your vehicles.
The council checks your answers. If something is missing, you can fix it and apply again.
Apply to more than one council if you can reach their schools. Each list is separate.
Every council has its own rules. The application tells you exactly what it needs. Most councils ask for these things.
A taxi or private hire licence for you, and a licence for your vehicle. These come from your local council's licensing team.
An operator licence. To take bookings for a private hire car, you usually need a private hire operator licence. Some drivers have their own. Others work through an operator who holds the contract.
Bigger vehicles need a different licence. If your vehicle has 9 or more passenger seats, you usually need a PSV operator licence or a special permit.
An enhanced DBS check, including the children's barred list. Passenger assistants need one too.
Insurance for school contract work. Your motor insurance must cover hire and reward. Councils also often ask for public liability insurance, usually £5 million or more.
Safeguarding training. Many councils want drivers to complete a short course on keeping children safe. Some councils run it for free.
When you are on the list, the council sends out routes. Each one tells you the school, the pick-up area, the times, the number of children and any special needs.
You choose the routes you want and send your price. Usually the price is per day.
Many councils choose the lowest price that meets the rules. Some also look at quality. Some councils use an online auction, where operators lower their price live for a short time.
Reply quickly. Some routes give you only a few days. Operators who answer fast and fill in everything have a better chance.
Start with routes close to home. Short, local routes are easier to price and easier to run well.
Do not just guess. Work out your real costs first.
Count the whole day. A morning and afternoon route means two trips there and two trips back. Count the empty miles back to your start too.
Count the waiting time. If you wait outside the school, that is time you cannot take other fares.
Count the year. Schools are open about 190 days a year. You are only paid on school days.
Add fuel, insurance, vehicle costs and a fair wage for you.
Then set your price. Very low prices can win routes, but you must still make money every day for the whole contract.
You get a contract for that route. It may last a term, a school year or longer.
Be on time, every day. The council and the parents will remember. Good, reliable operators often get offered more routes.
Keep your documents up to date. Licences, DBS checks and insurance all expire. If one runs out, you can lose the route. Put the dates in your phone calendar.
Tell the council quickly if anything goes wrong, like a breakdown or a child who is unwell.
Keep checking for new routes. Councils send out new ones through the year, especially before September.
Yes. Many school routes go to single drivers with one car. You usually need your own private hire operator licence, or you can work through an operator who holds the contract.
For a private hire car, usually yes, if you take the bookings yourself. If you work for an operator, they may hold the contract and you drive the route. Check with your local licensing team.
Most councils compare prices from the operators on their list. Many choose the lowest price that meets the rules. Some also score quality, and some use a short online auction.
Yes. Joining a council list and registering on its portal are free. You only pay for your own licences, checks, insurance and training.
A passenger assistant (PA) travels with children who need extra help, often children with special educational needs. Some routes need one. Sometimes the council provides the PA, sometimes the operator must.
All year, but there are always many new routes before the new school year in September. Being on the list early means you see them first.
They are published on Contracts Finder and Find a Tender. TenderRoad lists the open ones on its transport pages, by region, and can email you when new ones appear near you.