The number of current Section 19 standard permits issued by the Traffic Commissioners (TCs) fell between January 2024 and the same month in 2025, but permit volumes of Section 19 large bus and Section 22 authorisations rose over that period, data published by the TCs has shown.
In mid-January 2024, there were 16,857 TC-issued Section 19 standard permits in circulation via 6,498 applications. As of the first day of this year, those totals were 15,791 and 6,032, respectively.
That represented a decline of 6.3% in the overall number although the following week’s figures showed a slight uptick. Those figures do not include Section 19 standard permits issued by designated bodies other than the TCs.
At the start of 2025, it remained the case that not-for-profit service for educational charities OneBus was the largest single holder of Section 19 standard permits issued by the TCs, with 275. Several other bodies hold over 100.
Many schools and colleges are represented among Section 19 standard permit holders. Groups including teachers’ union NASUWT have called for an end to schools transporting children on their own minibuses when they are driven by teachers.
Section 19 large bus permits can only be issued by TCs. As of 1 January, 513 of those were current via 62 applications, compared to 451 and 59 on 17 January 2024, respectively.
Parties holding Section 19 large bus permits continue to be dominated by local authorities (LAs). The London Borough of Islington has 44 and Renfrewshire Council has 40. Pembrokeshire County Council has 36.
On 1 January there were 984 Section 22 permits current via 300 applications. Mid-January 2024 had those figures at 914 and 297, respectively. Nottinghamshire County Council holds the most at 55, with LAs again prominent among those with higher numbers.
The TCs’ data on Section 19 and Section 22 permit numbers is updated each week and can be found here.
