No buses sign: what it means
The no buses sign means buses must not go past it. It covers vehicles built to carry more than 8 passengers, not counting the driver.
What does the no buses sign mean?
A red ring means a prohibition. Know your traffic signs describes the sign as no vehicles designed to carry more than 8 passengers (excluding the driver) or local buses. The Highway Code shows it as “No buses (over 8 passenger seats)”.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- Only buses, cycles and taxis may use this road.
- Cars and motorcycles must not go in.
- Buses must not go in.
Show answer
C. Buses must not go in. It bans buses: vehicles built to carry more than 8 passengers, not counting the driver (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: bus and cycle signs and road markings, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
On narrow streets, low bridges and residential roads where buses are not allowed.
What should you do?
In a bus or minibus with more than 8 passenger seats, find another route. Cars may go past.
What do people get wrong?
Confusing it with the blue circle with a bus, which marks a route only for buses (and any others shown).
Common questions
Does it ban minibuses?
It bans vehicles built to carry more than 8 passengers, excluding the driver, so a larger minibus counts.
What is the blue sign with a bus?
A blue circle with a bus marks a route for buses only, with cycles too if the cycle symbol is shown.
Compare with
Buses, cycles and taxis only signOnly buses, cycles and taxis may use this road.
No motor vehicles signCars and motorcycles must not go in.
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 4 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (bus and cycle signs and road markings) and The Highway Code (traffic signs).
- Know your traffic signs: bus and cycle signs and road markings, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK
- Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.