Hey Guys,

 

Anyone know any good places were you can get good deals on hiring a mini bus? need atleast a 9 seater. Also whats the limit on what i can drive with my normal license? could i drive a 11 or + seats??

 

Cheers !!

Depends on your age mate you can drive up to 16 seats. As long as your over 21 and have had a car license for more than 2 years

 

http://www.mylocalvanhire.co.uk/selfdriveminibushire.php

O great stuff cheers quavey! i am 21 and have had my license for over 2 years now. Now just need to find a good place to get a minibus!

i disagree.

 

unless you have D1 on your licence (ie you got your car licence before 1997) or you have taken a DVLA PSV test then you can only drive up to 9 seaters (8 pasengers plus driver)

 

unless...

 

you are driving the minibus on a section 19 permit. these are issued to schools and charities and the like.

a section 19 permit must be displayed in the window and you must be driving on the business of the owner of the permit, for the use specified when they applied and in no way in conjunction with any money making concern.

 

in order to drive a section 19 permited buss you must be over 21 , with a full licence for 2 years, recieve no financial reward in any way, and follow a load of other rules too

If you had entitlement to drive cars prior to 1 January 1997 - shown as group A (B for automatics) on an old style green or pink licence or as category B and D1 not for hire or reward on a pink and green or photocard licence - you can drive a minibus provided :

You are 21 or over, the minibus has a maximum of 17 seats including the driver's seat and is not being used for hire or reward.

To drive a minibus which has 9 or more passenger seats for hire or reward you will normally need passenger carrying vehicle entitlement [PCV] (category D1 or D). To obtain this you must meet higher medical standards and take a further driving test.

Hire or reward encompasses any payment in cash or kind by (or on behalf of) passengers which gives them a right to be carried.

However, if you drive a minibus for an organisation under the Minibus or Community Bus Permit Scheme, you will NOT need a category D1 or D licence even if a charge is made to passengers.

Drivers who do not have minibus entitlement (Category D1)

If your driving licence does not allow you to drive minibuses, there are certain circumstances where you still may be able to do so.

You may drive a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats if:

 

1. you drive on behalf of a non commercial body for social purposes but not for hire or reward, unless operating under a permit.

2. you are aged 21

3. you have held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years

4. you are providing your service on a voluntary basis and

5. the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes excluding any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers. Minibuses up to 4.25 tonnes will be permitted in certain circumstances.

6. if you are aged 70 and over, you are able to meet the health standards for driving a vehicle (i.e. minibus) which comes within the D1 class.

 

When driving a minibus under these conditions you may not receive any payment or consideration for doing so other than out of pocket expenses or tow any size trailer; you may only drive minibuses in this country.