Driving a 17 people minibus
 

Guys, Im 27, clean license etc and wish to drive a 17 seater minibus to take the football lads on a christmas do (means me no drinky poo for me but its the price I'll have to pay)

Can a standard UK license let me do this? I B, B1, f, k, l, n and p on my license.

Any help would be mucho appriciated :)

Dave

Who else wondered where this was going :lol1:

pmsl:lol1:

:lol1: Well there was this one time..... :D

Anyone? :)

Dont know if this helps, but Im the same age as you and only just missed out on having the automatic right to drive up to 7.5 tonnes, not sure if this is the only change they made.

You must have d, a, v, i also?

i've had my license 10 years and i dont think i can 8 or 9 seater at most i think

You need D1 I think - that you don't have C1 either sounds like you passed your test after the rules changed like cookstar says :(

Drivers who passed their car tests before 01/01/1997
The good news is that you should have a category D1 entitlement on your driver's license.
This means that you can drive minibuses with up to 17 seats (including the driver's) as long as you are not driving for hire or reward - no money other than expenses should be involved.

Drivers who passed their test after 01/01/1997 or have renewed their licenses since 01/01/1998
You will probably find that you do not have D1 entitlement on your licence.

However, according to the DVLA, you can still drive a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats so long as:

• you are driving on behalf of a non-commercial body and not for hire or reward
• you are aged 21 or over but under 70
• you have held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years
• you are working on a voluntary basis
• the minibus has a maximum weight of no greater than 3.5 tonnes (pretty much all rental minibuses)
• you do not tow any kind of trailer

You need class D1 on your license, this covers a 17 seater LDV minibus. Dave, take my advice - the 2.5 lump in the 17 seater LDV couldn't power a fart. Get yourself a 12 seater Ford Torneo - far more comfortable with sliding doors on both sides.

- Trust me mate, I drive these things when competing in the Microsoft Challenge and I need to get a team of 7 plus mountain bikes and kit around the place! :)

Found a couple of web sites

Driving a minibus : Directgov - Motoring

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ns/DG_10013072

Sounds like under a normal license I could drive it for a none profit making organisation that is beneficial to the community. Does a football team become beneficial to a community? :D

Slightly confused as to the law tbh, might give the rental company a ring.

[quote=davegtt;7461430]Found a couple of web sites

Driving a minibus : Directgov - Motoring

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ns/DG_10013072

Sounds like under a normal license I could drive it for a none profit making organisation that is beneficial to the community. Does a football team become beneficial to a community? :D

Slightly confused as to the law tbh, might give the rental company a ring.[/quote]

Thats your best bet, as they wont hire it to you unless they are sure you are legal and covered by their insurance :)

Reading that, Id say Im allowed to drive then as it comes under the driving on behalf of a non-commercial body and not for hire or reward? (As Im not charging the lads for my services, well maybe pay for my ticket into the dog racing lol)

SJ_S, Unfortunately there is 15 in total of us going and maybe one or 2 more who are unconfirmed so a 12 seater would be of no use :(

You sure are Dave :thumb:

Dave - no worries mate, just don't try to go uphill: picture Clarkson in the Rover the other week! ;)

:lol1: I like in Lincolnshire (Flat lands) shouldnt be a problem regarding hills :D

Cheers Gene, mucho appriciated :thumb:

From DVLA

Exempted passenger carrying vehicles
Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:

a passenger carrying vehicle manufactured more than 30 years before the date when it is driven and not used for hire or reward or for the carriage of more than 8 passengers
a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided the following conditions are met:
i. the vehicle is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body but not for hire or reward
ii. the driver is aged 21 iii. the driver has held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years
iv. the driver is providing the service on a voluntary basis
v. the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes including any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers
vi. if the driver is aged 70 or over, is able to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle

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. Drivers aged 70 or over will need to make a special application, which involves meeting higher medical standards.

So you can then, without having D1 as it's not for a commercial body :thumb:

I seem to remember when they changed the law that this clause had to be inserted as otherwise organisations like Student Unions would be stuffed as nobody would be able to drive them anywhere :D

OK. spoke to the mini bus company, they will allow me to drive one YAY. Only £138 to pick it up on the Friday evening and drop it off Monday morning, god knows what Im going to do with it all weekend lol

Edit. Had a phone call back saying they cant rent it too me because as a company ruling if I dont have D1 showing on my license they would have no idea what use I would be using the vehicle for :mad: FFS.

If its a LDV: watch your right elbow on the door trim when turning the steering wheel ;)

Why don't you just hire a driver as well..... :confused:

Night from hell you'll have if you are the only sober one...

That was the plan but the driver will cost us a fortune at such short notice and it being Christmas time, theyre demanding alot more than what we paid in March. To the extent that we dont want to justify paying, I dont have an issue with not having a drink on the night out.