Entitled to drive minibus

shayne66

Hi all, just after some advice. Looking at hiring a minibus to take some friends to a festival rather then taking a few cars.
Been trying to look into the possibility of me driving the minibus, am I right in thinking that I can on a category b on driving licence as long as no more then 16 seats, not taking payment and under 3.5tons.
I passed my test in Jan 2000.

Thanks

wgl2014

https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus

AdrianC

16 seat minibus is not going to be .5t...

BeenThroughItAll

AdrianC wrote: »

16 seat minibus is not going to be .5t...

There are some, apparently.

http://www.minibussales.co.uk/page.asp?int_id=33

Billy_Bullocks

AdrianC wrote: »

16 seat minibus is not going to be .5t...

11-12 seats maximum.

AdrianC

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

There are some, apparently.

http://www.minibussales.co.uk/page.asp?int_id=33

I hope there aren't many big guys among the passengers, or much luggage weight.

BeenThroughItAll

AdrianC wrote: »

I hope there aren't many big guys among the passengers, or much luggage weight.

Well, I'd hope not. They're aimed at schools, but they don't specify whether primary or secondary...

forgotmyname

3500kg gross L3 H2 Windowed van as per their website, will give you a 1525kg payload. Thats without the seats and seatbelts etc.

So each person with all their luggage and the seat they will sit on needs to be less than 15 1/2 stone.

My missus packs more than that for a weekend away.

I can see legal issues if a teacher drives though. Unless they have booked that day off and totally unpaid.

BeenThroughItAll

forgotmyname wrote: »

3500kg gross L3 H2 Windowed van as per their website, will give you a 1525kg payload. Thats without the seats and seatbelts etc.

So each person with all their luggage and the seat they will sit on needs to be less than 15 1/2 stone.

My missus packs more than that for a weekend away.

I can see legal issues if a teacher drives though. Unless they have booked that day off and totally unpaid.

When schools have minibuses, they are covered by insurance by the school, so the teacher is perfectly entitled to drive whilst working.

Billy_Bullocks

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

When schools have minibuses, they are covered by insurance by the school, so the teacher is perfectly entitled to drive whilst working.

I think he means the teacher is being paid. It states not for hire or reward.

BeenThroughItAll

Billy_Bullocks wrote: »

I think he means the teacher is being paid. It states not for hire or reward.

The insurance on my sister's school minibuses doesn't say that.

Apart from that, I think you could legitimately argue you're not driving for hire or reward; you're driving as part of your duties, but the act of driving itself does not attract any independent reward. If I drive my car for work purposes covered by my Class 1 business insurance, I'm not rewarded, so the H&R exemption I have on my policy does not apply.