Entitled to drive minibus

Billy_Bullocks

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

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.

The driving licence says not for hire or reward not the insurance.

unforeseen

A teacher during school time is not driving it for hire and reward. It is part of their duties. The children aren't paying to use the bus and the teacher is not getting more than he usually get for that day's work.

BeenThroughItAll

Billy_Bullocks wrote: »

The driving licence says not for hire or reward not the insurance.

Ah, I see what you're getting at now; but I'd still say that a teacher transporting pupils as part of their duties isn't 'driving for hire or reward'. The reward they receive is for being a teacher, not driving the minibus - that's just an incidental part of their role.

Nasqueron

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Ah, I see what you're getting at now; but I'd still say that a teacher transporting pupils as part of their duties isn't 'driving for hire or reward'. The reward they receive is for being a teacher, not driving the minibus - that's just an incidental part of their role.

This is getting off topic.

OP is not a teacher and not driving kids as part of their duty, they are taking mates to a festival, mates who will presumably drink, be loud and distracting and probably pay the OP in some part (not for hire for license purposes). Correct answer was already provided to OP

Conditions you must meet

You can drive a minibus within the UK as long as the following conditions apply:

• you’re 21 or older
• you’ve had your driving licence for at least 2 years
• you meet the ‘Group 2’ medical standards if you’re over 70 - check with your GP if you’re not sure you meet the standards
• you’re driving on a voluntary basis and the minibus is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body
• the maximum weight of the minibus is not more than 3.5 tonnes - or 4.25 tonnes including specialist equipment for disabled passengers, eg a wheelchair ramp
• you’re not towing a trailer

Billy_Bullocks

unforeseen wrote: »

A teacher during school time is not driving it for hire and reward. It is part of their duties. The children aren't paying to use the bus and the teacher is not getting more than he usually get for that day's work.

It's driving in the course of their employment, so one may argue that's beyond the bounds of mere social kindness.

footyguy

shayne66 wrote: »

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

You need category D1 entitlement

Joe_Horner

unforeseen wrote: »

A teacher during school time is not driving it for hire and reward. It is part of their duties. The children aren't paying to use the bus and the teacher is not getting more than he usually get for that day's work.

Curiously, the government advice on this is exactly the opposite way round:

If it's a specified part of their contract to drive a minibus on trips etc (ie: "part of their duties") then it is for hire or reward, whether or not they receive extra payment for the driving itself.

If it's not a specified part of their contract (ie: not part of their duties) and they volunteer to do so anyway then it's not for hire or reward provided they don't receive extra payment for the driving.

wba31

The D1 licence is insurance specific, if hiring from a hire company they all expect it.
The 3.5 tonne rule if you don't have D1 is for just the bus itself, you would not be penalised for driving a Samoan rugby team over someone driving a group of school kids.

However OP passed test in 2000 - didn't the law change for those who passed their test after 2002/2003? Might still need D1 for hiring...

Billy_Bullocks

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Curiously, the government advice on this is exactly the opposite way round:

If it's a specified part of their contract to drive a minibus on trips etc (ie: "part of their duties") then it is for hire or reward, whether or not they receive extra payment for the driving itself.

If it's not a specified part of their contract (ie: not part of their duties) and they volunteer to do so anyway then it's not for hire or reward provided they don't receive extra payment for the driving.

It all depends which way the winds blowing. There's a stated case involving a hotels curtsey bus for airport transfers. It was deemed this was not hire or reward as they were not profiting from the bus service. There's also another deemed to be hire or reward when someone was charging work mates on a lift share, I think that one involved a fatal accident.

unforeseen

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Curiously, the government advice on this is exactly the opposite way round:

If it's a specified part of their contract to drive a minibus on trips etc (ie: "part of their duties") then it is for hire or reward, whether or not they receive extra payment for the driving itself.

If it's not a specified part of their contract (ie: not part of their duties) and they volunteer to do so anyway then it's not for hire or reward provided they don't receive extra payment for the driving.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-school-minibuses-advice-for-schools-and-local-authorities

Appears to say that it wouldn't be hire and rewarx