What speed limit applies to me?

Gloomendoom

The minibus hire places that I have looked at all seem to agree that 9 to 17 seats (including the driver) is a minibus.

What is the legal definition of a minibus?

A minibus is a classed as a vehicle with between eight to sixteen passenger seats. A vehicle with over sixteen passenger seats is classed as a coach and requires a PCV D licence category. Note that manufacturers normally quote the total number of seats including the driver. So they quote and class minibuses as 9 to 17 seats. e.g 17 seater ford transit minibus has 16 passenger seats.

Source

What is the Legal definition of a minibus?

Although minibuses come in different shapes, sizes and weights. The legal definition of a minibus is as follows:

"Minibus" - a motor vehicle which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 but not more than 16 seated passengers in addition to the driver.
(Construction and Use) regulations 198

Source

What is the legal definition of a minibus?

A minibus is a classed as a vehicle with between eight to sixteen passenger seats. A vehicle with over sixteen passenger seats is classed as a coach and requires a PCV D licence category. Note that manufacturers normally quote the total number of seats including the driver. So they quote and class minibuses as 9 to 17 seats. e.g 17 seater ford transit minibus has 16 passenger seats.

Source

BeenThroughItAll

Gloomendoom wrote: »

The minibus hire places that I have looked at all seem to agree that 9 to 17 seats (including the driver) is a minibus.

They didn't write the RVR(CU), though.

Rover_Driver

Iceweasel wrote: »

A Tourneo = 8 passenger seats + driver, so it's a minibus.

To be a minibus, it needs to have more than 8, not more than 16 passenger seats + driver.

Reg.3, The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

Gloomendoom

If the OP hasn't seen it already, this may be in interesting read.

http://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=103020

Rover_Driver

Iceweasel wrote: »

Plus of course all the complications of driving licence entitlement - when you passed a car test etc.

Loads of people are driving 9-seaters with no idea that they are classed as a minibus with lower speed limits and special licence requirements.

Up to 8 passenger seats + driver = 'B' licence.

AndyMc.....

Iceweasel wrote: »

I think that the legal definition of a minibus is a vehicle with 8 to 16 passenger seats.

More than 17 seats is legally a coach/bus.

So the OP's 9-seater Tourneo is legally a minibus not a car.

That means a 50mph speed limit on a single carriageway, 60mph on a dual-carriageway with 70mph only on a motorway.

Plus of course all the complications of driving licence entitlement - when you passed a car test etc.

Loads of people are driving 9-seaters with no idea that they are classed as a minibus with lower speed limits and special licence requirements.

You're not that clued up yourself.

Iceweasel

AndyMc..... wrote: »

You're not that clued up yourself.

You can please yourself - but I know what the traffic police think a 9 seater vehicle is.

Rover_Driver

Iceweasel wrote: »

You can please yourself - but I know what the traffic police think a 9 seater vehicle is.

A 9 seater + driver will be a minibus.


If you see the link in post 15, even some traffic police don't know the difference.

AndyMc.....

Iceweasel wrote: »

You can please yourself - but I know what the traffic police think a 9 seater vehicle is.

If you include the driver not a minibus.

Geoff1963

There used to be a loophole in taxi regulations, such that 8 passenger seats was neither a car nor a minibus ; and that's why a lot of stretch limos were made with 8 passenger seats.

The notice says 68. Were you actually going a little faster, as shown on your speedometer ; and was it maybe showing over 70 ?