Whether driving to an away game to cheer on your favourite football team, or heading to a family or friend’s wedding in the countryside.
Renting and using a minibus to get around can be incredibly rewarding, especially if you’re travelling as a group.
Renting a minibus can be extremely helpful in a variety of circumstances, but you may have a few questions:
- How many passengers does it take?
- Are there any legal regulations regarding the rental of a minibus?
- What licence is required to drive a car?
Rent a Minibus to Transport People
First, consider whether you need to hire minibus, as if there are only a few of you, you might need a spacious passenger car. Everything will depend on the company size – passenger services start with six or seven seats and end with nine. A minibus can usually fit from nine to about 17 seats.
A minibus and a “passenger car” can be hired based on a standard driver’s licence. However, some conditions must be met to rent and drive a minibus.
Reasons Why You May Need to Hire a Minibus
In many circumstances, you may need to hire minibus as an individual or business. Here we list just a few reasons why this might be considered:
- Events – There are so many events that you can rent a minibus for: weddings, football games, concerts, family birthdays/anniversaries/general parties and more.
- Education – For school trips to the theatre, zoo or local museum, the minibus is the perfect way to get all the kids there as a team.
- Corporate – Renting a minibus can benefit businesses, allowing them to transport colleagues to conferences or training and transport corporate clients and delegates around the city, from hotels to offices.
Conditions for Renting a Minibus
No matter what mode of transport you rent, you need to consider the legal requirements and conditions set by the rental company.
- Non-Commercial Use – If you plan to charge passengers and operate as your transportation service, it is illegal. If the driver drives a car voluntarily, this is completely normal.
- Age Requirements – You must be at least 21 to drive a minibus. Some may have higher age limits when hired by a specialised car rental company. For example, for those who hire a large van, luxury car or minibus with a maximum number of seats, it is common for the age limit to be at least 35 years old.
- Licence Requirements – To drive a minibus, you must have a standard driver’s licence (category B) for at least two years. This is usually the case when you hire a minibus from a rental company. However, depending on your driving history and whether you have had any fines or points against your licence, some car rental companies may need to review your insurance history in advance.
- Weight Limits – By law, the maximum weight you can carry on a standard driver’s licence is 3.5 tons or 4.25 tons, including special equipment for passengers with disabilities (such as wheelchair ramps). If you subtract the weight of your chosen van from the 3.5 tons, that’s the weight you’ll have to play with (the term for that is payload). Your payload will equal the combined weight of passengers and any property on board. You are also not allowed to tow a trailer from a minibus.
- Number of Passengers – The maximum number of passengers you can carry on a standard UK driving licence is 16 (17 including the driver).
- Medical Standards – Any minibus driver must meet “Group 2” medical standards. It is recommended that anyone over 70 check with their healthcare provider if they need clarification.
If you still need clarification, check out gov.UK for more information on hiring a van.
Benefits of Renting a Minibus
There are many reasons and situations why you might need a minibus, but what about the benefits of renting a minibus? Well, here are some of the top benefits:
- This provides a lot of flexibility – renting a minibus allows you to choose your route, park where you want and start your journey conveniently for you and your group.
- It can be more economical – rather than shelling out for an open return train ticket or spending money on gas, a minibus can save you in the long run. The cost will be shared between 16 or 17 people, which can be much cheaper than travelling alone or using public transport.
- This is more conducive to communication – sticking together and travelling together as a whole, you can make new acquaintances and friends. Relax in the company and enjoy.
- It’s eco-friendly – travelling in the same vehicle saves on carbon dioxide, which damages the environment and contributes to global warming. Instead of having your group drive many individual cars, consider being environmentally responsible by taking a minibus.
Hire a Minibus From a Trusted Company
One of the most important things to consider when renting a minibus is the company you choose. Make sure the company has the appropriate licences. SMART MINIBUS HIRE is a trustworthy platform.
Also, always compare multiple offers before booking – make sure the rental is good for you, but only sometimes go for the cheap minibus rental as this can be a scam. They can add extra and extortionate fees later on.
Travelling to an away game, a raucous concert, or your cousin’s wedding will never be more exciting.
When you’re in the company of like-minded people.
