Minibus Club Article Archive

In insuring a minibus, or any other vehicle for that matter, you are balancing the risk of accidental damage, theft or vandalism against the cost of guarding against it. Insurance is a legal necessity and it would be foolish to avoid having it in any case. However, there are ways to reduce both the initial cost and the risks it is protecting against. Here are nine ways to keep costs down.

1. By using a special minibus insurance provider
Most providers can offer insurance cover for virtually any vehicle. However, a company that specialises in minibus insurance will be able to provide the right kind of cover at an attractive price. This is a direct consequence of experience and it can extend to the matters of recovering a vehicle or making a claim.

2. By not paying for unnecessary cover
Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t buy something you don’t need so why pay more for minibus insurance cover that is over specified. For example, there is little point in paying for comprehensive cover on a minibus worth less than, say, £2000. The less costly third party fire and theft insurance would be more than adequate.

3. Don’t insure too many drivers
How often do you need an extra driver? Minibus use can dictate that another driver is needed for particular trips but it is pointless to insure him or her all year long. Organising temporary insurance cover with your minibus insurance provider is simple and costs considerably less.
Though drivers must be at least 21 to legally drive a minibus, someone of this age remains a young driver. As a result minibus insurance for him or her will be more expensive.

4. By not making small claims
Every insurance policy has an excess. Should the repair costs after a minor accident be at or only slightly above the excess figure, it makes sense for the costs to be met without making a claim on your minibus insurance. This will protect your no claims bonus and keep the insurance premium down.

5. By taking a recognised driving course
Minibus drivers who have successfully completed a recognised driving course may be entitled to a significant discount on their insurance premium. The Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme (MIDAS) is such a course.

6. By driving carefully
This may seem to be obvious advice but keeping your minibus in prime condition and driving it safely can reap benefits. This approach reduces the risk of accidents and helps build up your no claims bonus.

7. By not parking by the roadside at night.
A minibus parked in a garage or on a private drive at night is much less likely to be damaged by vandals or by passing vehicles. If you must park a minibus at the roadside overnight, try to put it in a secure, well lit area.

8. By not driving distracted
It only takes a moment’s inattention at the wheel to invite an accident. When driving your minibus, never attempt to use your mobile phone or communicate with your passengers via an on-board microphone. Discourage your passengers from talking to you while you’re driving. If the need to adjust a satnav or consult a map arises, find somewhere safe to stop first.

9. By keeping your speed down
Speeding in a minibus (or any other vehicle) can be costly in more than the obvious way. Points on a driver’s licence adversely affect his or her insurance premium, while over ambitious progress increases fuel consumption and vehicle wear.

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Some individuals, especially those with a large family, want to use a minibus as a family car. Is this possible? Yes, but there are a number of legal requirements to be met and practicalities to consider.

The simple definition of a minibus is that it has between nine and 16 passenger seats. A vehicle with a greater seating capacity constitutes a coach while an MPV or a people carrier with seven or eight seats is not a minibus.

Who can drive a minibus? Normally, a driver whose licence was issued after 1st January 1997 needs a Category D1 classification to drive a minibus. However, the holder of a full Category B, or car licence may drive a minibus provided -

1. It is used as a family vehicle only and not commercially.
2. The driver is over 21 and has held a category B licence for more than two years.
3. A driver over 70 meets D1 classification health standards.
4. The minibus doesn’t weigh over 3.5 tonnes, or over 4.25 tonnes if it has special equipment for disabled passengers.
5. The minibus isn’t towing a trailer.
6. It is only driven in the UK.

There are some practical necessities for driving a minibus in the UK. For example, it obviously makes sense to carry a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit at all times. Equally, not using the vehicle’s horn or reversing beepers between 11:30 pm and 7:00 am is a commonsense approach, as is using the vehicle’s side lights when it’s parked by the roadside at night. There are four UK speed limits for minibuses, the first being 30 mph in residential and urban areas. A 50 mph limit applies on single carriageway A roads; this rises to 60 mph on dual carriageway roads. The motorway speed limit for a minibus is 70 mph.

Minibus insurance is required by law in the UK, as it is for any vehicle. There are three levels of insurance, about which any good minibus insurance provider will advise you in detail. However, in simple terms, third-party insurance is the minimum legal requirement. This covers damage to third parties’ property and their persons; some legal costs cover is included. Third party, fire and theft insurance, as its name implies, covers the above and loss or damage through fire or theft. Comprehensive insurance offers the highest level of cover. Damage to the vehicle, regardless of whether it was the policyholder’s fault is covered, subject to the payment of an agreed excess value. Some policies offer new for old vehicle replacement, insurance against breakage of glass, replacement locks, medical expenses and the loss of personal effects. A specialised minibus insurance provider will be able to offer insurance cover that is tailored to your needs, at a competitive price.

What happens when you wish to take your extended family to Europe in your family minibus? Here is where matters become a little more complex though meeting the assorted requirements is by no means impossible. You may need a waybill or own account certificate, even if the vehicle isn’t being used for hire or reward. In your minibus, you should keep a minibus insurance certificate, a European accident form and your Vehicle Registration Document. In Europe, you will also need to display a GB sticker or have EU style numberplates. You must also carry a warning triangle and a reflective jacket must be in the cab. A tachograph may also be required on international journeys that start in the UK; this is because drivers must comply with EU drivers’ hours regulations.

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‘Not rain, nor sleet, nor snow nor hail will keep this messenger from his appointed rounds.’ This motto served the Pony Express over its 19-month life on its 1,966-mile route from April 1860. To a great extent, none of these circumstances, in moderation at least, will keep a minibus from reaching its destination. However, there are conditions that can and will stop a minibus. In practical terms, it makes sense to know the difference between what is comfortably possible and what is dangerously optimistic. Applying this knowledge astutely makes even more sense. Here are some tips for fulfilling your appointed rounds.

1. Plan your minibus journey carefully. Even when a tachograph is neither legally required nor necessary, you, your minibus and your passengers have limits. How far can you, it or they travel in a given time? There’s a distinction between being hopeful and being overconfident.

2. Have your minibus serviced. Regular, expert servicing can make the difference between arriving unfazed and a trip home on a low loader. This is especially important when a long trip is planned. Don’t be tempted to skimp or make do.

3. Check your tyres. They need to be at the right pressure and in good shape. Tyres work hard and if they aren’t fit for the task, they’ll probably fail.

4. Keep the fuel level up. This is especially important when travelling late at night, overnight and/or on the Continent. Diesel fuel is readily available at reasonable hours but a minibus is a heavy vehicle to push! You could always carry a can of fuel as a backup but take care if your minibus is petrol powered.

5. Join a recovery service. Membership of the AA, RAC or Green Flag is good insurance if all else fails. Make sure that the concern involved knows you have a minibus, or they may not be able to get you home in dire circumstances.

6. Take appropriate items along on every trip. A torch, mobile phone, reflective jacket, warning triangle and your driving licence can keep you on the road. If driving in poor, winter conditions, take appropriate clothing, footwear, some chocolate and a flask full of tea or coffee.

7. Remember that in the worst conditions, your minibus can be stopped in its tracks. The vehicle’s sheer weight may provide a little more grip than a car enjoys. However, deep snow and icy roads can strand you all too easily. Diesel engines, especially those with an intercooler usually have a low-mounted air intake. Deep floodwater can be inhaled by the engine, which will immediately be wrecked.

8. Make sure you have the appropriate minibus insurance, of the kind that applies to your use of the vehicle. Having the wrong insurance may not stop you physically but can have serious repercussions, especially following an accident or even a police spot check.

9. Keep this significant point in mind. Whether providing a service for a fee or on a voluntary basis, it is you as the driver, who are responsible for your passengers. Make sure you know about any special needs they may have and keep safety as your watchword at all times.

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Buying a used minibus can make a lot of sense. Buying unwisely can cause a great deal of hassle but here are some tips to help you make an ideal purchase.

Buying a used minibus is much like buying any used vehicle and the following tips apply in every instance.

1. In buying from a dealer, you pay more but you benefit from warranty protection, Dealers must also provide an HPI check; if buying privately, arrange your own check. This will reveal any previous insurance claims, outstanding hire purchase or the vehicle’s having been stolen or written off.

2. A minibus with a service history is always a better buy. Look for a dealer’s service record, or one from a reputable servicing firm at least.

3. If the vehicle has had MOT tests, examine its previous certificates and check that the mileages tally.

4. Examine the minibus’s bodywork carefully. Impact damage will be evident especially at the vehicle’s extremities. Look for ill-fitting panels, welded repairs and mismatched areas of paint.

5. Scrutinise the tyres. Strange wear patterns suggest suspension damage, while cracked sidewalls show that the tyres are ageing. Look for lumps and/or cuts in the tyre carcasses and remember that three millimetres of tread or less spells imminent replacement.

6. Look under the bonnet. Some dirt is acceptable but if the engine has rust, coolant stains and thick black oil in the sump, the service record is probably an on-paper fantasy.

7. Find the minibus’s VIN plate and check that the number tallies with that in the documentation.

8. Look carefully at the driver’s seat and controls. Shiny pedals, wear on the steering wheel, a worn driver’s seat and sloppy door furniture suggests that the mileage is astronomically high. Be rightly suspicious if the seat, carpet, pedal rubbers and speedometer appear unduly immaculate!

9. Remember to budget for insurance costs, running costs and the cost of any necessary repairs.

10. Check that older models comply with current safety and seatbelt regulations.

11. If a wheelchair lift is fitted, ensure it meets BS1609, has a safe working load of 300kg and meets Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (1998).

12. Never buy a minibus without a rigorous test drive. This should be over a distance that lets the engine and transmission warm thoroughly. Include traffic driving and a spell on a motorway, or at least on a dual carriageway. Ensure that the minibus performs as expected, with no untoward noises or emissions (check for the latter in the rear view mirror, especially when accelerating). Remember to try the brakes, clutch, gearbox and steering in a realistic manner.

Above all, be aware of this. You may be examining a minibus made by Ford, Fiat, Mercedes Benz, LDV or whoever. The secret of buying a used minibus, especially from a private seller (against whom you have very little comeback) is quite simple. Remember that you aren’t looking at the only Fiat, Ford, etc, minibus in the country – there are many others. This means that if you are in any doubt at all, you can vote with your feet by walking away.

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Here’s a question: if a minibus is just like a car, why am I reading about driving one in the UK? Good question but the answer might surprise you. Yes, a minibus is like a car in that it has four wheels and the expected controls, lights and so forth. However, there are elements of using a minibus in the UK that differ from those applying to driving a car. This is especially important, as will become clear, when passengers are being carried, although the requirements are sensible enough to be met permanently.

The first piece of advice is a simple one: carry a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. The reasons for doing his are obvious but the principle can be extended. A good torch, a warning triangle and a reflective waistcoat or jacket take up very little room and could be life-savers in certain circumstances; carry these items too.

Next on the list are practices concerning the use of a minibus’s onboard equipment. Switching on the sidelights when parking by the roadside after dark is a fairly obvious move, as is the use of the vehicle’s hazard warnings lights as and when necessary. However, there are less evident tips. For example, using the minibus’s hooter between 2300 and 0700 is frowned upon but don’t forget that doors and diesel engines are noisy too. When passengers are alighting in residential areas late at night, don’t keep the engine ticking over for minutes and take over the responsibility of opening and closing doors yourself. If in any doubt about why, imagine it is you who are nodding off to sleep behind those curtained bedroom windows!

Now for the dynamic aspect of minibus driving. Unless you’ve had access to Count Zobrowski’s original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (raced at Brooklands in 1921, with a 23-litre, 6-cylinder engine), you’ll find a minibus feels very big and heavy at first. All you need to remember is that a minibus doesn’t accelerate or stop as quickly as a car can, isn’t designed to take corners fast and takes up more road space.

Next, speed limits. These can best be understood by consulting the following list.

Urban and residential areas: 30mph
A-class (single carriageway) roads: 50mph
Dual carriageways: 60mph
Motorways: 70mph
Motorways while towing a trailer: 60mph; you cannot use the fast lane while towing

What some minibus drivers forget, particularly when passengers are carried, is the matter of responsibility. As the driver, you are responsible for the comfort and safety of your passengers, and there are some simple tips to help you with this.

Thinks of the situation in terms of ‘pre-flight checks’ before setting off -

Are your route and stops planned out?
Are the windows and windscreen clean?
Have you enough fuel on board?
Are the tyres and lights all fine?
Are all the passengers seated?
Are they wearing their seatbelts?
Are all the doors closed?

When actually on the road, you need to keep a weather eye on how you drive. This may seem self-evident but many drivers tend to think in terms of themselves only. Harsh acceleration and braking, overenthusiastic cornering and excessive speed can do more than merely make passengers uncomfortable; it might make them sick!

Driving a minibus is easy but requires a little forethought. Attend to the above and you’ll find it makes the going that much easier.

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‘All men are equal but some are more equal than others.’ There’s a touch of cynicism in this 1913 quotation but here, it begs a question: is all minibus insurance equal. In practice, while minibus insurance must conform to particular rules, there are five types of minibus insurance. What follows explains the five types and highlights how each reflects a different kind of minibus usage.

Family

More and more people are appreciating the versatility of minibuses. After all, what type of vehicle could be better for transporting small groups of passengers in comfort and safety? Such use is especially relevant to those with an extended family.
Family minibus insurance is tailored to this kind of use but it has a significant proviso. The minibus concerned can be used for social, domestic and pleasure trips but using it for hire or reward is not permitted.

Charity

The versatile nature of the minibus is what tempts charitable organisations into using them. This temptation is strong, as is witnessed by the many minibuses on our roads in the hands of various charities.
Charity minibus insurance packages are aimed at non profit-making concerns and are designed to keep running costs to the minimum. Once again, a specific stipulation exists, in the shape of the requirement for a Section 19 or Section 22 Permit. This is to prove that the minibus insured is being used for non profit-making and charitable purposes.

MPV

For this article, a minibus and an MPV can be considered as identical. This is because an increasing number of commercial concerns have passenger-carrying MPVs. Part of these vehicles’ attraction for this use is that they can be easily modified to suit the Disability Discrimination Act.
As a consequence, organisations including nursing homes and educational establishments, as well as those that need to transport employees, are using MPVs. In answer to the obvious demand, minibus insurance brokers offer bespoke policies for MPVs used in this way.

Fleet

Spot more than one minibus in the same livery and the chances are you’re seeing part of a fleet of minibuses. Insurance companies, again with an eye to cost benefits, can cater for fleet usage of minibuses.
In this field, it’s common for minibus policies to cover more than one vehicle; some policies have no upper limit in terms of vehicle numbers. Similarly, parameters such as vehicle make and model are rarely fixed. These factors mean that a fleet of minibuses can be insured en masse, saving the costs and complicated paperwork involved in insuring vehicles individually.

Taxi

Minibuses can be seen operating as taxis and in doing so, they meet a demand. In being able to carry more passengers and additional luggage, minibus taxis are a desirable addition to any carrier’s fleet. Moreover, provisions for wheelchair-bound passengers are easy to arrange.
Taxis can be either public or private hire vehicles; the former can be hailed at any point, while the latter must be pre-booked. In either case, the same kind of insurance requirements apply. The main one is insurance for ‘The carriage of persons for hire or reward’. However, it is more-or-less universal for public liability insurance to be added to the policy that covers a minibus for use as a taxi. This should include an indemnity limit of at least 5 million pounds. Minibuses used in this way must also meet local government requirements.

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Accidents are a sad fact of life; they happen and there’s an end to it. Is this true? Inasmuch as accidents do happen, it is but there are procedures the minibus driver can follow that can lessen the dangers after an accident and make the outcome far easier to handle. What are these procedures? Read on and learn.

The minibus driver’s first responsibility here the safety of his passengers, and of anyone else involved. So, his or her first action should be to ensure that the minibus is in a safe location. Park the vehicle off the carriageway (if possible) and apply the handbrake. Then switch on the minibus’s hazard lights; if a warning triangle is carried, it can be placed no less than 50 metres from the vehicle. This can be done later and a triangle shouldn’t be used on a motorway, for the sake of the driver’s own safety.

The passengers come next in the post-accident checklist. Regardless of the severity of the impact, the minibus driver should find out if anyone on board is injured. Passengers may be in varying states of distress but it’s essential to establish that anyone who has been injured is made a comfortable, applying simple first aid if necessary. Obviously, anyone with apparently severe injuries should not be moved. Should the emergency services be required, make the relevant call(s) as quickly as possible. Give as much information as you can about the vehicle’s location and the number and status of any injured passengers, and do not leave the scene before the services arrive.

Keeping calm is important, as is keeping everyone inside the minibus. Human nature dictates that panic spreads and that people will try to get away from what they see as a dangerous situation. In fact, it’s far more dangerous to have panicked passengers exiting a vehicle on to a busy carriageway. So, assuming there is no evidence of further danger, such as fire, the minibus should remain fully occupied. Should there be any such danger, or should parking off the road be impossible, have the passengers assemble well away from the minibus, and from traffic.

The subsequent steps are all about legalities and insurance. As such, they aren’t as engaging as the above but are at least equally as important. They consist of the following points:-

1. Take details of all vehicles involved, jotting down the make, model and registration number of each. Take the names, addresses and insurance details of all drivers concerned. You must, by law, give your name, address, contact number and insurer details to other parties involved.

2. Make a simple sketch of the accident, noting down details such as date, time, estimated speed, location and circumstances. Using a mobile phone’s camera or a digital camera to record the scene could prove invaluable. Remember to ask any attending police officer for an incident number.

3. After a minor incident, or one where nobody else is involved, you may continue after you’ve ensured that no-one is injured and that the minibus remains roadworthy.

4. After a serious accident, the minibus driver must report any injuries to the police.

5. Never admit liability, apologise or offer payment at the scene. Doing so may affect any claim against you.

6. Finally, take the name and contact details from any witnesses.

Being armed with the above advice means the minibus driver will be able to minimise the immediate dangers and deal with the outcome of an accident relatively easily. Conversely, not following this advice can lead to all manner of problems, especially where an insurance claim ensues.

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Driving a minibus in foul weather conditions is sometimes unavoidable. This is especially so should winter weather close in unexpectedly mid-journey. Given that, in all but the most extreme conditions, a minibus will cope and deliver its passengers in perfect safety, a few winter driving tips are appropriate. Applying them, together with a little common sense, will see even unseasoned travellers reaching their destination.

The first aspects of winter driving concern the minibus itself. In addition to the usual checks, it makes sense to ensure that the vehicle has suitable, non-freezing fluid in its screen wash bottle. Acquire a scraper, and some cloths, or a chamois leather, to deal with snowbound or iced up windows. Carry a can of de-icer (just in case) and keep a good torch and a reflective waistcoat or jacket, in the cab.

In essence, the problems of winter driving share two common denominators, visibility and grip. More accurately, it is the relative lack of these that causes problems and we can deal with each in turn.

Loss of visibility in winter can be due to several conditions. Rain-streaked glass means that you won’t be able to see as well out of a minibus at any time of year. Add a measure of road grime, snow or ice and the problem is made more serious. While using windscreen washers and wipers is obvious, it’s wise to clear any such debris off the glass before even considering driving. The same goes for the inside of the windows. Cold, wet conditions spell condensation especially with a full passenger count. While it may be tempting to let the minibus’s demister and heated rear screen do the job, it’s better to clear all glass before setting off. The same goes for the external lights’ lenses – grime accumulates quickly and makes a significant difference to the light output.

While on the road, it is crucial to drive within the limits of vision. This works on a simple basis: if you can’t see it, you won’t be able to avoid it. So tailor your speed to suit the conditions, especially in fog. Also remember that fog droplets build up on a windscreen so leave your wipers to run on their intermittent setting, or use flick-wipe periodically. The natural tendency to drive too closely in fog can be overcome with that old standby, the two-second rule. It’s better to apply a three or four-second rule, depending on your speed but remember that the vehicle you’re following is punching a hole through the fog for you. Don’t get too close.

A similar rule applies as regards lack of grip. Modern tyres are excellent but, without studs or chains, a tyre loses varying amounts of grip on snow or ice. As above, the solution is to drive within the limits of the available grip. Remember that black ice can lurk in areas yet to receive winter sunlight. Black ice at night can be still more dangerous. A road surface sparkling in the headlights is a good clue and it’s significant that tyres on ice make no sound. If the wet road swishing or tyre rumble fades away, lift off the accelerator and slow down.

Above all, drive with finesse; clumsy control inputs cause skids. Drive within the lower limits imposed by the conditions and you’ll arrive safely. Ignore the above advice and you may not arrive at all.

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Driving a minibus becomes a people skill in itself because minibuses are people movers. Moving people successfully isn’t difficult but the following pointers will make it as easy as possible, provided you pay attention to them.

The first point to acknowledge is that the roadworthiness of your minibus is your responsibility. Even if it’s just been serviced, you must make sure that the vehicle is fit to take passengers, especially as the best case scenario if it isn’t is the invalidation of the minibus’s insurance. In addition, make sure that any luggage carried is securely fixed; the need for passengers to have free access to two exits at all times means you won’t allow luggage to clog the aisle or doorways.

Pre-journey planning is never wasted. Knowing where you’re headed and the approximate timings of each stage of the journey forearms you; you can brief your passengers, after you close (but not lock) the minibus’s doors. Tell them about the journey times and give them a full schedule of, shall we say, comfort breaks, as well as meal breaks. For passengers, it’s always better to travel knowledgably than be kept in the dark!

Passengers behaving badly can cause minibus accidents. A few ground rules added to your briefing will help negate this. Start with the obvious by telling the passengers to belt up. This isn’t as rude as it sounds; all minibus passengers must wear their seatbelt and children under 135cm in height must use a child restraint. While it’s likely that securely seatbelted passengers will stay in their seats, it’s important that they stay there whenever the vehicle is moving. Equally, it’s wise to discourage anyone from chatting with you while you’re driving. This is a potentially dangerous distraction, as is use of a microphone when on the move. Should the minibus be wired for sound, avoid the temptation of playing tour guide to your passengers.

In one instance, the minibus driver can’t be expected to act as driver and conductor, as it were. When children are carried, it’s essential to have a passenger assistant, who can curb the children’s excesses for you. It’s wise to take an assistant who is trained and licensed to drive the minibus, should the need arise.

There are ground rules and practices that apply to specific groups of passengers. A ‘no alcohol’ rule may sound Draconian but having one makes sense. In fact, it’s illegal for passengers to consume alcohol in a minibus when travelling to and from a sporting fixture. Disabled passengers wheelchairs mustn’t face sideways and it’s usual to secure wheelchairs in the minibus, rather than relying solely on their fitted brakes. Certain passengers may have special requirements, which you can cater for, provided you know about them in advance.

The matter of safety comes to the fore when passengers enter or leave the vehicle, whether they’re in a group or being dropped off individually. Should an accident occur, it’s important to keep control of the passengers as well as keeping calm. Unless there’s an evident risk in doing so, such as a fire risk, keep everyone aboard, especially in busy areas and on roadside hard shoulders.

Regular minibus drivers are advised to take a driver training course, such as Community Transport Association (CTA)’s MiDAS (Minibus Driver Training Scheme). Apart from covering all aspects of passenger care and giving guidance on dealing with passenger illness and emergencies, this could reduce your minibus insurance premium.

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A minibus MOT test is just like a car test, right? Wrong, actually. In fact, though the test procedures are much the same, a minibus MOT is a Class V test, not a Class IV ‘car’ test. In addition, there is a specialised test for a minibus with newly-fitted seatbelts. However, the main difference between a car MOT and a minibus MOT is one of scale. A testing station offering Class V testing must have the equipment to cope with larger vehicles.

Like a car MOT test, a minibus test starts with an examination of the below decks hardware. The tyres, braking system, steering, suspension and exhaust are scrutinised, to ensure they meet with the minimum standards concerned. This exercise includes spotting the effects of corrosion and damage as well as of simple wear and tear. Special attention is paid to the fuel system, to find any evidence of leakage, which could pose a fire risk. The minibus’s exterior bodywork and its underside are checked for corrosion and evidence of significant damage.

The MOT tester, working to a strict code of practice, then examines the minibus’s lighting system. This examination involves ensuring that the lights are properly fixed and functional, and in the required condition. The driver’s view of the road must be uninterrupted, the mirrors must be present and correct and the vehicle’s registration plates and VIN number must be present and up to scratch. More dynamic tests follow, including measurement of the minibus’s exhaust emissions, the performance of the service brake system and of the parking brake.

Inside, the minibus’s controls and instruments are checked over, as are its seats and the mountings, condition, operation and position of all seat belts. The horn must work.
Unlike a car, whose first MOT test isn’t necessary until it’s three years old, a minibus must have its first MOT test at one year old, then yearly thereafter. Currently, a Class V MOT test, for private passenger vehicles and ambulances - 13-16 passenger seats, costs 58.65. The exception, a Class Va test, is for minibuses newly fitted with seat belts. This is a one-off test, provided no further seatbelts are installed, and costs 79.30.

The vast majority of minibuses need a Class V MOT test, though there are two exceptions. Class IV is for minibuses with up to 12 passenger seats (excluding the driver) and such a test may be carried out at any appointed garage. A Class VI test is for a Public Service Vehicle (PSV); it has a different certificate and is always carried out at a government testing station. While no permit minibus requires a Class VI test you may elect to have for a one voluntarily if you received a Certificate of Initial Fitness with your new vehicle.

So, a minibus MOT test is very like a car MOT test in the practical sense but there are subtle differences. Modern MOT testing stations are equipped to deal with the newer additions, such as ABS and power steering. However, one aspect doesn’t change. It’s worth checking the obvious before submitting your minibus for an MOT test. Nobody would argue about risking a test fail for an item like a worn tyre or a blown bulb.

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If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance, look no further than The Minibus Club. Request a FREE quote now by calling our hotline on 08456 090323 or visit our website at www.minibusclub.co.uk