Minibus Club Article Archive

If after an accident a minibus is found to be unroadworthy the driver will be held responsible and it is unlikely that any minibus insurance claim will be approved.

For this reason and because it is now a legal requirement, a minibus driver must check the vehicle is safe to drive, even if the minibus has just returned from being serviced. To maintain a minibus’ roadworthiness and not invalidate your minibus insurance, this article identifies five simple checks that should be made before any journey:

1. Tyres

Tread depth must be a minimum of 1.6mm. This is a legal requirement and applies to the entire circumference of the tyre.

Most tyres have a wear indicator built into the tread. Look for a horizontal bar of rubber located between the tread patterns, at a depth of 2mm. Ideally minibus tyres should have at least 3mm of tread.

Check the condition of the tyre. Look for any unusual bulges or lumps as these are often a sign of internal damage. If there is any cracking or crazing on the sidewalls of the tyres then they should be replaced rather than risking a blowout.

Ensure the tyres are inflated to the manufacturers recommended pressure, and do not forget to check the spare tyre.

2. Windscreen

Check the windscreen for any chips or cracks. Chipped windscreens can be repaired. If not there is a risk that the windscreen will shatter just by going over a bump in the road.

Ensure the windscreen wipers are in good working order and their rubber blades have not deteriorated. And keep the windscreen washer fluid topped up, especially in winter.

3. Mirrors

Check all the mirrors. Make sure they are clean and have good visibility. If necessary adjust the mirrors to their correct positions. Replace any cracked mirrors at the earliest opportunity.

4. Lights

Check all the lights are clean and working correctly. Always carry spare bulbs and fuses in case they are required on the journey.

5. Fuel

Check you have enough fuel to get the minibus to its destination. As obvious as this may seem one of the main reasons why roadside recovery is called out to assist a motorist is because a vehicle has run out of fuel”.

Running out of fuel will not only inconvenience the minibus passengers but may cause damage to the vehicle’s engine.

These checks are not a substitute for having the minibus serviced by a qualified garage at least once a year. Safety checks must be made on essential items such as brakes, steering and suspension.

It is not only your minibus insurance that you are putting at risk if a minibus is not maintained in a roadworthy condition; it is the safety of your passengers and other road users.

Article Resource
The Minibus Club is a specialist minibus insurance provider and has offered UK minibus insurance quotes since 1997. Visit their website for minibus driving advice and to receive a free online quote for minibus insurance.

Not every person or organisation owns a minibus for the same purpose. The five different types of minibus insurance available from the Minibus Club highlight the different uses for this type of vehicle:

1) MPV Insurance

More commercial operators are now using MPV’s for carrying passengers because of their versatility, comfort and the ease that the vehicle can be adapted to satisfy the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Examples of MPV use include education, nursing homes or for employee transport. A competitive MPV insurance policy will be tailored to the needs of the organisation.

2) Taxi Insurance

Many taxi operators use a minibus or MPV as a taxi because of the adaptability of the vehicle to carry more passengers and extra luggage.

Two types of taxi use are public and private hire. Public hire allows the taxi to be hailed by customers, who can then be picked up on the roadside. Private hire operators require the customer’s journey to be arranged before they are picked up. A taxi operator will require additional insurance for the “carriage of persons for hire or reward”, irrespective of whether they are private or public hire.

Public liability can be included with a taxi minibus insurance policy. It is needed to comply with local government requirements. A minibus taxi operator must have an indemnity limit of at least £5 million.

3) Family Minibus Insurance

Not all minibuses are used by commercial organisations. An increasing number of people recognise that a minibus can be a very versatile vehicle particularly when they have a large family who all like to travel together. There are minibus insurance packages specifically designed to cater for this type of use.

With this type of policy it is important to remember that the minibus can only be used for social, domestic and pleasure purposes. If there is any element of hire or reward in using the vehicle or it is used for commercial purposes then cover under this policy would not be applicable.

4) Charity Insurance

There are thousands of charitable organisations in the UK who use minibuses. Many charity groups rely on the versatility a minibus can provide in allowing them to take large numbers of passengers on journeys that may not have been easily achieved by using public transport.

A good minibus insurance provider will offer charity minibus insurance for non-profit making organisations to keep their vehicle running costs to a minimum. But a Section 19 or Section 22 permit will be required to prove to the insurance provider that the minibus is being used for charitable and non-profit activities.

5) Fleet Insurance

Large organisations may have more than one vehicle that needs insuring. Fleet insurance covers all vehicles under one policy regardless of their make or model, with no upper limit on fleet size.
It is the most economical way to insure more than one minibus. And it reduces the time and paperwork involved with insuring each vehicle separately.
For whatever the reason is that you own a minibus, a specialist minibus insurance provider can provide advice and help with finding the right insurance policy for your needs.

Article Resource
The Minibus Club is a specialist minibus insurance provider and has offered UK minibus insurance quotes since 1997. Visit their website for minibus driving advice and to receive a free online quote for minibus insurance.

If you have a large family and are considering purchasing a minibus to use a family car, there are certain things you should know. In this article we have identified five. They are:

1) Definition of a Minibus

MPV’s and People Carriers can have 7 or 8 seats but this does not class them as a minibus. It’s an important distinction as it may affect your insurance and driving licence requirements.

The classification for a minibus is a vehicle that has between 9 to 16 passenger seats. Any more seats then the vehicle you’re driving is as a coach!

2) Driving Licence Requirements

Driving licences issued after the 1st January 1997 require a category D1 classification, which can be obtained by applying to the DVLA and passing a Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) test.

As the minibus is a family vehicle and not being used commercially, there are exemptions to this regulation that will allow it to be driven with a full category B (car) licence, but only if the following conditions are met:

1. The minibus is used as a family vehicle but not for hire and reward.

2. You must be over 21 and have held your Category B license for more than 2 years. If you are over 70 then you are required to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle.

3. No payment can be accepted for driving the minibus.

4. The minibus cannot weigh more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes with special equipment for carrying disabled passengers.

5. Towing a trailer of any size is prohibited.

6. The minibus can only be driven in the UK. Driving in Europe will require a D1 licence.

3) Driving in Europe
A ‘waybill’ or an ‘own account certificate’ may be needed regardless of whether the minibus is being used a family vehicle or for hire or reward.

Other documents that should be kept in the vehicle include a minibus insurance certificate, European accident form and Vehicle Registration document. A specialist minibus insurance provider will be able to advise whether a Green Card is also needed.

When driving in Europe a GB sticker or EU style GB sticker must be prominently displayed on the minibus at all times.

A tachograph may be required for international journeys starting from the UK as the driver must comply with EU ‘drivers’ hours’ regulations.
Check out all rules and regulations before driving to any international country. The International Road Freight Office, embassies and tourist information offices can provide you with the necessary advice.

4) Driving in the UK

Speed limits for a minibus on UK roads are:

30 mph in urban and residential areas
50 mph on A class (single-carriageway) roads
60 mph on dual-carriageway roads
70 mph on motorways

The speed limit on motorways is reduced to 60 mph when towing a trailer and the fast lane cannot be used for overtaking.

Other issues a minibus driver should be aware of include:

a) A fire extinguisher and a first aid kit must be carried at all times.
b) Avoid using horns or reversing bleepers between 11.30 pm and 7.00 am.
c) Use the minibus’ side lights if parking it on the street at night.

Remember that a minibus handles differently to a car. For the comfort of your passengers, drive carefully around bends and when braking.

Stopping distance is greatly increased with a minibus. In good weather allow at least 4 seconds between you and the vehicle in front. Double this distance for wet conditions and add even further distance for icy roads.

5) Minibus Insurance

As with a car, minibus insurance is required by law. The three types of insurance available are:

Third Party
This is the minimum cover required by law. It covers injury to third parties and their property, and some legal costs.

Third Party Fire and Theft
The additional cover with this policy is for damage or loss of the taxi operator’s minibus by fire and theft.

Comprehensive
The highest level of minibus insurance, covering damage to the vehicle after an accident irrespective of whether it was the policy holder’s fault or not. Other cover may include new vehicle replacement, windscreen/window breakages, replacement locks, medical expenses and loss of personal effects.

To avoid paying too much for minibus insurance, seek advice from a specialist minibus insurance provider. They will tailor a policy to your specific requirements rather than selling you a standard commercial policy. Another benefit is the availability of an advisor 24 hour a day, to help if you have had an accident or breakdown and to ensure there are no unexpected surprises when making a claim.

Article Resource
The Minibus Club is a specialist minibus insurance provider and has offered UK minibus insurance quotes since 1997. Visit their website to get a free quote for charity minibus insurance or call their hotline on 0845 609 0323. See how much you could save on your minibus insurance.

As a minibus driver the care and safety of your passengers is very important.

To fulfil this duty and avoid having to make any unnecessary claims on your minibus insurance, consider the points outlined below:

1. Ensure the minibus is roadworthy. As the driver of a minibus you are responsible for its condition when it’s on the road although the operator may also be responsible for permitting its use in a defective state.

Even if the vehicle has just returned from being serviced the responsibility for its use remains with you and operator. Apart from anything else failure to maintain a minibus’ roadworthiness may invalidate your minibus insurance.

2. Plan a journey before setting out to avoid adding extra journey time by getting lost. Consider your passenger’s needs by factoring in adequate rest stops.

3. If you are transporting children you cannot be responsible for supervising their behaviour and also concentrate on driving the minibus. Take a passenger assistant with you, preferably someone who the children know.

It’s useful if the assistant has the correct licence and training to drive a minibus if for any reason you are unable to continue with the journey.

4. Brief your passengers before commencing the journey. Tell them how long the journey will be and when you’ll be taking any rest stops.

Advise the passengers of the safety issues including the dangers of boisterous behaviour, especially if they are children.

5. Ensure all passengers have a seat and seatbelts are worn if fitted. In case of emergency every seated passenger must have access to two exits at all times. Make sure luggage is not obstructing the aisle.

6. The minibus must be able to accommodate passengers with mobility difficulties. Wheelchairs can face forward or backwards, but not sideways.

Passengers may have other needs which could include mental, emotional, medical, behavioural or learning difficulties. As the driver it is important that you or your passenger’s assistant are aware of these needs and are able to assist the passenger if required.

7. Before starting the journey check that all luggage and equipment is stored securely. Check the minibus doors are closed but not locked. Ensure the aisle and exits are free from obstruction.

8. Places where passengers are picked up and dropped off should be planned in advance of the journey. Consideration must be given to the safety of the passengers while waiting to be picked up, and when boarding and exiting the minibus.

If you are a regular minibus driver take a driver training course, such as the MiDAS (Minibus Driver Training Scheme) organised by the Community Transport Association (CTA). This will cover all aspects of passenger care and gives guidance on what to do in the event of an emergency or passenger illness.

Evidence that you’ve passed a driver training course may even entitle you to a discount on the minibus insurance.

Article Resource
The Minibus Club is a specialist minibus insurance provider and has offered UK minibus insurance quotes since 1997. Visit their website to get a free quote for charity minibus insurance or call their hotline on 0845 609 0323. See how much you could save on your minibus insurance.