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.

Article Resource
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 0845 609 0323 or visit our website at www.minibusclub.co.uk.

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.

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance look no further than The Minibus Club. Why not visit their website to receive a free online quote for minibus insurance.