Minibus Club Article Archive

Minibuses give flexibility and versatility that public transport providers simply cannot offer. This makes them particularly valuable for use by charitable organisations. Such non profit-making organisations can benefit from the cost savings associated with specialist minibus insurance. Here are the details charities need to know.

The three specific types of minibus insurance have their pros and cons. Third Party Only insurance is the minimum legal requirement. Such insurance covers liability for injury to, or the death of third parties, along with liability for damage to other people’s property, and legal costs related to claims against the policy.

Third Party, Fire and Theft cover comes next in the minibus insurance hierarchy. The benefits of this are fairly obvious. Should the minibus be stolen or be fire damaged, insurance for these eventualities is included.

The third and final type of minibus insurance is Comprehensive cover. This, though it’s the most expensive, is the most popular with charities that use a minibus. Comprehensive minibus insurance may provide replacements for personal effects lost in an accident or through theft. Post-accident medical expenses may be met, and cover against damage to the minibus’s windscreen and windows may be offered. A specialist minibus insurance broker will be able to detail what is covered and can offer a bespoke policy that caters for a customer’s needs.

Often, charity minibus insurance policies carry additional benefits. These can include a provision to pay by instalments rather than in a single lump sum. Post-accident and/or breakdown recovery may be included, as might roadside breakdown assistance, from a known provider capable of dealing with a minibus. A 24-hour helpline, operating from a year-round UK centre that can be called at no charge is a desirable bonus. Also, the option of uninsured loss recovery, including cover for a lawyer, legal costs and vehicle hire costs, is well worth seeking. Again, a specialised minibus insurance provider will be happy to advise you.

Having learned what to expect from a charity minibus insurance provider, it is necessary for you to understand what the provider will expect from you. Apart from meeting the expected driving licence requirements for using a minibus, the charity will need to provide one of two permits. In order to prove to the provider that the minibus to be insured is in fact to be put to charitable and non profit-making use, the charity will have to have a Section 19 or Section 22 permit. Charities whose activities are seen to benefit a community may apply for a Section 19 permit. Under this, minibus drivers may be volunteers or may receive payment, and a small charge for vehicle operating costs may be levied by the charity.

Remaining with charity minibus insurance requirements, a minibus that is used to offer a non profit-making bus service needs a Section 22 permit. For this kind of permit, the driver may not be paid for his or her services; he or she must be a volunteer. Lastly, a minibus operator running a service on a profit-making basis must acquire a PCV/PSV licence.

As can be seen, minibus insurance specific to a charity is slightly different from other kinds of insurance. However, with the aid of a specialised broker, finding such insurance and meeting the permit requirements are easily done.

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Regardless of whether you’re driving a minibus, a car, or even a motorbike, the roads in Britain and on the Continent can be dangerous. To say so isn’t scaremongering because it is a fact that accidents happen. The following hints and tips will not only help you stay safe and have successful outings, they will also avoid your having to make unnecessary claims on your minibus insurance.

There are legal requirements associated with driving, from being sober to driving with due care and attention. There are also non-legal requirements that are at least as important, and not all apply solely to the use of a minibus. We’ve all seen motorway signs saying ‘Tiredness kills, take a break’. These are displayed for a reason. You may, as a minibus driver, feel that your ability to drive for long periods is faultless. These can be famous last words, especially as tiredness is insidious, it can creep up on you. If even remotely drowsy, let alone sleepy, do as the signs say and take a break. There’s no shame in admitting you could do with a rest and there’s nothing heroic about ploughing into the back of an articulated lorry or finding yourself clattering along a crash barrier at 60 miles per hour. Pull up at a motorway services, have some coffee and a snooze if necessary. This is obviously doubly important if you’ve a full complement of passengers. Bear in mind that you should always plan rest breaks into your journey, for your sake as well as that of your passengers.

Minibuses have their own requirements, over and above those of cars. Your minibus may have car-like attributes, including power-assisted steering and brakes, comfortable seats and a great heater, if not air conditioning. It is, however, bigger and heavier than a car. Consequently, it can’t accelerate as fast as a car, negotiate corners as proficiently and stop as quickly as a car can. You must allow for these factors, and not only in the more obvious senses. For example, a minibus has a much bigger side profile than a car. In side winds, and in the slipstream of a big lorry, it will be affected much more profoundly. This can be allowed for but it should never be forgotten.

Similar parameters apply to manoeuvering a minibus. Your windscreen, side glass, rear glass and mirrors may be spotless but you still have to allow for the size of the vehicle you’re handling. This is especially so when pedestrians are about. You may be unfortunate enough to touch a roadside obstacle, or even another vehicle, when manoeuvering. This will dent your pride rather more than it dents your minibus. Should you be unlucky enough to touch a pedestrian, you could be faced with something far more serious. A minibus fitted with reversing sensors and even a reversing warning is desirable. It’s more desirable still to have someone keeping a weather eye on what’s to the rear. In any case, do not reverse if there’s any doubt at all. Be safe before it’s too late, rather than sorry after the event.

These simple tips will not only save lives, not to mention preserving your dignity, they can also save a claim on your minibus insurance. Remember that, following an accident or incident like those mentioned here, there’s only one way the insurance premium can go. Here’s a clue: it isn’t down!

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