minibuses

[lollipops]

Hi, Im a registered childminder from Cornwall. I have been minding for 10 years and I am just about to take on an assistant. I have a question regarding Minibuses and wondered if any other users have a minibus and how they are entitled to drive it/what insurance company they use.

[Lincsminder]

i have been looking at this too check out the dvla website for info on what you can drive because it is too confusing for me to post it all on here. What mini bus are you looking for, ive been searching for ages but they dont come up in my area very often.

[sarah707]

I suggest you talk to Morton Michel - they are a specialist childminder insurance company and will be able to advise you.

Hth :D

[lollipops]

Thanks, have now found out that because I took my driving test after 1997, I don't have the D1 entitlement to drive a minibus :( I think I will either have to shelve those plans for a while and think of lots of exciting things to do at home on some days in the holiday when I have too many children to fit into my seven seater! Don't really fancy doing a extra test, I hated my driving test! I did fancy a Vauxhall Vivaro twelve seater, but will have to put that on hold for the moment!:)

[Lincsminder]

Are you sure you cant drive one because I read it like this.

Driving licence held before 1 January 1997
If you had entitlement to drive cars before 1 January 1997 you can drive a minibus provided it has a maximum of 17 seats including the driver's seat and is not being used for hire or reward. Your minibus entitlement will remain valid in the United Kingdom until your licence is next renewed.
Drivers who do not have minibus entitlement
If your driving licence does not allow you to drive a minibus, there are certain circumstances where you still may be able to do so.

If you click on the link it then says

Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:

•a passenger carrying vehicle manufactured more than 30 years before the date when it is driven and not used for hire or reward or for the carriage of more than 8 passengers
•a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided the following conditions are met:
i. the vehicle is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body but not for hire or reward
ii. the driver is aged 21 iii. the driver has held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years
iv. the driver is providing the service on a voluntary basis
v. the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes including any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers
vi. if the driver is aged 70 or over, is able to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle
When driving a minibus under these conditions you may not receive any payment or consideration for doing so other than out of pocket expenses or tow any size trailer; you may only drive minibuses in this country.

So I take it if you have a full cat B you can drive so long as it is not for reward

[mama2three]

but surely it is for reward as its part of the business?

[Lincsminder]

no because they are not paying you to take them somewhere as you would with a mini bus going on an airport run etc.

[christine e]

no because they are not paying you to take them somewhere as you would with a mini bus going on an airport run etc.

I have a childminder friend has had to register her mini bus for hire and reward, she argued her point about not being for hire or reward but in the end she had to register. She did not have to take a driving test but had to be interviewed (think she had to go to Warrington and we are in Notts), she has to have something similar to a MOT every 3 months and she had to prove that she had £4000 ready cash.

Lollipops can put you in touch with her by email if you would like (pm me your email address).



Christine