We have up to 12 children during the holidays (in our own), as both me & hubby childmind together. We are insured through MM, and they cover up to 15 children.
I know of 2 other childminders locally who have minibusses. 1 has a 12 seater, and the other are a husband & wife team & have a 17 seater also. I looked at the link & then spoke to them, and neither of them have registered. (One I know would have looked into it closely like me too)
I think that is more for nurseries, where minibusses are purchased solely for the use of the company (which means I have answered my own original question!)
From reading numerous sites, it would seem the term 'for hire or reward' (which is what it all comes down to) is very vauge term. In the end, I came across something on the Dept for transport site (I think) which says something along the lines of 'hire or reward can be paid directly or indirectly. Indirectly could be through membership fees, concert tickets, or school fees. But basically where if someone hadn't paid those fees, we wouldn't carry them'
Well, in my case that is not right. For one, we have our own children - they haven't paid. Plus, (I know - and not wanting to go into it) but I mind a family, a friend of mine, who I do not charge, nor ever have, for looking after the eldest one. DD's best friend & in all honesty, keeps DD out my way! So she would be in it & not have paid me anything. Plus, in the past, if I've had spaces and another cm hasn't had enough seats in her car, then we've taken one of her own children in our car, so would continue this with the minibus too. Therefore, do not fall into that clause.
I spoke to the insurance company too, and explained, and he said, as it is our private car, as long as we have business use on it, then that is fine. He checked the quote, and said that was on there, as well as us being childminders, so it was all fine.
DVLA were useless, and told me to seek legal advice, as they couldn't advise me...
VOSA aren't open until monday...
But from reading other sites, like I said, the commercial side of it seems to link more to nurseries, as it said if you use cars, then they have to be registered as taxi's, and the driver has to hold a taxi licence too. Therefore, to me, if childminders have to follow the same commercial routes for minibusses as nurseries, then we would have to for cars too, yet it said childminders were exepmt, as long as business use cover.
Still confused a bit, but spent all day looking at it & speaking to the companies that are open... Plus, if the insurers are happy to insure us based on the info we've given, then they must be right???
xx
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