Driving a Mini Bus

Below is a brief overview of who is eligible to drive a minibus.

First of all being able to drive a minibus may depend on when you attained your driver’s licence. Those people who had entitlement to drive prior to 1st January 1997 will find that they can drive a minibus with a maximum of 17 seats. This however is purely for personal use, not for hire and reward, whereby you would require further driving qualifications. The entitlement to drive a multi-seat vehicle (up to 17 seats) on your licence would remain valid up until its next renewal.



For a Motor Trade Insurance policy you may be capable of driving a minibus but this generally depends on the insurer you are insured with. Often insurers will allow their clients to drive multi-seat vehicles but with varying restrictions. This can include the weight of the vehicle (generally under 3.5 tonnes) or the number of seats the vehicle has. Ultimately the best way to clarify what restrictions are present on your policy is to contact your broker direct.

If you are not using the minibus in relation to your motor trade business then you may require a private policy. This can work on the same basis of a standard car insurance policy that offers varying levels of cover.

Hopefully this has given you a greater insight into driving a minibus whether that be purely for personal use, hire or on a motor trade insurance policy. If you still have queries or require a competitive quote please contact us and we'll be more than willing to help!