Five things you should consider when buying a minibus
You have done all the hard work of securing the funds to get a new minibus for your organisation, but now you need to make sure you choose the right minibus. We have put together this handy guide at CVM Minibuses to help guide you through the most important factors to consider ensuring you get the right minibus.
- What driving licence do your drivers hold?
At CVM Minibuses the most common question we get asked by organisations is “Who can drive a minibus?” We know that interpreting information from the DVLA can be difficult and time consuming and we would like to help all those trying to find this answer.
The first place to start is to find out what type of licence the person who would like to drive a minibus has:
Pre-1997 D1 category driving licence or Post-1997 B category licence
Pre-1997 D1 category driving licence holder
The good news for those who hold a pre-1997 D1 category licence is that they can drive any minibus up to 16 passenger seats, with no weight restrictions. CVM minibuses are able to supply a range of new and pre-loved minibuses from across the Ford, Peugeot and Citroen range.
Post-1997 B category driving licence holder
If the person who would like to drive the minibus holds a post-1997 B category licence, we would advise you read our ‘Guide to who can drive a minibus’ to ensure you get all the information you need.
- How many people will you need to transport?
We have a large number of customers and their requirements for transporting numbers of people differ hugely. There are a variety of minibuses available, with different number of passenger carrying capabilities, plus we also have the ability to work with you to create a custom conversion to ensure you can carry the right number of people, including those who need wheelchair access.
Speak to us about your passenger carrying requirements and we can help advise on the right bus for you, plus any conversions we can suggest that will make the bus bespoke to you.
- Do you need to buy new or can you consider preloved?
From experience, we know that some organisations have to buy new and we will always work with you to find the most competitive deal from our great relationships with the minibus manufacturers.
However, if you don’t have to buy new, why not consider a preloved minibus?
At CVM Minibuses we always have minibuses coming back from short-term leasing. We are due over 60 back this year.
We receive a combination of Ford Transit minibuses (both 14 and 17 seaters) and Peugeot Boxers (up to 17 seats), in a range of colours. Most of these will have previously been let on 2-year leases to schools and education establishments, thus the current mileage will be low.
If you don’t have to buy new, you can register your interest with us. We can provide you with full details of what is coming in, and when, and reserve them ahead of time.
- Do you need disabled person access/ Wheelchair Accessible?
At CVM we supply accessible minibuses to suit a range of mobility issues. From a full wheelchair lift system, to wheelchair ramps for occasional use, or simply additional step options. All of our full size minibuses have automatic side steps for ease of access for all passengers. Depending on your requirements we can configure your minibus with up to 17 seats or with room for up to 5 wheelchair passengers or with options for a mix of uses.
- What colour bus will work promoting your organisation’s logo the best?
Our experience with working with our customers has enabled us to recommend the right colour minibus to work with your organisation’s logo. We can organise all the artwork for you so your minibus is ready to go when we have it delivered.
You might think a bright red bus will look great but you might not like it so much when it doesn’t highlight your organisation’s name as you wished. We can help guide you on the best colour bus to promote your organisation.
The team at CVM Minibuses will always endeavour to work with you to find the right minibus for you and your organisation. We will listen to your needs and help advise using our combined experience of over 30 years in the minibus industry. Don’t hesitate to get in touch whether you need advice on who can drive a minibus or what the conversion options are for a particular vehicle, we are always here to help you.