INTRO - Why choosing a suitable minibus can be difficult

Choosing a minibus that’s suitable for your requirements can be overwhelming. Perhaps the most important factor to consider is the amount of seats needed. CVM can provide minibuses with 9-17 seats, with options to configure the seating to accommodate wheelchair spaces. We can even offer free signwriting and artwork, with our team of experts on hand to help advise how best to utilise your logo!

Dependent on who will be driving the minibus, there is also the factor of which license you will need – and believe me, this is a minefield. Prior to January 1^st, 1997, anyone who passed the car driving test would also be eligible to drive any minibus, as their license covers any vehicle up to 8,250kg. If the driver passed after 1997, their license is slightly more restrictive, in that they can only drive a vehicle with 3,500kg with up to 8 passenger seats. However – if the passengers of your minibus aren’t paying for your transport services directly, you may be able to drive a minibus with up to 16 seats, as long as you’re over 21, have had your license for 2 years and meet a few other conditions, which you can learn more about via the below links.

Minibus driving rules: https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus

Driving license categories: https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories

In this blog, we’ll take you through the variety of minibuses which we can supply, to better help you to choose which one will be the most suitable for your requirements. If you’d like some help with choosing your minibus, feel free to contact us by calling 01489 880 050 or contacting us on our website at https://bit.ly/cvm-contact-us.

CITROEN RELAY + PEUGEOT BOXER - 17 Seater Flexilite / Featherlight Minibus 

Who can drive this minibus? Anyone with a standard UK license can drive this minibus under Section 19 permit, if not for hire or reward.

A Citroen Relay and Peugeot Boxer minibus are the same on the inside – they come from the same factories and share the same internal parts, and just have a different badge put on at the end of production! They are lightweight minibuses, very popular with drivers operating with a Section 19 permit, which come in under 3,500kg, meaning they can be driven on a standard (category B) UK driving license, as long as the minibus isn’t being driven for “hire or reward” (meaning the children aren’t paying for their position on the minibus, and the minibus is not being driven for commercial gain).

There’s so much to love about these minibuses! From their wide choice of accessibility features such as a wheelchair ramp and hydraulic lift, and up to four wheelchair spaces, to the latest safety features, such as lane assist, emergency braking system and optional internal and external cameras. Our minibus specialists will be able to help you work out the equipment and seating configuration that best suits your requirements.

RENAULT TRAFIC - 9 Seater Minibus

Who can drive this minibus? Anyone with a standard UK license can drive this minibus under Section 19 permit, if not for hire or reward.

Despite being able to accommodate less passengers, the Renault Trafic really has it all. With 9 configurable seats, the option for a wheelchair space and lightweight ramp, as well as a whole host of driver assistance and convenience features, every journey in our Renault Trafic 9 seaters is guaranteed to be safe and comfortable for all passengers. The special features of the Trafic include it’s 9” driver info monitor with reverse camera integration, USB ports in the front and back and so much more!

Thanks for reading our blog. If you’d like advice on which minibus would be best for you, feel free to read more on the pages below.

Ford Minibuses: https://www.cvmgroup.co.uk/minibuses/ford-minibuses/

Flexilite/Featherlight Minibuses: https://www.cvmgroup.co.uk/minibuses/peugeot-minibuses/

FORD TOURNEO - Titanium 9 Seater Minibus

Who can drive this minibus? Anyone with a standard UK license can drive this minibus under Section 19 permit, if not for hire or reward.

Like the Renault Trafic, having less seats doesn’t hold the Ford Tourneo back from being a great minibus for a smaller group of passengers. Inside, the Tourneo boasts 9 comfortable seats with ample legroom, a 10” touchscreen, SYNC audio system with Bluetooth connectivity. The optional X-pack features LED headlights with automatic high-beam, rear-view camera and dual-zone climate control. If you only need 8 passenger seats, and are looking for a cost-effective, reliable runaround for your school or company which doesn’t compromise on space, the Ford Tourneo is the minibus for you.

Learn more here: https://www.cvmgroup.co.uk/minibuses/ford-minibuses/#9seater

FORD TRANSIT - 17 Seater Minibus

Who can drive this minibus? Only people with a pre-1997 category B license, or a D1 license can drive this minibus due to its high weight.

Our Ford Transit minibuses range from 12-17 seats. This versatility is the most commonly used minibus for state and private schools across England, for good reason. It has comfortable seating arrangements with plenty of legroom and space for luggage. It comes with the latest assistance technology, such as pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, cruise control, lane assist and tyre pressure monitoring.

Due to the Ford Transit’s heavy weight, it can only be driven with a D1 license or a pre-1997 standard B category license, so it’s up to the individual circumstances of each school to determine if this minibus is right for your requirements – if you’re unsure, speak to our minibus team or visit our minibus FAQs for some helpful guidance: https://bit.ly/cvm-minibus-faqs

Thanks for reading our blog! If you’re interested in hearing more about the minibuses we can offer, you can speak to one of our minibus team by calling 01489 880 050, or contact us here: https://bit.ly/cvm-contact-us