When does a minibus become a minibus?

[blank]

This seems to be a bit of a minefield...

9 seater (8 passengers and a driver) Vivaro minibus. GVW less than 3,500 kg.

From what I can see, it is a 'dual purpose vehicle', so can be driven by anyone with a normal car licence and has 60/70/70 car speed limits (rather than 50/60/70 van speed limits).

It seems that the minibus thing only comes in with 10+ seats, where you need the grandfather rights, or to take a new test, or to drive on a voluntary basis yada yada yada.

So, is it a minibus?

Thanks

[imagineifyeswill]

It is a minibus but upto 8 passengers is allowed on a normal car licence. I would advise if you were planning to buy it for your own private use to check on insurance costs first as even although its private use, in the event of an accident the insurance could be looking at injury claims from 8 passengers rather than the usual 4 and load the premium to reflect that.

Edited by imagineifyeswill on Wednesday 11th June 18:38

[mph1977]

blank said:

This seems to be a bit of a minefield...

9 seater (8 passengers and a driver) Vivaro minibus. GVW less than 3,500 kg.

From what I can see, it is a 'dual purpose vehicle', so can be driven by anyone with a normal car licence and has 60/70/70 car speed limits (rather than 50/60/70 van speed limits).

It seems that the minibus thing only comes in with 10+ seats, where you need the grandfather rights, or to take a new test, or to drive on a voluntary basis yada yada yada.

So, is it a minibus?

Thanks

inthe eyes of the law it's a car , not a DPV - DPV is for 4*4 and/or 'crew cab'

[Blakewater]

This link might help explain what you need to know.

http://www.minibus.ltd.uk/minibus-advice-web1.html

[tehguy]

Up to 8 passenger seats (NOT including the driver) can be driven on a car licence from the age of 17. You can drive a minibus (up to 16 passenger seats and 3500kg GVW restriction) without category D1 but you have to be at least 21, not for hire/reward etc.

[blank]

Thanks chaps.

Looks like we can drive it.

What about speed limits?

I'm sure I've heard of people putting seats and windows in vans and them then having car speed limits?

[Blakewater]

This bloke has asked all sorts of people and not even the DfT could give him an answer.

http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t...

All sorts of rules have been brought in regarding speed limits of different vehicles and the necessity of speed limiters being fitted to them, they've been tinkered with to supposedly simplify them but the result is a complete mess that no one will take responsibility for clearing up.

[tehguy]

Can you post a photo of the vehicle? I think it comes down to the weight...if it's less than 2040kg unladen then it'll be subject to normal car speed limits.

[Who me ?]

From
https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits
Type of vehicle =Buses, coaches and minibuses (not more than 12 metres overall length)
Built-up areas mph (km/h)Single carriageways mph (km/h)Dual carriageways mph (km/h) Motorways mph (km/h)

30 (48) 50 (80) 60 (96) 70 (112)

BUT, there's also this-----

Speed limiters

A speed limiter must be fitted on:

vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats - known as public service vehicles (PSVs)