Can I drive a minibus on Category D1 if cost splitting?

[CIS121]

I'd be splitting the cost of hire and fuel with all passengers so payment would be taken, but it wouldn't be profit making. It would however be used to go to a paid for activity weekend.

I've got an old D1 license, but DVLAs advice is very ambiguous regarding what constitutes hire or reward:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_...

[Chrisw666]

You should be ok, if the cost splitting is an informal arrangement, which has no audit trail and if you are paying your equal share it would not be for hire or reward.

[john2443]

I can't see it being a problem - you aren't going to end up after the weekend with more money than you started with, and I think that would be the definition of the reward part of hire and reward.

[Tallbut Buxomly]

I really wouldnt worry about it. I have done it many times in the past and will do it in future as well if asked. Plod couldnt A: give a st and more importantly B: prove jack st.

[Graebob]

But surely, you aren't splitting the cost of you driving the minibus, you're splitting the cost of hire and fuel, which as long as you contribute yourself has no bearing on the actual driving of the vehicle.

+1 on the audit trail thing though

[CIS121]

I agree in reality, it's probably not going to be an issue, however I'm looking to do it regularly and if we had an accident, the insurers would want to get out of paying and would probably be all over this. I'm very keen to do it by the book, but am just unsure what exactly the law is.