Removing seats from mini bus to use as 8 seater without D1?

[mouseman11]

Hi,

Sorry this isn't in the law section but I'm not allowed to post there yet as I'm NEW

Basically me and 8 mates are looking to hire a mini bus in the UK for a holiday on the continent.

I've been told we all need D1 and new digital tachograph/smart card costing £38 each to drive our preferred 15 seater mini bus.

Now can we just hire the 15 seater, remove 6 seats and drive it under the EU laws that are relevant to an 8 seater car? or does the size and factory default number of seats override this?

Any suggestions welcome


Thanks


Additional details

All drivers over 25
most held license for 10 years (post 1997)
8 seater for us + luggage is too small

[Matt UK]

I would have thought that it's based on seats the vehicle has registered rather than actual.

[KingNothing]

You can drive a minibus on a B1 license if it's not for hire or reward, but since you're renting it, it's probabley a case of their van, their rules. And as the poster above says, it's the number of seats the van has at registration that counts.

[ArtVandelay]

It wouldn't be an 8 seater though would it? It would be 9 seats as I would think the number of seats would include the driver's

[Chucklehead]

The bus would need to be re-registered and I can imagine the hire company would take exception to that

[ruff'n'smov]

Don't think it will be as easy as just pulling out the seats. Some models may have electrics fitted and seatbelt mountings, plus 62 MPH restricted makes for tedium on the continent.

[Flatinfourth]

I drove to my own driving test, on my own, in a manual double decker bus quite legally as there were no fare paying passengers, which effectively made my vehicle a nine ton car! don't know how the law sits with that now though!

[mouseman11]

wow stunned at all the replies! Thanks everyone despite bringing me bad news but I did expect the number of seats the car is registered with to override the actual number of seats.

but yea it would appear in europe it doesnt seem to matter if you're private or employed you need a D1 and an electronic tacho, how annoying.

I've asked the hire company about taking out seats, I'll see what they say

Thanks again everyone, but if anyone has a strong case in my favor I'd love to hear it

[XL1000V]

Does the hire company (or another one) have a combi minibus for hire? They already have the reduced number of seats you need as well as a separate secured loadspace big enough for your requirements?

[Ed.]

Could you hire a transit tourneo?

[Flatinfourth]

Flatinfourth said:

I drove to my own driving test, on my own, in a manual double decker bus quite legally as there were no fare paying passengers, which effectively made my vehicle a nine ton car! don't know how the law sits with that now though!

again not sure how things are now but it used to be the case that a bus was only a bus at the point it started working as a fare paying vehicle, despite being taxed, tested and carrying an operators licence.

[mouseman11]

ahhh I got my numbers wrong, I thought it had to be an 8 seater..?
A 9 seater tourneo would be IDEAL

[Jellyfishfields]

mouseman11 said:

ahhh I got my numbers wrong, I thought it had to be an 8 seater..?
A 9 seater tourneo would be IDEAL

You could also try a LWB 9 seater Caravelle/Transporter.