Argh! How hard is it to rent a minibus?

[ChemicalChaos]

Evening,

A friend of mine is looking to rent a minibus for next week. We are in Liverpool and require a 17 seat bus. He is 21/22 and has a full D1 licence.
Why is it that every company I have looked at either:
- Has a 25 age restriction (I know not everyone does because when I was in Bristol students regularly hired buses from a company down there)
- Only hires up to 12 seaters
- Only hires chauffeur driven buses
or
- Has their nearest depot about 20 miles away?


Can someone please, please recommend a company based (or with a depot) in or very near to Liverpool, that hires a 17 seater to a 21 year old for self drive?

thanks!

[Quhet]

Can't he/you get one through Uni?
That's what we used to do...

[ChemicalChaos]

We're a bit of a fringe uni society (because it is set up solely around a 3rd year project group rather than a freely joinable normal society) and I'm not sure how big the SU buses are, how many there are and what the criteria for renting them is.

[hyperblue]

ChemicalChaos said:

I'm not sure how big the SU buses are, how many there are and what the criteria for renting them is.

Ask them? I know it's a crazy idea.

[marshalla]

17 seats ? Uh oh : https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus

D1 covers up to 16 seats (+ driver) only.

[A900ss]

Exactly the above.

17 seats is a no no on a car licence

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

[hornetrider]

hyperblue said:

Ask them? I know it's a crazy idea.

fking students.

[ChemicalChaos]

marshalla said:

17 seats ? Uh oh : https://www.gov.uk/driving-a-minibus

D1 covers up to 16 seats (+ driver) only.

Please read the post properly.

17 seats = 1 driver + 16 passengers by my maths, just like the website says.

[marshalla]

In that case, I know of a company - but since you can't be bothered to recognise that your own requirements statement is unclear, I'm taking my ball home.

[Hooli]

marshalla said:

I'm taking my ball home.

Edited by Hooli on Thursday 13th March 23:21

[abbotsmike]

marshalla said:

In that case, I know of a company - but since you can't be bothered to recognise that your own requirements statement is unclear, I'm taking my ball home.

Most people I know refer to a 16+1 as a 17 seater, just as they refer to a 14+1 as a 15 seater.

Speak to the SU, ours hires in from a local firm and the union deal with the insurance. If you are a university society it's just plain daft to not go through them. Especially as the SU's chosen firm most likely deliver to campus...

[ChemicalChaos]

abbotsmike said:

marshalla said:

In that case, I know of a company - but since you can't be bothered to recognise that your own requirements statement is unclear, I'm taking my ball home.

Most people I know refer to a 16+1 as a 17 seater, just as they refer to a 14+1 as a 15 seater.

Speak to the SU, ours hires in from a local firm and the union deal with the insurance. If you are a university society it's just plain daft to not go through them. Especially as the SU's chosen firm most likely deliver to campus...

He's going to try the SU tomorrow. However, just in case they say no, PLEASE can you tell me marshalla?

[Hooli]

abbotsmike said:

marshalla said:

In that case, I know of a company - but since you can't be bothered to recognise that your own requirements statement is unclear, I'm taking my ball home.

Most people I know refer to a 16+1 as a 17 seater, just as they refer to a 14+1 as a 15 seater.

When I drove PSV stuff the driver was never included in the seat numbers, nor was the crew jump seat by the steps.

[abbotsmike]

Hooli said:

When I drove PSV stuff the driver was never included in the seat numbers, nor was the crew jump seat by the steps.

I know it's "wrong" but it's fairly clear what the OP meant! That was the point I was making. Most people concerned with driving a minibus for social purposes only care about total seats. After all, as they are driving for social purposes the driver must be part of the social group!