A Guide to Buying Your First Minibus

July 23, 2019   Insurance

If you’re planning on buying your first minibus then there are certain things you should be aware of. Minibuses come in various sizes and whether you need a special licence or not will depend on how you plan to use it.

Below is a guide to buying your first minibus that includes where to buy, getting a licence and where to get cover.

Where to buy

If you’re purchasing a minibus for the first time then you have a few options. If you can afford to buy a new minibus then this would obviously be ideal since it’s going to be in the best condition and come with guarantees.

If you decide to buy used then sites like Auto Trader make it very easy to narrow down what you’re looking for by using search options such as engine size, number of passenger seats, year, make, model etc.

When buying used, whether it’s from a garage or private seller, be sure to properly inspect the vehicle for any signs of damage and also make sure all the necessary paperwork, including the service history is present.

Getting a licence

When it comes to the licence you need to drive a minibus it depends on how you plan to use it. If you’re not using it for hire or reward i.e. you’re not receiving any payment from passengers, then you should be able to drive a minibus for up to 16 passengers with your regular driver’s licence.

If you are planning to use your minibus for profit then you’ll need to get a minibus provisional entitlement.

Whatever you use your minibus for you’ll need to meet the following criteria to be able to drive it legally in the UK –

  • Be at least 21 years of age
  • You’ve had a licence for at least 2 years
  • You aren’t using it to tow a trailer
  • You meet the correct medical standards if you’re over 70
  • It doesn’t exceed more than 4.25 tonnes

Getting insurance

In order to make your minibus road legal you’ll need to get minibus insurance. You can get the same types of cover for a minibus as you would for a car i.e. third party only, third party, fire and theft, fully comprehensive.

When looking for minibus insurance it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a lot of different providers to ensure you get the best deal. You can get minibus insurance at cleangreencars.co.uk

The type of cover you need will depend on what type of minibus you get. For smaller minibuses you’ll need to get 9 seats + minibus insurance cover.