Salfordian Posted 6 November , 2009 Posted 6 November , 2009 Hello all Does anyone know a UK company that hires minibuses (between 9 and 12 seaters) and lets them go to France? I ask our local main one Salford Van Hire and they said "NO"
dfaulder Posted 6 November , 2009 Posted 6 November , 2009 For a trip I went on earlier this year, the organisers had hired two VW Transporter (long wheelbase) minibuses from a firm in Bristol (not as far as I know one of the big chains - but the buses were in good condition and well prepared). Don't know the name but Yell.co.uk, may throw up some options. (Long wheelbase - meant there was decent luggage space in the rear - plus a crumple zone to protect the rear row of passengers.) Is it viable to hire LHD minibuses say from Lille Eurostar terminal (or one of the ports)? This would strike as potentially better. With RHD, you need a reliable co-driver for overtaking (and they need to remember also to look down into a the blind spot under your mirror). In our RHD minibuses, the seats were also arranged so that the rear row could only get out if the passenger on the left of the middle row had got out and folded his seat forward; then you could only get out the LH door - not ideal if you happen to breakdown on a continental motorway! HTH David
SteveMarsdin Posted 6 November , 2009 Posted 6 November , 2009 When I've enquired previously I often found the big networks unable or unwilling to help but could get quotes (Hull area) from several local companies. I suppose in Salford though its one and the same !!! Mind you,, if they did change their minds and you do decide to go via Rotterdam the minibus will at least sound Dutch ! Good luck !
old-ted Posted 6 November , 2009 Posted 6 November , 2009 I'm afraid it's a case of hard slog around the hire companies. I hired a Luton van but had to ring around to sort out my own insurance. Regards & good luck John
SteveMarsdin Posted 6 November , 2009 Posted 6 November , 2009 Steve, My earlier reply wasn't that much help ! (and I don't want to contribute to the current "Northern tribal" thread that's just started in Skindles !). This company appear to offer continental hire, albeit at the other side of the Pennines. www.arrowselfdrive.com/minibus_hire.cfm Good luck
Salfordian Posted 7 November , 2009 Author Posted 7 November , 2009 Steve, My earlier reply wasn't that much help ! (and I don't want to contribute to the current "Northern tribal" thread that's just started in Skindles !). This company appear to offer continental hire, albeit at the other side of the Pennines. www.arrowselfdrive.com/minibus_hire.cfm Good luck Cheers mate, I will try them
Ken Lees Posted 7 November , 2009 Posted 7 November , 2009 Try Easirent. I've hired from them before to take groups to France.
Chris_Baker Posted 8 November , 2009 Posted 8 November , 2009 Kenilworth Van Hire used to do them for our local WFA branch trips. You should be able to find them online.
centurion Posted 8 November , 2009 Posted 8 November , 2009 Plenty of companies hire mini buses for trips to France but they expect you to hire the driver as well.
John W Posted 8 November , 2009 Posted 8 November , 2009 Interestingly, this comes up every year. Currently you are not allowed to drive a minibus any where outside of the UK. unless you have a PCV licence. JOhn
centurion Posted 8 November , 2009 Posted 8 November , 2009 Interestingly, this comes up every year. Currently you are not allowed to drive a minibus any where outside of the UK. unless you have a PCV licence. JOhn When does a people carrier become a minibus?
bruce Posted 8 November , 2009 Posted 8 November , 2009 When it has nine seats. A people carrier with seven seats requires no PSV license, whilst a vehicle with nine seats does require one. A Ford Galaxy has seven, and so can be driven on an ordinary license, as can a Tourneo with eight, but any more than that and the driver needs a PSV. Bruce
Salfordian Posted 8 November , 2009 Author Posted 8 November , 2009 Interestingly, this comes up every year. Currently you are not allowed to drive a minibus any where outside of the UK. unless you have a PCV licence. JOhn Doesn't the "Hire or Reward" thing come into play. As long as the person is not gaining from driving - i.e. payment?
Ken Lees Posted 8 November , 2009 Posted 8 November , 2009 Doesn't the "Hire or Reward" thing come into play. As long as the person is not gaining from driving - i.e. payment? No it doesn't, but I'm not certain on the number of seats. Can anyone give me a reference to the regulations, please?
armourersergeant Posted 8 November , 2009 Posted 8 November , 2009 I had not realised this until just seeing this and also John telling me literally just now! That can be a bit limiting I guess? regards Arm
john kemp Posted 20 November , 2009 Posted 20 November , 2009 You may be allowed to drive a minibus if it is not used for hire or reward. Hire or reward generally means any payment in cash or kind made by or on behalf of passengers that gives them right to be carried in a vehicle. Driving licence held before 1 January 1997 If you had entitlement to drive cars before 1 January 1997 you can drive a minibus provided it has a maximum of 17 seats including the driver's seat and is not being used for hire or reward. Your minibus entitlement will remain valid in the United Kingdom until your licence is next renewed. Meeting higher medical standards When your licence is renewed, your minibus entitlement can only be issued if you make a special application, which will involve meeting higher medical standards. If your minibus entitlement is renewed, at the age of 70, you will normally be granted a licence for three years that will allow you to drive a minibus not for hire or reward. If your minibus entitlement is not renewed, the entitlement will no longer appear on your licence. Medical rules for driving minibuses Driving under the permit scheme To drive a minibus that has nine or more passenger seats for hire or reward you will normally need passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) entitlement. To obtain this you must meet higher medical standards and take a further driving test. However, if you drive a minibus for an organisation under the minibus or community bus permit scheme you will not need to have the higher PCV entitlements. Minibus and community bus permits Vehicle category descriptions Vehicle category descriptions, which appear on your driving licence, can be found on the link below. The vehicles you can drive or ride and minimum ages Drivers who do not have minibus entitlement If your driving licence does not allow you to drive a minibus, there are certain circumstances where you still may be able to do so. Driving passenger carrying vehicles (PCV) on a car driving licence More useful links The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) information leaflet covering this subject can be downloaded or is available from DVLA local offices. Download Driving a Minibus (INF28) (PDF, 454K) Help with PDF files In this section... Driving larger goods vehicles (LGV) on a car driving licence Driving passenger carrying vehicles (PCV) on a car driving licence How to add higher categories to your driving licence (staging and upgrading) Minibus and community bus permits Vehicle weights explained Vehicles you can drive and how old you must be to drive them Your driving conduct for larger vehicles, minibuses or buses
Ken Lees Posted 20 November , 2009 Posted 20 November , 2009 ... Your minibus entitlement will remain valid in the United Kingdom until your licence is next renewed. Which suggests that it is not valid anywhere else. But can that be confirmed?
john kemp Posted 20 November , 2009 Posted 20 November , 2009 Sorry, bit hasty on the reply, previous post from DVLA website.
Wesley Wright Posted 21 November , 2009 Posted 21 November , 2009 Eight of us hired a 9 seater in Charles De Gaulle airport for 65th Normandy in June past--we had a PSV driver in our group--very resonably priced. Wesley Wright
healdav Posted 21 November , 2009 Posted 21 November , 2009 If anyone has a contact in the Scouts they have a very good leaflet of some sort giving all the rules and regulations about driving groups in Europe (it was checked and edited by the European Commission). I don't know the name of it, but as I sent it to the correct people - it arrived on my desk - I can vouch for it.
John W Posted 22 November , 2009 Posted 22 November , 2009 Which suggests that it is not valid anywhere else. This is true. most of the UK regulations have been posted further up the thread. This is basically EU legislation. The UK came into line with this in 1997. some of the older members of the forum will have a D1 entitlement ( minibus) on there licence, but it will also say 101 which means it was not recieved by test. This means you can drive in the UK with certain other restrictions you can drive a minibus on a B licence ( car) BUT this only applies in the UK so no nipping accross the border in Ireland! Of course you can try and take a minibus abroad and if stopped try to argue that you have the entitlement on your licence. But I would point out that I know of a number of occasions when this didn't work and the party had to try and find a driver who had a proper licence before they could continue. So to be on the safe side you are restricted to MPVs ie vehicles with up to 9 seats including the driver If any one needs more info PM me as I have to teach this about twice a month to students at the local university. John
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