The minibus, just right for most group days out

For a family reunion, a hen or stag weekend, a club outing or a trip to the coast, the minibus is often the perfect fit. It's big enough for everyone and small enough to park near where you're going.

Room for the group, and a little for bags

A minibus typically carries 16 to 19 passengers. Treat that as a guide rather than a promise and plan with the seat count on your quote. The luggage space at the back is handy for day bags and coats, but it gets tight once every seat is taken, so for airport runs with big suitcases you may want a larger vehicle or fewer people aboard.

Models you might travel in

These are the sort of models operators run in this size. The exact vehicle is down to the operator that takes your booking.

Minibus (16 to 19 seats)

Mercedes Sprinter
19 passengers · 15 bags
Ford Transit
16 passengers · 12 bags
Mercedes Sprinter
17 passengers · 14 bags

On board

In a minibus, children from age 3 up to 135 cm or their 12th birthday use a child restraint or, if none is available, an adult seat belt
Minibuses first used from 1 October 2001 have seat belts on all forward- and rearward-facing seats
Driving a minibus for hire or reward needs full PCV entitlement, D1 or D depending on the seats; the car-licence allowance covers only voluntary, non-commercial driving of a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats
Hired with a driver, a minibus with 9 or more passenger seats is a public service vehicle and needs a PSV operator's licence
Category D1 covers minibuses with no more than 16 passenger seats and a maximum length of 8 m; a minibus with 17 or more passenger seats needs category D

Why hire it with a driver

Anyone driving a minibus for paying passengers must hold a full D1 entitlement, or category D once it has more than 16 passenger seats. Once it seats nine or more and the trip is paid for, it's legally a public service vehicle, so the operator holds a PSV licence. The car-licence allowance you may have heard about only covers voluntary, non-commercial driving of a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats.

With a driver included, no one in your party has to stay sober, find parking or navigate. You all just get on.

Belts and little ones

Minibuses first used since October 2001 have belts on forward- and rearward-facing seats. If children are coming, the rules on child restraints are stricter than on a coach, so tell the operator their ages and whether you'll bring your own boosters.

Hired out with nine-plus passenger seats, a minibus normally puts its driver under the assimilated (formerly EU) hours rules, so a very long day may call for a second driver.

Your questions

Can a minibus get into historic city centres?

Often more easily than a coach, though size still counts. In York, for instance, vehicles with more than 16 seats are kept outside the city walls, so check the seat count if you need to get inside.

Is a minibus good for a hen or stag weekend?

It's one of the most popular choices. Share the full itinerary, including the late pick-up, so the driver's hours are planned properly.

What if we're twenty people?

Then you need a bigger vehicle, such as a midi coach, or two minibuses. Everyone must have a seat.