Childminders Cars

[HSMM]

OK, so we were warned that if we had a 9 seater car, it could be deemed as being for hire and rewards, but this release from NCMA seems to be suggesting that any Childminders using a car may need to register as being for hire and reward. I am going to speak to my Local Authority Licencing Department and I will point out that I do not get paid any extra as a result of using my car in my work. I never saw the difference between 8 seats and 9 seats for us anyway!

www.ncma.org.uk/MainWebSite/Newslisting581a1f04.aspx?Map=B1784A3D5483266C1FA202FB5 D447ECB&NewsItemID=205&NewsGroupID=0

This is the link - the special way to do it is far to technical for my little brain!

I wouldn't worry about it.

As the press release (working link) says, the DOT guidance is that it is unlikely to apply to childminders.

Just make sure that you are not paid to provide a car, you are paid to get children from A to B.

My car is considered to be a 5 seater mini bus for insurance purposes, as I am paid mileage for transporting children as part of my job. However it isn't a PHV as it isn't for public hire, only as part of a childcare contract.
If you are paid to transport children in addition to the hourly childcare rate, then your insurance may need to include H&R element so makes it like a mini bus.

Agree with nannynick I have class 1 business and include any mileage charges/petrol in my hourly rate if I wanted to charge 40p per mile I need the different insurance to cover me as a taxi class 2 I think.
This always keeps coming up usually due to an insurance company advertising to childminders that they are not properly covered.
If you use your own car just make sure it is insured for business use and tell them you are a childminder most companies don't charge extra some charge £30ish.

My insurance is OK, it's the licencing as a vehicle for hire bit that bothers me. I am sure that I can convince them that I do not charge a penny extra as a result of having a car and therefore do not need a Licence.

I am a registered childminder and I have just bought a 9 seater and phoned my insurance company and dvla for advice before hand. The insurance company just provided me a quote for the new vehicle including business use. The DVLA told me to seek legal advice from a solicitor to find out if I would need to apply for a different licence!! I have the correct code on my driving licence and do not charge extra for transporting the children in my car just the hourly rate. Also the car is convenient but I could manage without it for the school run, the children would have to walk 1.5 miles each way though!