Minibuses?

[KatieMac]

Are there any special license requirements for driving them?

I knowI had to do a test but did this on my own license and was because I was driving children HTH

I believe my friend who is a teacher needed to be qualified to drive one for school trips.

You have to do a "Midas" test (includes first aid I think)

"MiDAS" in fact - Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme.

How long does it last?
How much does it cost?

Bump for info on courses...

And how much would a second hand Minibus cost?

I think if you passed your test before 1996 ish the test is different. I work for our local council with young people so i had to sit their test. If I'd passed my test after 1996 i would have had to go through a much stricter process and i think it is about £1500... Mine wasn't a test as such, more of an assessment. You don't need to sit a test to drive a bus for your own purposes (I think)if it is already on your licence as a permitted category.
Sorry I can't be more precise but it was a few years ago now. Probably bes tto have a look at your licence and contact your local council.
In my last job we got a grant for a minibus and paid around £2000 for an N/P reg one- don't know if it was discounetd because we were a charity.
HTH

Thanks Hayls - I got my License in about 90 - I'll have to do some research

OK so now I need a minibus

Whaih one do I buy?

12 seats.....

Bump

You can drive a minibus as long as you passed your driving test before 1998 after that you don't have that category d I think on your license so would need to pass your test. If yoyu passed before 1998 you are allowed to drive a vehicle with up to 16 passenger seats plus the driver

I'm part of a group which brings "children from Chernobyl" (actually Belarus, N of Chernobyl) over here for holidays and all our group minibus drivers - 16-seaters - have to have a MiDAS cert even though they will all have passed their tests years ago - mind you the buses belong to the County Council so it's probably their stipulation. I'm supposed to be doing MiDAS before they come next year, apparently the driving part is quite basic but the first aid is 12 hours

DVLA page on minibuses

There is a contact link at the top, maybe you should email and ask?

mmm I drive a minibus at my school and passed in 1998 I think
depends for what purposes you are driving ie - for non profit ( in a school) I've been told you don't need a special licence
best to check !
good luck

Thanks for the link - I'll phone them

I'm OK, cos I passed so long ago I can drive one up to 16 seats and childminding does not count as hire or reward

Pheww!!Now I just have to buy one

OH NO I NEED AN OPERATING LICENSE........which could cost up to £300...

Who says that u do?

Vehicle Standards Agency - apparently over 9 seats and it's in the legislation....

If you had 15 children of your own ([faint]) would you still need an operating licence?

And is it a one-off or annual?

If I had 15 children of my own I'd need a wheelchair not a minibus....

It's a one off at that price then a smaller annal fee

Does it get some sort of annual check for that? If not what is it for?

no - but apparently (haven't got the paper work yet) I get visited by planning to ensure it doesn't cause a problem for my neighbours, from the police, and I have to have a regular maintenance agreement in place before I can have the operating thingee

I'll know more when I get the info sent to me