can i drive 12 seater minibus

[Mike1967]

Originally Posted by mattn388gfc

so i can then as only for me and familey

Having read through the Direct Gov information site it is now even confusing me . I think you may be better to give the DVLA in Swansea a ring , that way you will know for sure .

Its all to do with when you past your test ..... if the passenger carrying vehicle is over 30 years old , it looks like a lot of factors come into this .

It has never bothered me , as my class one entitles me to drive any bus / coach / bendy bus etc . But can see how it is confusing for people to understand the groups exactly .

[mattn388gfc]

still be shame to have to sell the volvo but i cant see any other way

[deathrider311271]

the simple answer to your question is no u cant legally, also it should have a tacho fitted, new rules and regs im afraid

we hire these vehicles occasionally and we have to run to tacho rules and the driving licence categories

[teefin]

Originally Posted by Stiggy

This will give you more information .......

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ons/DG_4022619

This is the begining and end of it clear (nearly) but you need D1.

[mattn388gfc]

Originally Posted by deathrider311271

the simple answer to your question is no u cant legally, also it should have a tacho fitted, new rules and regs im afraid

we hire these vehicles occasionally and we have to run to tacho rules and the driving licence categories

thats coz ur hiring it and yer tacho nomaly on 17 seater minibus

[capt jack]

I think it's pretty clear that you can only drive a minibus - ie a vehicle with eight passenger seats - if you have a D1 licence.

This means you're OK to drive an MPV, or a Volvo with the 7-seat conversion in the boot.

If you need to carry all your family in one vehicle then I guess your options are to sell one of the kids, or the missus; or to get a seven-seat Volvo estate, to buy an MPV of some sort (sadly Volvo don't do one); or to get a Volvo six-door limo (they do come up quite often on Ebay - usually in black for some reason!).

Whatever you do be absolutely sure that you're in the clear, and getting direct advice from the DVLA is the best advice (from Stiggy) that's been posted in this thread.

Keep your insurers informed and make sure that they are clear about what you're doing. Insurers love taking your money, and they also love wheedling out of paying up. Any confusion like this will have them disappearing faster than Simon Cowell's love for a loser on the X-Factor!

The problem with seven seat converted Volvos is the loss of luggage space, and the fact that the boot seats are only suitable for children, and your kids are possibly more vulnerable in a rear-end shunt. Towing a trailer would answer the luggage problem.

MPVs are basically padded vans, again have only limited luggage space, and often their rear seats too are only suitable for diddy persons. Plus they're horrid to drive - and Volvo don't make one! Also, the rearmost seats are effectively in the boot, so again, safety in a rear-end shunt is questionable.

Volvo limos are Volvos, which is good, but not exactly to everyone's taste!

Whatever you end up doing it'll be a compromise, but for me personally the seven-seat Volvo estate conversion, plus a tow bar and decent trailer would be the way to go.

Good luck

Cheers

Jack

[deathrider311271]

Originally Posted by mattn388gfc

thats coz ur hiring it and yer tacho nomaly on 17 seater minibus

im afraid u r wrong there we hire 12 seaters, as others have said u need D1 catagory on your licence

[mattn388gfc]

Originally Posted by capt jack

I think it's pretty clear that you can only drive a minibus - ie a vehicle with eight passenger seats - if you have a D1 licence.

This means you're OK to drive an MPV, or a Volvo with the 7-seat conversion in the boot.

If you need to carry all your family in one vehicle then I guess your options are to sell one of the kids, or the missus; or to get a seven-seat Volvo estate, to buy an MPV of some sort (sadly Volvo don't do one); or to get a Volvo six-door limo (they do come up quite often on Ebay - usually in black for some reason!).

Whatever you do be absolutely sure that you're in the clear, and getting direct advice from the DVLA is the best advice (from Stiggy) that's been posted in this thread.

Keep your insurers informed and make sure that they are clear about what you're doing. Insurers love taking your money, and they also love wheedling out of paying up. Any confusion like this will have them disappearing faster than Simon Cowell's love for a loser on the X-Factor!

The problem with seven seat converted Volvos is the loss of luggage space, and the fact that the boot seats are only suitable for children, and your kids are possibly more vulnerable in a rear-end shunt. Towing a trailer would answer the luggage problem.

MPVs are basically padded vans, again have only limited luggage space, and often their rear seats too are only suitable for diddy persons. Plus they're horrid to drive - and Volvo don't make one! Also, the rearmost seats are effectively in the boot, so again, safety in a rear-end shunt is questionable.

Volvo limos are Volvos, which is good, but not exactly to everyone's taste!

Whatever you end up doing it'll be a compromise, but for me personally the seven-seat Volvo estate conversion, plus a tow bar and decent trailer would be the way to go.

Good luck

Cheers

Jack

well i have a 850 est with boot seat's but i am not allowed to tow a trailer will for limo

[thealchemyst]

Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:

•a passenger carrying vehicle manufactured more than 30 years before the date when it is driven and not used for hire or reward or for the carriage of more than 8 passengers
***•a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided the following conditions are met:***

***=yes you can drive on a class B car licence.

[thealchemyst]

also being an oldish fart means i got d1 and d1+e on my licence as standard you may not have that entitlement added as standard but may be able to request (pay a fee!) to have it added to your licence, without taking a psv test as your not working as a bus driver etc.