Tips for Cheap Minibus Insurance
No Claims Bonus
If you had entitlement to drive cars before 1 January 1997 you may 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 (Hire or reward means “any payment in cash or kind made by or on behalf of passengers that gives them right to be carried in a vehicle”). Your minibus entitlement will remain valid in the United Kingdom until your licence is next renewed.
Introductory Discounts
If you don”t have any No Claims Bonus you may still be entitled to an introductory discount, which can be equivalent to 3 years No Claims Discount. Some minibus insurers will allow the discount if you can prove an accident free history of driving a similar vehicle, for example as a named driver on someone elses policy.
Avoid Making Claims
If you have a fault accident and your insurers have to pay the repair bill, you will lose some (or all) of your No Claims Bonus, making next years premium more expensive. If you have a bump, think carefully before you decide whether to ask the insurers to pay for it. If there is minor damaged that can be repaired cheaply it may be more cost effective to pay for the repairs to the minibus out of your own pocket.
Increase Voluntary Excess
Most minibus insurance policies have a compulsary excess, this is the amount you will have to pay when making a claim. You can normally increase the excess in return for a discount, remember to make sure you are comfortable with the amount you set it at, as you will need to pay it to make a claim.
Restrict Driving
Most minibus insurance policies are flexible as to who can drive the vehicle, some allow open driving. By restricting the policy to just one or two drivers will normally result in a discount from the premium.
Minibus Driving Regulations
Driving licence held before 1 January 1997
If you had entitlement to drive cars before 1 January 1997 you may 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 (Hire or reward means “any payment in cash or kind made by or on behalf of passengers that gives them right to be carried in a vehicle”). Your minibus entitlement will remain valid in the United Kingdom until your licence is next renewed.
If you do not have the Minibus entitlement
If your current driving licence doesn’t have the minibus entitlement, there are certain circumstances where you may still be able to drive a Minibus.
Renewing your licence
When you come to renew your licence, your minibus entitlement can only be issued if you make an application to the DVLA, 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.
The permit scheme
To be able to drive a minibus that has nine or more passenger seats for hire or reward you will normally need passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) entitlement. This involves taking a further driving test. However, if you will be driving the minibus for an organisation under the minibus or community bus permit scheme you will not need to have the PCV entitlement.
If you own or operate a minibus we would like to hear from you so we can provide a low cost Minibus Insurance quotation.