What to Know When Buying a Minibus!
At Minibus World part of CVM World we want to make sure you’re, “in the know” before making a decision on your Minibus investment.
In the modern age, information and unfortunately disinformation are easily accessible, let us help you with the important questions and most importantly, “buy the right minibus”.
Who will be using the Minibus?
There are two important factors to consider here. The individuals the Minibus will transport and the driver.
Minibus Driver:
Some Minibuses require a Cat D1 licence in order to be driven and others can be driven on a standard B Licence, we have more on this in our “Can I legally Drive a Minibus” blog post.
Minibus Passenger:
This is a sub-set of questions to consider:
How many Passengers do I need to carry?
Minibuses range from 8 to 21 seat vehicles and each have their own advantages for transporting passengers. We have vehicles that suit most organisations needs, in fact we’ve created this handy page to help you find the right vehicle quickly: Minibuses by Organisation
You may want to consider that although you’re going to regularly transport 9 people, will there be occasions where you might require to carry more or transport additional equipment. If you need advice then ask our team of experts.
Do I need Wheelchair Accessibility?
There are a variety of ways to help a wheelchair users access a Minibus. Some are suitable for occasional use and others allow for more regular assisted onboarding. These can range from telescopic ramps, to onboard ramps and lifts.
We’ve created a few handy videos to show how some of these options operate.
Will I be transporting, adults, youth, young children, etc?
This is important both in terms of who “Can Drive” and Gross Vehicle Weight of your Minibus. Not all Minibuses are suitable to carrying Youth and Adults as they may exceed weight limits and/or mean the Driver requires the sometimes additional D1 category on their licence.
More on this at, “Minibus Weights Explained”. Rest assured we have vehicles or can adapt vehicles to meet all needs
You may want to consider that although you’re going to regularly transport 9 people, will there be occasions where you might require to carry more or transport additional equipment. If you need advice then ask our team of experts.
Should I buy a NEW or USED Minibus?
Whichever is most suitable to your budget. There are pros and cons to purchasing either.
A new Minibus may exceed what your able/prepared to spend. It’s always wise to ask if your Minibus provider Leases vehicles to schools. You’ll often find that although used, these are well maintained vehicles, with full service histories and low mileage. They’re a great investment to gain a Minibus and highly sort after.
Buying a brand-new Minibus can be appealing, being the first owner of a showroom condition vehicle does give you a certain sense of pride; as well as many additional benefits such as a full manufacturer’s warranty and being in perfect mechanical working order.
