What are your top priorities when buying a minibus? Minibuses have a different purpose to passenger cars and should be purchased with that purpose along with the obvious considerations of reliability, economy and comfort in mind.
Buying a used minibus is slightly different to buying a second-hand car especially if used for commercial purposes. Of course there are the same pre-purchase checks to do that you would do with any second-hand vehicle, such as checking for collision damage, engine, transmission, steering and brakes but for a minibus, I would add these to the list...
- Purpose of the minibus: was it previously used for
the same purpose as you will use it? If it was used
as an airport shuttle bus, will it be used for that
purpose again? Changing a vehicle's use may require
structural changes.
- Age of the minibus: obviously the older the vehicle,
the more the wear and tear but also buying a used minibus
less than five years old gives you the opportunity to
get replacement insurance should it be involved in a
write-off.
- Reliability: if you are buying a minibus to transport
people or for rental, you will probably want to look
at Mercedes minibuses such as the Vito or an LDV Convoy.
Both are reliable and come in diesel versions and have
good mileage - a necessity in today's economy.
- Size: if the minibus will carry more than eight people
for hire or reward, it must have a Certificate of Initial
Fitness (COIF). If the vehicle does not already have
a certificate, it will need to be inspected and approved
before you sign on the dotted line.
- Tachograph: if you will be using the minibus for commercial
reasons, there are certain EU rules that must be observed
such as driving hours. A tachograph must be installed
to monitor mileage and hours driven.
It is also important to remember that a PSV operator licence is necessary to transport people if the minibus is equipped to carry eight or more passengers.
Add these five items to your list of considerations when you go to buy your second-hand vehicle - whether you're planning to
buy a Mercedes, Ford transit or LDV minibus.
Types of Organisations Which May Benefit by Purchasing a Minibus
A Minibus is a versatile vehicle that can be used by many different types of
businesses and organisations. They come in a variety of different sizes and
can be customised to fit many differing needs. Minibuses are a dependable way
to transport a group of people safely to their destination.
Minibuses are ideal for transporting children to and from school activities.
They are a big asset to school clubs, because a large number of kids can be
transported in one vehicle. That way you don’t have to spend extra time
and trouble rounding up a variety of vehicles and people to drive your school
club to and from activities.
If you own any type of transportation or shuttle service a minibus is an economical
way to get your passengers to and from their destination in a timely manner.
There are different sizes of minibuses that offer anywhere from 9 to 17 seats
for carrying passengers. You can use these vehicles for running a shuttle service
to and from the airport or if you have a taxi or car service. They are great
for tour companies and also for cross country travel.
Minibuses are perfect for businesses that are provide private hire driver services.
They are great for getting passengers to weddings, corporate events, and other
special occasions. Private hire minibuses are very popular and their services
are in high demand for many different events.
Minibuses give you ample room to carry passengers and their luggage without
compromising comfort. They are designed and built especially to carry more weight
safely and comfortably. Most minibuses allow you to remove rear seats so you
can get the seating configurations you need for your specific business. The
seats can also be moved to accommodate wheelchairs. Many manufacturers now offer
the option of wheelchair tracks as well as wheelchair ramps and lifts when ordering
your minibus. Companies and local authorities that provide a service for disabled
people - whether it is taking them to and from medical appointments or to run
errands - will most definitely need a wheelchair
accessible minibus for this purpose.
A minibus can be a great asset to almost all types of business. They allow
you to carry many passengers at one time in a comfortable and safe environment.
Using a minibus can cut down on the cost of having to maintain multiple vehicles.
It is a practical way to transport passengers no matter what type of business
you have.
Click the link to see the full range of Ford Minibuses, Mercedes Minibuses, IVECO and other minibus makes and models that we currently have for sale...
We are situated in Gower Street, Sheffield, Yorkshire, S4 7JW
Tel: 01142 757076 :: Mobile: 07966 139669
