Mini Bus Regulations

With minibuses in the UK the person driving it needs to have a particular license and to be over the age of 21 to be able to drive them legally. There are plenty of authority groups making sure that all drivers adhere to the regulations in place regarding licenses for the different vehicles this is especially in the case of vehicles such as minibuses because of the fact they will be carrying passengers as well as them selves. It is very important they have the right license and training because if not then they could not only be a danger to themselves and their passengers but the other road users around them.

As well as having different types of license they also have different MOT checks carried out on them to cars. The class of MOT testing that most minibuses have to take is the Class V which is a specialised test for that particular kind of vehicle. The reason they have different testing methods to other vehicles is because of the amount of people they can carry and the fact they are usually used over long distances.

Mini Bus MOT Checks

There are many areas of the vehicle that are checked in the MOT servicing and some of the areas that will be checked include;

• Brakes, tyres and wheels of a mini bus - These will be tested by the pressure of the tyres being taken then the tyres them selves are examined for the grip and wear etc. When the tyres have been checked over the wheel hubs are looked over to ensure that there is no corrossion or damage to the arch or the wheel holding.
• Checking the Lights of a Mini Bus - This includes all head lights, indicators and warning lights, the main reason for checking the lights and how well they function is for the safety issues. This means that the light fittings, wiring and bulbs are checked to ensure they all function correctly, and for example there are certain types of bulb that are to be used for particular models of car. Even the registration plate lights have to be checked over in the MOT testing because it is essential for the lights to illuminate the registration plate at night time especially.
• Exterior Checks on a Mini Bus - The exterior of the vehicle has to be checked over to make sure there is no corrosion or damage that may cause a safety issue. This is because if the vehicle is badly corroded then the chassis of the vehicle becomes weaker and would mean it wouldn't be as strong in the case of an accident.
• Inspecting Mini Bus Fuel systems - The fuel systems are examined to ensure there are no leaks and also to make sure the car is not expelling unusually large amounts of exhaust fumes. If there is a leak in the fuel system then it can prove to be a problem in the way that the fuel its self is exposed to the air and if there were to be a spark or flame then it could easily set on fire. If that were to happen then there would be a high possibility that the fuel tank would explode.

There are obviously other checks that are carried out on the vehicles and you should always make sure the person or company carrying out the service on your vehicle is fully qualified to do so. There are registered companies so you should make sure they have the registration before letting them even touch your vehicle.