A minibus, microbus, or minicoach is a passenger carrying motor vehicle that is
designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but
fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, the word "minibus"
is used to describe any full-sized passenger carrying van. Minibuses have a
seating capacity of between 8 and 30 seats. Larger minibuses may be called
midibuses. Minibuses are typically front-engined step-entrance vehicles,
although low floor minibuses do exist. Usage
Minibuses are used for a variety of reasons. In a public transport role,
they can be used as fixed route transit buses, airport buses, flexible demand
responsive transport vehicles, share taxis or large taxicabs. Accessible
minibuses can also be used for paratransit type services, by local
authorities, transit operators, hospitals or charities. Private uses of
minibuses can include corporate transport, charter buses, tour buses.
Schools, sports clubs, community groups and charities may also use minibuses for
private transport. Individual owners may use reduced seating minibuses as cheap
recreational vehicles. Types
By size, microbuses are minibuses smaller than 8 metres long. Midibuses
are minibuses bigger than microbuses but smaller than plenibuses.
There are many different types and configurations of minibuses, due to
historical and local differences, and usage. Minibus designs can be classified
in three main groups, with a general increase in seating capacity with each
type: Van conversions. Simple, optional extras
Body builds Purpose built
= Van conversions = The most basic source of minibus is the
van conversion, where the minibus is derived by modifying an existing van
design. Conversions may be produced completely by the van manufacturer, sold
as part of their standard model line-up, or be produced by specialist conversion
companies, who source a suitably prepared base model from the van
manufacturer for final completion as a minibus.
Van conversions involve adding windows to the bodywork, and seating to the
cargo area. Van conversion minibuses outwardly look the same shape as the
parent van, and the driver and front passenger cabin remains unchanged,
retaining the driver and passenger doors. Access to the former cargo area
for passengers is through the standard van side sliding door, or the rear
doors. These may be fitted with step equipment to make boarding easier.
Optional extras to van converted minibuses can include the addition of a
rollsign for transit work, and/or a full-height walk-in door, for passenger
access to the former cargo area. For public transport use, this door may be
an automatic concertina type. For other uses, this may be a simple plug style
coach door. Depending on the relevant legislation, conversions may also
involve wheelchair lifts and tachograph equipment. A van conversion with a
passenger area in the front and a storage area in the back, behind a fixed
bulkhead, is called a splitter bus. Examples of vans used for these
conversion minibuses are: Ford Transit
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Toyota Hiace
Volkswagen Crafter = Body builds =
Another method of building a minibus is for a second stage manufacturer to build
a specific body for fitting to a semi-completed van or light truck
chassis. These allow a higher seating capacity than a simple van conversion.
Often, the second stage manufacturer is a bus manufacturer.
In a body-on-chassis minibus, a cabin body is installed on a van or light
truck chassis encompassing the drivers area. These designs may retain some
outward signs of the original van, such as the hood and grill. Other designs are
visually a complete bus design, and it is merely the chassis underneath that is
from the van design. The body-on-chassis approach gives the
advantage of higher seating capacity, or more room for passenger comfort, through
a larger cabin area. There is also the advantage of being able to have the
drivers seat positioned in a small cubicle, next to the main passenger
entrance, allowing the driver to collect fares in a transit bus role.
Examples of body built minibuses are: Busette
Optare CityPacer Plaxton Beaver
Examples of vehicles used for this type of minibuses are:
Ford Transit Freight Rover
Isuzu Elf locally built as the NQR bus = Purpose built =
A next generation approach to the van-derived or cutaway chassis approach,
is for manufacturers to produce an integral design, where the whole vehicle
is purposely designed and built for use as a minibus. This is usually done by an
integral bus manufacturer, although large automotive groups also produce
their own models. These designs are often available in long high capacity
versions, and may attract different designations, such as midibus, or light
bus. Examples of purpose built minibuses are:
Hino Liesse Isuzu Journey
MCW Metrorider Nissan Diesel RN
Nissan Civilian Mitsubishi Fuso Rosa
Toyota Coaster Karsan J9 Premier(Similar-looking
ancestor Peugeot J9 is a van conversion) Karsan J10
Hyundai County Daewoo Lestar
Renault Dodge S56 Low floor minibuses
Following the development of low-floor technology, some low-floor purpose built
minibuses have been created. Some offer a low floor access through a centre
door. Some short versions of low floor midibuses are sometimes also called
minibuses. Orion Bus Industries "Orion II"
Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Midi ME Optare Solo
Optare Alero Hino Poncho
Nissan Diesel RN Bluebird Tucana
Bluebird Auriga Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Driving licence Some countries may require an additional
class of driving licence over a normal private car licence, and some may
require a full commercial driver's licence. The need for such a licence may
depend on: Vehicle weight or size
Seating capacity Driver age
Intended usage Additional training
In the UK the following information regarding Minibus driving licences is
important: "The holder of an ordinary car driving licence which was obtained
prior to January 1997, once aged 21 years minimum, may drive a Minibus with
a capacity of 16 passengers. Where the "ordinary car driving licence" is
obtained after December 1996, they will have to take a separate test to drive a
vehicle with a capacity of more than 8 passengers. However, there is an
exemption for certain volunteer drivers, where the vehicle does not exceed 3500
kg GVW. Driving licence source A driving licence issued in Ontario,
Canada, for an equivalent of a UK class B or class B-auto driving licence,
allows its holder to drive vehicles with:
11 tonnes maximum authorized mass, including trailers with 4.6 tonnes MAM
passenger seating capacity of 9 or less Anyone wanting to drive a vehicle in
Ontario, with the same MAM limits as for class G vehicles, with fewer than 25,
but at least 10, passenger seats, must obtain a bus licence. This licence will
allow, for example, its holder to drive 12- and 15-passenger vans that Transport
Canada defines as large passenger vans. Gallery
See also