Ok - it’s nothing to do with trucks but there are knowledgable people here. Mods please move this if you want.
I am thinking of taking a family group to Spain in a PLG minibus. My first look at the regs suggest that so long as I take some seats out and make it a 9 seater, the Gendarmes and the PolicÃa will be happy with me calling it a big car. Am I right, or is there some EU rule I have missed?
unless the paperwork says it’s a 9-seater, in the eyes of the law it’s still more, than a 9-seater.
Is that true? Can anyone give a citation?
Does the V5 registered keepers form need to be taken when in the EU?
If yes then will that state what it is?
I bet member geebee45 could answer this …
Simple answer is; yes the original V5 needs to be taken on a journey outside the UK, along with originals of; driving licence (both parts if Photocard), insurance certificate and MOT. If the vehicle is not registered in your name get a letter from the registered keeper authorising you to drive vehicle abroad.
You will need to do a little more than simply remove the extra seats to bring the capacity down to 8 passenger seats plus the driver. Suggested technique is to drop a bolt through seat mounting hole and weld. This is because the wording of the EU drivers hours rules covers vehicles constructed or permanently adapted to carry more than 9 persons including the driver. Best get the V5 seating capacity changed as well, otherwise certain enforcement authorities may be taking a very close interest.
Are you going to hire this mini bus ? if so you will need to show your entitlement to the hire company before you drive off and change the seat configeration. Just a thought
oops never seen the post before mine
To be honest it is not the Polucia that will take notice unless there is an accident.
They tend to be local beat bobbies.
The main concern is the transit route while in Spain.
The Basque and Navara road traffic enforcement are famous for large court deposits that must be paid at the road side.
You may contest the fine at a later date at cost.
Then there is the Guarda Civil traffic unit.
Plus the Gendarmarie in France.
You could drive at night but there are stlll random stop checks in both countries.
They tend to lurk around at the peages or toll booths on motorways.
The bus belongs to a family member but I can’t get sight of the V ATM. From what I see it will be that that is the problem - If it says 12 seat minibus, then that’s what it is, even if there are only 9 seats.
I know that years ago I took my vw camper thru France and was classed as a full sized bus at the peages.
A very good post by Geebee45,that advise could save a lot of grief.To avoid France,there is the Bilbao or Santander ferry arriving at Northern Spain.
In the summer,the Muslim community travel from Europe to North Africa.
They take the whole contents of the house on the roof of a mini bus or van or tow trailers.
I have seen kitchen sinks,bath tubs,old tyres,bikes.
The authorities have mobile weigh mats as most are over weight.
If your licence has entitlement to drive a minibus then you can have up to 17 seats including the driver. As it’s not for hire and reward you will have no problems as long as you have all the correct paperwork.
As above provided people are not paying you ie hire and reward you can have up to 16 passengers on a mini bus
ND888 BIGJ:
As above provided people are not paying you ie hire and reward you can have up to 16 passengers on a mini bus
I do wish people wouldn’t state total ■■■■■■■■ as if it were fact.
GBPub:
If your licence has entitlement to drive a minibus then you can have up to 17 seats including the driver. As it’s not for hire and reward you will have no problems as long as you have all the correct paperwork.
No I don’t have a ‘D’ or ‘D1’ entitlement. The domestic rules are different to the international ones.