Coach or minibus: which do you need for your excursion?
Going on a trip and trying to decide between a coach and a minibus? Explore your options in our guide.
Sometimes, you need to get more than a car's worth of people from A to B. You could be off on a corporate away day, a school trip or a special occasion. You could be taking your band on tour. Whatever the reason, the question soon arises: coach or minibus?
There's no single answer to this question. It all depends on a selection of factors. These include the number of people on the trip, the duration of the journey, the amount of luggage you're taking and how far your budget can stretch.
In many ways, the difference is slight. The main reason to choose a minibus over a coach, for instance, is that you get a similar service for a lower price rather than any huge difference in your experience of the trip.
But before we look more closely at these deciding factors, let's answer this: why should you hire a coach or minibus in the first place?
Why hire a coach or minibus?
At MVH Rental, we believe coach and minibus hire is a cost-effective, flexible and fun way to make a journey.
Like all vehicle hire, it allows you to use a vehicle that's normally beyond your budget. It gives you the flexibility to make a single trip without tying yourself down with MOTs, insurance and other expenses.
It's also environmentally friendly. Getting a small to large group into a coach or minibus produces far fewer emissions than taking separate car journeys.
Finally, a coach or minibus gives you plenty of storage space. This is ideal if you need to carry gear as well as people.
What's the difference between a coach and a minibus?
The key difference between a coach and a minibus is the number of passengers it can carry.
A minibus will typically seat between 7 and 17 people. Coaches can seat upwards of 17 people. A large National Express-style coach seats 87 people. The largest ever coach was the Neoplan Jumbocruiser, seating 170. Crikey!
This leads us to the most important factor in your decision: how many people do you need to carry? If it's between 4 and 17 people, a minibus is the way to go. If, however, you need to carry more than 17, it's coach o'clock.
How long is the trip?
Both minibuses and coaches can travel long distances. However, the spaciousness of coaches often makes them a favoured choice for long journeys. It can be tempting to pay extra for a coach on the grounds that it will quieten the chorus of "Are we nearly there yet?"
More often than not, however, the difference is slight. When it comes to legroom, the difference between a coach and a minibus is horses for courses. Whether it's a stag party or a school bus, minibuses provide a comfy ride.
The main deciding factor, then, isn't comfort – it's your budget. And nine times out of 10, a minibus will suit your purposes at a more affordable rate than a coach.
What's your budget?
If you work with a reputable firm, both coaches and minibuses can be cost-effective options. But there's no getting around the fact that minibuses are more cost-effective for the simple reason that they carry fewer passengers.
This means that minibuses are the perfect option if you're looking to make your travel pound stretch that little bit further.
However, you should also consider who's paying for the journey. If you share the cost among the group, you may find that the cost of a coach is an affordable option. It's similar to how a taxi trip with the cost split between three or four passengers can work out cheaper than multiple bus fares.
Who's going to drive?
You can also make savings by hiring a vehicle and providing your own driver. However, with both coaches and minibuses, there are rules to be followed. These can be found on the
government website.
One point to take into account is that you may be able to drive a minibus so long as it's not for
"hire or reward". This refers to a trip where there's no money changing hands.
Your driving licence can also be a sticking point.
A common-or-garden full category B licence will allow you to drive just about any kind of minibus. However, to drive a coach, you'll need a special category D licence.
And a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). Oh, and you'll also need to pass a medical assessment.
Easy, right? Not exactly. Your mate Paul isn't going to be driving that coach anytime soon – you'll need a professional driver with professional qualifications. If you want to hire a coach, you'll need to factor this into your budget.
Is comfort a priority?
Your final consideration is comfort. If you hire from the right place, both minibuses and coaches can be comfortable. But the key difference is that minibuses tend to be on the no-frills side whereas coaches are fitted with more amenities. And as we said, coaches are also on the roomier side.
If you're happy with a comfy seat and basic amenities like air-con, a minibus will do the job nicely. If you're after plenty of legroom and more sophisticated amenities, a coach could be a better choice. But be warned – it's going to cost you.
As so often in life, you'll need to balance comfort and luxury against your budget. Whatever your budget, however, there's no reason why you shouldn't travel in comfort.
What are speed limiters?
If a minibus has been registered since 1 October 2005, it must be fitted with a speed limiter. This is a legal requirement. It limits the speed of the minibus to 62 miles per hour.
Meanwhile, coaches first used after 1 January 1988 that weigh more than 7.5 tonnes need a speed limiter set to 65 miles per hour.
This requirement only applies to certain vehicles. For a comprehensive list of speed limits, see the government's
guide.
Final thoughts
Whatever the excursion, coaches and minibuses are a great choice for transporting a larger group. They save you money and cut your emissions – a dictionary definition of "win-win" if ever we heard one. We hope this article helps you decide which option is best for you.
At MVH Rental, we hire out minibuses to a wide range of customers in the northeast of England. If you're looking for a high-quality
minibus rental, give us a call on (0191) 4888 700. We'll have you on the road in no time!
All Rights Reserved | Metro Vehicle Hire