450 miles in minibus = £?? diesel?

VTR · 21 Oct 2010 at 14:33

Agreed to take 16 of the boys to see the football next week and it's going to be a round trip of 450 miles in a minibus (Swansea - Wigan).

Roughly how much is this going to cost me in diesel?

They're giving me £400 for doing the trip, £98 to rent the minibus but not sure how much diesel is going to set me back?

deus3x · 21 Oct 2010 at 14:42

£90 at a guess?

Bat · 21 Oct 2010 at 14:42

I'd say roughly £115. I reckon you'd be looking at about 20MPG. Roughly £5/gallon.

450x5/20=112.5

You did say roughly

Bill101 · 21 Oct 2010 at 14:48

Check out the small print on hiring a 17 seater first, Some insist on a high minimum age

to hire a 17 seat minibus you must have category D1 on your licence and held a full licence for a period of at least two years. If you passed your test after 1 January 1997 you would not be given this category.Minibus hire - driver age requirements. Drivers must be aged over 30 yrs and under 70 yrs.

Dangerous Dave · 21 Oct 2010 at 14:54

A transit based minibus will do around 25mpg on a run.

If you have passed your test post 97 you can only drive a minibus if you are not doing it for reward unless you have sat the D1 test however I found very few rental companies will rent you a minibus in these circumstances.

Peerzy · 21 Oct 2010 at 14:57

I've got my minibus test coming up, our ones hold about 20 people. Apparently you just get a little certificate and nothing changes on your DL though? This is all for work?

Gribs · 21 Oct 2010 at 14:58

Dangerous Dave said:
A transit based minibus will do around 25mpg on a run.

That seems low. They're not minibuses but the lwb transits at work manage just over 30mpg on average and they tend to be driven fairly hard and well loaded.

[TW]Fox · 21 Oct 2010 at 14:59

You will make a considerable profit here therefore unless you have taken an additional test your license does not allow you to drive on this trip.

Muncher · 21 Oct 2010 at 15:38

We spent £275 on fuel for the 3 peaks covering 1,300 miles.
therefore I think you would spend £180-190 on fuel.

touch · 21 Oct 2010 at 17:05

Muncher said:
We spent £275 on fuel for the 3 peaks covering 1,300 miles.
therefore I think you would spend £180-190 on fuel.

I think your maths is a bit out there?

£275/1300 miles = 21 pence per mile

450 miles at 21p/mile = £95

Muncher · 21 Oct 2010 at 17:27

Ah sorry, didn't spot it was a round trip of 450.

VTR · 22 Oct 2010 at 09:06

Cheers for the advice. I'm 24 and passed my test when I was 18, if I wasn't to do this for a profit then I am legally covered to drive the minibus? It's Days rental that I rang, they booked it in fine for me and didn't ask age or whether it was for profit etc

Bill101 · 22 Oct 2010 at 10:27

VTR said:
Cheers for the advice. I'm 24 and passed my test when I was 18, if I wasn't to do this for a profit then I am legally covered to drive the minibus? It's Days rental that I rang, they booked it in fine for me and didn't ask age or whether it was for profit etc

Well they say on thier website.......

Minibus (9 seats and over, including the drivers) and Camper Vans
Hirers/ Drivers must be aged 25 or over

AND you need the D1 on your licence. So it looks unlikely that you will be making a profit anyway

lozza23_uk · 22 Oct 2010 at 12:11

You will not need the D1 unless it is for commercial purposes...i.e. making money from driving people around.

This is a slightly different position to be in, but it could be seen as a grey area. Taking profit etc etc.

And...you will struggle to get insurance under 25, we frequently use a minibus for the band touring...never got insurance under 25 for a reasonable cost. Hire companies would be better to ask as they will provide the answer quicker than it has taken to write this sentence.

And...the last bus we had was limited to 60. Annoying but the economy was the best ever experienced in such a vehicle. Still under 25mpg.

Just take the outlay costs from them, if any more is received as a donation then I think it would be fine.

Liquidfox · 22 Oct 2010 at 14:30

It seems lozza is correct. As long as you're over 21, and not driving for reward, you can drive a minibus with upto 16 passengers.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022619

lozza23_uk · 22 Oct 2010 at 15:56

I have done so much research into it in the past

However, getting insurance on a rental will be the tough bit under 25.

Gib_Gib · 22 Oct 2010 at 20:48

lozza23_uk said:
However, getting insurance on a rental will be the tough bit under 25.

You hit the nail on the head

http://www.daysrental.co.uk/age-limits.aspx

Minibus (9 seats and over, including the drivers) and Camper Vans
# Hirers/ Drivers must be aged 25 or over
# Must have held a full licence for at least 2 years

NB- Vehicles with less than 9 seats, including the driver's seat, are considered cars.

And they will check your licence, sorry, but you are out of luck

VTR · 23 Oct 2010 at 03:13

Cheers for the advice, lucky I checked as days asked no details when I booked . 25min age with days and need the d1 license for the 16 sestet unless you passed your license before 97'