Minibus

A minibus, microbus, minicoach, or short bus 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 or panel truck. Minibuses have a seating capacity of between 12 and 30. Larger minibuses may be called midibuses. Minibuses are usually front-engine vehicles with step-in access, though low-floor designs are especially common in Japan.¹

It is unknown when the first minibus vehicle was developed. For example, Ford Model T vehicles were modified for passenger transport by early bus companies and entrepreneurs.² Ford produced a version during the 1920s to carry up to twelve people.³⁴⁵

In the Soviet Union, the production of minibuses began in the mid-1950s, among the first mass-produced minibuses were the RAF-10, UAZ-451B, and Start.⁶ Since September 1961, the RAF-977D "Latvia" minibus began to be mass-produced.⁷

There are many different form of public transportation services around the world that are provided by using vehicles that can be considered as minibus:

• Angkot in Indonesia⁸
• Bas Mini in Malaysia
• Chiva bus in Colombia and Ecuador
• Colectivo in southern South America
• Dala dala in Tanzania
• Dollar van a.k.a. jitneys, in the United States.
• Dolmuş in Turkey
• Modern Jeepney in the Philippines
• Marshrutka in eastern Europe.
• Matatu around Kenya
• Minibus taxi in South Africa, Ethiopia, see also Taxi wars in South Africa
• Pesero, minibuses operating as regular buses in Mexico, especially in Mexico City.
• Public light buses, in Hong Kong.
• Sherut in Israel
• Songthaew around Thailand and Lao
• Tap tap in Haiti
• Tro tro around Ghana
• Weyala in Ethiopia
• Maxi-taxi in Trinidad and Romania

Some countries may require an additional class of driving licence over a normal private car licence, and some may require a full commercial driving licence. The need for such a licence may depend on:

• Vehicle weight or size
• Seating capacity
• Driver age
• Intended usage
• Additional training (such as the Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme in the UK)

In France, if the vehicle has more than 9 seats, a D permit is required. If there are between 9 and 17 seats, the driver must have a D1 permit.⁹

In the UK, 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 (or 4250 kg GVW if the vehicle is designed to be wheelchair accessible).

In the United States, if the vehicle has 15 or fewer passengers, no special license is required. If there are 16 or more passengers (including the driver), a commercial driver's license is required (the specific type varies by state).¹⁰¹¹¹²

A driving licence issued in Ontario, Canada, for an equivalent of a UK class B or class B-auto driving licence (in the case of Ontario, a class G licence), allows its holder to drive vehicles with:

• 11 tonnes maximum authorized mass, including trailers with 4.6 tonnes MAM¹³ 6 tonnes MAM in certain cases)
• 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 short bus licence (Class F in Ontario). This will allow, for example, its holder to drive 12- and 15-passenger vans] that Transport Canada defines as large passenger vans. A separate class of driving license (Class C) is required for full-size school buses and school buses.¹⁴