Choosing a 9 Seater Wheelchair Accessible Minibus

When you are hiring a minibus you can choose from the capacity of one to three wheelchairs, depending on your requirements. However, the number of wheelchairs you choose will have an impact on the remaining seating.

One wheelchair will have no impact on seating, so 9 seats plus a wheelchair. Two wheelchairs will reduce the remaining seating to seven seats (three front and four back). Three wheelchairs will reduce seating to just the front row of three seats in the driver’s cab.

Accessibility Features

At CVM World Rentals we believe in mobility for everyone, so we have developed a range of optional extras to assist everyone who uses one of our 9 seater wheelchair accessible minibuses. This begins with grab rails at both the service and side access doors to facilitate access. Grab rails are often combined with either a manual or electric step to further assist entry and exit. The main requirement is access to the 9 seater minibus for a wheelchair. Although manual ramps are available, most customers specify an onboard electric lift for wheelchair accessibility and additional restraints to ensure all occupants are safely held once onboard.

Seats can also be specified with grab handles, for easy movement once inside the minibus, and folding handrails which protrude outside the side door for ease of access while ascending either the manual or electric step.

Why Choose CVM World Rentals?

At CVM World Rentals we usually hold a wide range of vehicles for hire, but would always advise booking well in advance if you have a specific need to avoid disappointment. If you don’t know what you need, come and visit CVM World Rentals in Knypersley, Staffordshire.

When hiring from CVM World Rentals our knowledgeable Account Managers will assist you with your choice, and more importantly help you familiarise yourself and/or the driver with its operation. All our vehicles are comprehensively checked before they are hired or sold, and as we have usually built the vehicle, you can be assured of its quality and reliability. Our 9 seater wheelchair accessible minibuses for hire come with roadside breakdown cover, we can tailor pricing to mileage and in some cases deliver the vehicle.

Can I Drive a 9 Seater Wheelchair Accessible Minibus on a Driving Licence?

The simple answer is yes, you can. If you passed your test before 1997 you automatically have a D1 licence (which is required to drive a minibus in most circumstances). However, there are some exemptions which cover those who passed their test from 1997 onwards. In order to drive a minibus without a D1 licence you need to meet the following criteria:

• Aged over 21 years old.
• Held a full driving licence for more than two years (with no more than 6 points).
• Driving the minibus is not for profit or commercial gain.
• The entity for which you are driving the minibus is also a not-for-profit organisation.
• The max weight of the minibus is 3500kg or 4250kg with wheelchair access (e.g. lift and removal seats).

Please note that if the minibus is driven for profit or by a commercial organisation a PCV and PSV licence may be required.

Do I Need Any Other Training to Drive a Minibus?

When in control of a minibus or other passenger vehicle the driver is responsible for safety onboard. As a result, we would recommend drivers and those handling wheelchair access have taken suitable training and practiced to ensure they are comfortable in the following disciplines:

• Operating the minibus including the ramp.
• Escorting able and partially able persons on and off the minibus safely (always one hand on the rail).
• Handling a wheelchair on and off the ramp.
• The safety process for attaching restraints during the on/off procedure.
• Correctly fixing the restraints once the wheelchair access passenger is onboard.
• Ensure there is a first aid kit onboard.

Conclusion

At CVM World Rentals we offer 9 seater wheelchair accessible minibuses for hire across the UK. As the vehicle manufacturer, we offer type approved vehicles from the Stellantis group which includes Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat plus Ford, Maxus, Renault and Nissan.

Our Account Management team can help you select your accessible minibus for hire or sale, organise pick-up and delivery and every detail to make your experience seamless.