{{Short description|12-to-30-seat passenger-carrying motor vehicle}} {{Distinguish|Minivan|Midibus}} {{Redirect|Microbus|the VW Microbus|Volkswagen Type 2}} {{Redirect|Handy Bus|the 1990s British bus model|Wright Handybus}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} [[File:Jumper Distribus (cropped).jpg|thumb|Citroën Jumper minibus in France]] [[File:Dutro110SDMicrobusRS.JPG|thumb|Hino Dutro 110SD 12-seater microbus in Indonesia]] [[File:Minibus Iveco.jpg|thumb|Cacciamali Urby (built on Iveco Daily chassis) in Rijeka, Croatia]] [[File:KWK-010 Mikrotrans JAK.27 Suzuki New Carry.jpg|thumb|Minibus vehicle from Suzuki Carry used as public transportation of Transjakarta in Indonesia]]
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.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Vehicle Accessibility in Japan Today and the Outlook for the Future |last1=Akiyama |first1=Tetsuo |last2=Wahira |first2=Yoshihiro |last3=Kamata |first3=Minoru |last4=Fujii |first4=Naoto |date=2001 |journal=IATSS Research |volume=25 |pages=42–50 |doi=10.1016/S0386-1112(14)60005-4 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
==History== 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Negyesi |first1=Pal |title=The Role of the Ford Model T As a Bus in Central and Eastern Europe |url=https://ceautoclassic.eu/the-role-of-the-ford-model-t-as-a-bus-in-central-and-eastern-europe/ |work=CEAutoClassic |date=4 May 2020 |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref> Ford produced a version during the 1920s to carry up to twelve people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Henry the Model T Bus |url=https://www.highfieldspioneervillage.com.au/henry-the-model-t-bus |website=highfieldspioneervillage.com.au |access-date=17 February 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250413062158/https://www.highfieldspioneervillage.com.au/henry-the-model-t-bus |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1926 Ford Model TT 10 Seater Country Bus Chassis no. 14390021 Engine no. 14390021 |url=https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/10533/lot/205/ |website=bonhams.com |access-date=17 February 2023 |archive-date=17 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217135643/https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/10533/lot/205/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Car Ford Model T Station Bus 1919 for sale |url=https://www.prewarcar.com/453449-1919-ford-model-t-station-bus |website=PreWarCar |access-date=17 February 2023}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dashko |first=Dmitry |title=Юность. Автобус для избранных |publisher=ООО "ИПК Парето-Принт" |year=2013 |pages=19–21 |language=ru |trans-title=Youth. A bus for the elite}}</ref> Since September 1961, the RAF-977D "Latvia" minibus began to be mass-produced.<ref>{{cite web |title=Хроника: любимый «рафик» |url=https://www.zr.ru/content/news/353880-hronika_lubimyj_rafik/ |access-date=16 January 2025 |language=ru |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101162241/https://www.zr.ru/content/news/353880-hronika_lubimyj_rafik/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Regional variants== {{See also|Share taxi}}<!-- which some services are actually operating like minibus--> 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 Indonesia<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wijaya |first1=Suryani Eka |last2=Imran |first2=Muhammad |title=Moving the Masses: Bus-Rapid Transit (BRT) Policies in Low Income Asian Cities: Case Studies from Indonesia |publisher=Springer |date=25 February 2019 |isbn=978-981-13-2938-8 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Moving_the_Masses_Bus_Rapid_Transit_BRT/Qh2KDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&pg=PA76&printsec=frontcover |access-date=21 April 2026 |page=76 |quote=I needed to visit and connected to the city by derefulated minibuses called angkutan kota, or angkot. An angkot has a capacity of 12 passengers, although angkot always take more passengers at peak-hour rush times. Angkot have more than 38 routes throughout the city. The name of the route being taken is written at the front of ...}}</ref> * 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. * {{lang|tr|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
==Driving licence== 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)
=== France === 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What driver's licenses are required depending on the category of vehicle? |url=https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F12096?lang=en |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=www.service-public.gouv.fr |language=Fr}}</ref>
=== United Kingdom === 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).
=== United States === 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).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meck |first=David |date=2024-09-02 |title=Mini Bus Regulations and Policies: Regulations and policies affecting minibus operations in the USA - Nations Bus Sales |url=https://nationsbus.com/mini-bus-regulations-and-policies/,%20https://nationsbus.com/mini-bus-regulations-and-policies |access-date=2026-04-25 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=George |first=Bryan |date=2015-01-08 |title=Shuttle Bus Drivers License Requirements - Carpenter Bus Sales |url=https://www.carpenterbus.com/senior-care-bus-articles/shuttle-buses-and-drivers-licenses-what-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=Carpenter Bus |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Classes A, B, and C {{!}} SCDMV |url=https://dmv.sc.gov/driver-services/commercial-licenses/classes-a-b-and-c |access-date=2026-04-25 |website=dmv.sc.gov}}</ref>
=== Ontario, Canada === 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: * [http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/dandv/driver/classes.shtml 11 tonnes maximum authorized mass, including trailers with 4.6 tonnes MAM]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/recreational-vehicles/frequently-asked-questions.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703090248/http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/recreational-vehicles/frequently-asked-questions.shtml |url-status=unfit |title=Licence Change for Operators of Recreational Vehicles |archive-date=3 July 2011}}</ref> 6 tonnes MAM in certain cases) * passenger seating capacity of [https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003448/http://www.drivetest.ca/EN/licencing/Pages/Licencing-Requirements.aspx 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/tp-tp2436-rs200808-menu-202.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203064624/http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/tp-tp2436-rs200808-menu-202.htm |url-status=unfit |title=Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>
==See also== {{Commons category|Minibuses}} * Cutaway van chassis * Volkswagen Transporter * Share taxi
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Buses}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Buses by type Category:Minibuses