{"id":3296,"date":"2022-06-23T13:12:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-23T13:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"\/blog\/?p=3296"},"modified":"2026-09-23T00:33:37","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T00:33:37","slug":"top-tips-before-hiring-a-minibus-in-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/fleet\/top-tips-before-hiring-a-minibus-in-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know before hiring a minibus in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"487\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/20\/2022\/06\/mini-bus-rental-australia-1024x487.jpg\" alt=\"Mini Bus Van Hire\n\" class=\"wp-image-4302 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/20\/2022\/06\/mini-bus-rental-australia-1024x487.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/20\/2022\/06\/mini-bus-rental-australia-300x143.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/20\/2022\/06\/mini-bus-rental-australia-768x365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/sites\/20\/2022\/06\/mini-bus-rental-australia.jpg 1050w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/487;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Preparing for a girls weekend? Booking a stag do? Taking the entire family away on a holiday? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Whatever the reason, hiring a minibus is a great way to bring a big group of people together without having to organise multiple drivers or hire several cars.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That said, most people don\u2019t cruise around in a minibus usually, so it\u2019s only natural to have a few questions about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/fleet\/truck\/bus-hire\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">hiring and driving a people mover with SIXT<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are your questions answered!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How many people can you fit in a minibus?&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are many makes and models of minibuses available, including the Toyota Commuter and Toyota Hiace, but whichever model you rent, when you book with SIXT you\u2019ll receive one of Australia\u2019s most popular and reliable minibuses.<\/span> These models comfortably seat twelve people including the driver, so you&#8217;ll have room for eleven passengers plus whoever&#8217;s behind the wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If a 12-seat minibus isn&#8217;t quite the right fit, SIXT hires out a range of group vehicles to match your party size:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Vans for smaller groups.<\/strong> For groups of around 6, a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/van-rental\/\"> van<\/a> can be the simpler choice, and like the minibus, it&#8217;s drivable on a standard car licence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>25-seat buses for larger groups.<\/strong> For bigger parties, SIXT also offers<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/fleet\/truck\/bus-hire\/\"> larger buses seating up to 25<\/a>. These sit beyond a standard car licence, so you&#8217;ll need a driver with the appropriate licence, typically a Light Rigid (LR) licence or higher depending on the vehicle&#8217;s weight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not sure which size suits your group? Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/rental-guide\/australia-branches\/\">local SIXT location<\/a> can help you match the right vehicle to your numbers and luggage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How much does it cost to hire a minibus?&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The cost of your minibus hire will depend on the time of year, the location where you pick it up and drop it off, and how long you\u2019re looking to hire for.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As an approximate quote, you might expect to spend roughly $160 per day for a coach hire from a regional office, but be sure to request an exact quote from your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">local SIXT location<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for a much more accurate idea of what you may spend.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">And keep in mind that this cost is almost certainly cheaper than renting two or more cars separately!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Do I need a special licence to drive a minibus?&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No special licence needed. In Australia, a standard (full) car licence, Class C, lets you drive a minibus that seats up to 12 people including the driver and weighs under 4.5 tonnes. A SIXT 12-seater sits comfortably within both limits, so the car licence you already hold is all you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The one thing to know is that the &#8220;12 seats&#8221; includes the driver, so it&#8217;s eleven passengers plus you. If you ever need to carry more than that, a larger 13 or 14-seat vehicle would require a Light Rigid (LR) licence instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Note that any drivers must be aged at least 21, and for any drivers aged 21 to 24, there will be an additional daily surcharge for any rentals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What safety tips should I know about driving a minibus?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Driving a minibus is mostly very similar to driving any other standard vehicle, but there are a few safety tips to keep in mind to be extra diligent.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Allow more room to stop<\/strong>. With up to twelve people and their luggage on board, a minibus is heavier than most vehicles you&#8217;re used to, so it takes longer to slow down. Follow at a safe distance, brake well before corners, and keep to the speed limits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manage the distractions.<\/strong> With a full load of passengers, it&#8217;s easy to get pulled into the chatter, especially if you usually drive in peace and quiet. Focus on the road while you&#8217;re moving, and join in on the fun once you&#8217;ve stopped.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Check your blind spots.<\/strong> Blind spots on a minibus sit differently to a normal car. Before you set off, adjust your rear and wing mirrors for your height, and always double-check the blind spots before turning or changing lanes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ready to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/fleet\/truck\/bus-hire\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">book your minibus<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and get started on your Australian adventure? Lock in your rental with SIXT so you can start planning your itinerary and road trip playlist<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SIXT has other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/truck\/\">commercial vehicles to rent<\/a>. Browse our entire fleet to find the vehicle for your needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"text-align:center;margin: 24px 0\">\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sixt.com.au\/fleet\/truck\/bus-hire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" style=\"display: inline-block;background-color: #FF5F00;color: #ffffff;font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 18px;font-weight: 700;letter-spacing: 0.5px;text-decoration: none;text-transform: uppercase;padding: 16px 48px;border-radius: 999px\">\n    Book Now\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Preparing for a girls weekend? Booking a stag do? Taking the entire family away on a holiday? Whatever the reason, hiring a minibus is a great way to bring a big group of people together without having to organise multiple drivers or hire several cars.&nbsp; That said, most people don\u2019t cruise around in a minibus&#8230;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":4302,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[133],"class_list":["post-3296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fleet","category-tips","tag-bus","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What to know before hiring a minibus in Australia | SIXT Bus Rental<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking to hire a minibus in Australia? 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