17 Seater Minibuses

17-seat minibuses (16 passengers plus driver) are full-sized minibuses, with the maximum number of passenger seats available.

17-seater minibuses are the largest available. Those with wheelchair access can be driven on a car licence.

The Ford Transit is the UK’s only factory-built minibus, it has a GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) of 4250 kg and requires D1 entitlement to drive.

‘Lightweight’ 17-seat minibuses such as the Peugeot Boxer or Citroen Relay have been converted and adapted to include wheelchair access. This means that with a Section 19 Permit they can be driven on a standard B1 car licence, conditions apply.

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What’s included when leasing a 17-seater minibus from Rivervale Minibus

Low initial payment
UK wide delivery
Road fund licence included
Free app and course to help you manage your minibuses

Standard logo and livery
Regular services and MOTs with a fully-maintained contract
Breakdown cover for the term of the contract
A dedicated Account Manager

A video introduction to the Ford Transit 17-seat minibus

The Ford Transit 17-seater minibus includes

Parking sensors
High definition reversing camera
Automatic side step
Plenty of headroom in the passenger cab
Comfy seats with plenty of leg room
USB power sockets and cup holders
3-point seat belts with height adjustments
Quick clear windscreen
Blind spot monitoring
ADAS Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Sync 4 infotainment system with wireless Appleplay
Choice of Leader of Trend specifications

Who can drive a 17-seater minibus?

If you are operating under a Section 19 Permit, drivers without D1 entitlement can drive 9-16 passenger minibuses provided:

They are not being paid to do so (they may receive out-of-pocket expenses)
Journeys are for social purposes only
The GVW of the vehicle is not over 3.5 tonnes for diesel, 4.25 tonnes for electric. There is an additional allowance of 750kg for specialist equipment.
They are over 21
They have been driving for more than 2 years
They do not drive abroad
They do not tow a trailer
Drivers over 70 years of age must satisfy the D1 medical requirements.

Drivers who have D1 entitlement, whether full or inherited, can be paid to drive under a Section 19 Permit.

The responsibility to ensure your drivers have the correct licence for the vehicle they are driving lies with you.

who can drive a 17 seater minibus - image of teachers and children

Common 17 seater minibus FAQs

Can you drive a 17-seat Ford Minibus on a car licence?Lucy Lavers2026-08-24T11:59:10+00:00

Can you drive a 17-seat Ford Minibus on a car licence?

No, you need D1 entitlement to drive a Ford Transit 17-seat minibus as it has a GVW of 4.6 tonnes.

There are two types of D1 entitlement.

Full D1 entitlement, where you have completed the D1 theory and practical driving tests. A full D1 is required if you are driving for an organisation with an Operator’s licence
Inherited D1 entitlement. If you passed your driving test before January 1st 1997, you will have D1 (101) on the back of your licence. This means you can drive a 9-16 seat passenger minibus

If drivers have D1 entitlement on their licence, they can be paid to drive under a Section 19 Permit.

What is D1 and inherited D1 entitlement?Lucy Lavers2026-08-18T18:45:18+00:00

What is D1 and inherited D1 entitlement?

To drive a minibus over certain weights (3.5 tonnes for diesel, 4.25 tonnes for electric – with an additional 750kg allowance for specialist equipment) or/and be paid to do so, you need to have D1 on your driving licence.

There are two types of D1 entitlement.

Full D1 entitlement, where you have completed the D1 theory and practical driving tests. A full D1 is required if you are driving for an organisation with an Operator’s licence
Inherited D1 entitlement. If you passed your driving test before January 1st 1997, you will have D1 (101) on the back of your licence. This means you can drive a 9-16 seat passenger minibus (and be paid to do so, under a Section 19 Permit).

Is there a 17-seat electric minibus?Lucy Lavers2026-08-24T11:50:43+00:00

Is there a 17-seat electric minibus?

Currently (Aug 2026) the largest capacity electric minibuses on the UK market is 16 seats. Both the Ford eTransit and the MAXUS eDeliver9 have 15 passenger seats plus the driver. The advantage of these larger electric minibuses is that because of a change in UK legislation, they can be driven on a standard car licence (conditions apply).

Can you remove the wheelchair ramp from a lightweight minibus?Lucy Lavers2026-08-24T11:51:14+00:00

Can you remove the wheelchair ramp from a lightweight minibus?

You can not remove the wheelchair access ramp from a lightweight minibus. The additional weight allowance for that vehicle is only for the specialist equipment, so it needs to stay in the minibus. You need to also ensure that anyone using the ramp is trained to do so, and that the equipment is kept in working order.

What is a lightweight minibus?Lucy Lavers2026-08-24T11:51:58+00:00

What is a lightweight minibus?

Lightweight minibuses are 17-seat minibuses that can be driven on a standard car licence (conditions apply), because the addition of specialist equipment for wheelchair passengers allows the use of the additional weight allowance of 750kg.

The Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Relay are both lightweight minibuses that can be driven on a car licence.

They are also sometimes called B1 minibuses.

What vehicle maintenance is required by Section 19 Permit?Lucy Lavers2026-05-28T12:11:08+00:00

What vehicle maintenance is required by Section 19 Permit?

You are required to maintain a roadworthy vehicle under a Section 19 Permit this includes

Regular services as recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer
Annual MOTs from year 1
Minibus Safety Inspections every 6-10 weeks depending on the age of your minibus
Daily or pre-journey walk around checks

You need to keep a rolling 6 month maintenance plan and all records for at least 15 months

Ongoing costs and maintenance

If you lease a brand new 12-seater minibus with a funder-maintained contract, that will include MOTs, regular services, and breakdown cover, so you will pay a flat- fee per month. If you decide to go for an owner-maintained contract, then you will need to find budget for the maintenance on top of the inital and monthly payments.

Safety Inspections are also required every 6-10 weeks, depending on the age and usage of your minibus.

Recommended training

We recommend that anyone driving a minibus completes regular driving training. This could include MiDAS which is every 4 years, Rivervale’s Minibus Management Course, and some form of practical assessment.

Driver Training Options

Leasing options

There are three choices when it comes to 17-seater minibuses to lease from new or outright purchase, new or used.

Ford Transit 17-seat minibus

The UK’s most popular choice for comfort and reliability, the Ford Transit is the premium choice. Requires D1 to drive.

Ford Transit 17-seat

Peugeot Boxer 17-seat lightweight minibus

The 17-seat Boxer is practical and reliable. Wheelchair accessible and a steady workhorse for everyday use. No D1 required to drive (conditions apply).

Peugeot Boxer

Citroen Relay 17-seat lightweight minibus

Similar to the Peugeot Boxer, the Relay is an entry-level 17-seat minibus with wheelchair access that can be driven on a car licence (conditions apply).

Citroen Relay