Care & Community Minibuses

Whether you are running a community transport service, transporting multiple wheelchair users, or driving your residents for days out and shopping trips, we have the accessible minibuses, experience and training to help you find the right vehicle. If possible, we will bring a minibus to you for a demonstration, so you can see exactly what you’re getting and be confident it’s right for you.

You want to ensure all your passengers have safe, comfortable, and dignified journeys, whatever their needs.

There is more to an accessible minibus than a wheelchair ramp or lift. It is about finding a minibus that will enable your clients, residents, or passengers to feel relaxed, safe, and comfortable whilst in the minibus. Their challenges should not exclude them from feeling like valued passengers whose needs and concerns are paramount.

We will work with you to find the right accessible minibus for your organisation and offer MiDAS Accessible training to support your drivers and passenger assistants in creating a person-centered experience while dealing with the practicalities of safe wheelchair onboarding.

Introducing the Ford Transit 9-seat accessible minibus

There is a host of reasons that this minibus is a favourite in the care and community transport sector.  Technically considered a car, with 8 seated passengers plus driver, it can be driven on a standard car licence. It has comfortable seats that are easy to remove, making space in the back for up to three wheelchairs.

An inboard lift makes onboarding effortless for your passengers with limited mobility, with room enough on the lift for larger wheelchairs and passenger assistants. Intuitive controls, excellent visibility, and advanced safety systems to help your drivers stay safe make this minibus a top choice.

When choosing a new minibus for your care home or community transport company, there are options and choices you might need to make. There is nothing like seeing a minibus in the flesh to understand what it is your passengers will (or won’t) need. Where we can, we will bring a demonstration vehicle to you so you can ask us as many questions as you need. We hope that you will trust Rivervale Minibus to guide you through the process from initial enquiry to vehicle delivery and beyond.

Read our guide on buying a wheelchair accessible minibus  – it will give you a chance to think about what options you might require.

Minibus Safety Inspections are required every 6-10 weeks (depending on the age of your vehicle) to ensure your minibus is roadworthy; these are in addition to MOTs, regular services, and walk-around checks. Our engineers will come and complete these inspections at your premises, along with the required brake performance assessment.

Your drivers need regular training and MiDAS is a nationally recognised scheme for minibus drivers that consists of both a theory element and practical training. Lasting 4 years, your teachers/staff will benefit from learning the important differences in driving a minibus to a car, and benefit from 90 minutes practical training out on the road.

MiDAS Accessible is also available for schools/staff working with wheelchair passengers to improve the safety and dignity of all.

We are here to help and would love to talk through any aspect of getting your minibus