Editing Minibus

{{Distinguish|Minivan|Midibus}} {{Short description|Passenger-carrying motor vehicle (12–30 seats)}}
{{Redirect|Microbus|the VW Microbus|Volkswagen Type 2}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2023}}

[[File:WP9187 New Territories 806A 03-03-2020.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Toyota Coaster]] LPG green public minibus in [[Hong Kong]]]]
[[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 transport|public transportation]] in [[Indonesia]]]]

A '''minibus''', '''microbus''', or '''minicoach''' is a passenger-carrying [[motor vehicle]] that is designed to carry more people than a [[minivan|multi-purpose vehicle or minivan]], but fewer people than a [[bus|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 [[midibus]]es. Minibuses are typically front-engine step-in vehicles, although [[low floor]] minibuses are particularly 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}}</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}}</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}}</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:
*Microbus in Guatemala 
*[[Angkot]] in Indonesia
*[[Kuala Lumpur Mini-Bus Service|Bas Mini]] in Malaysia
*[[Chiva bus]] in Colombia and Ecuador
*[[Colectivo]] in southern South America
*Community bus (Japanese コミュニティバス ''komiunitibasu'') in Japan (Include minibus and [[midibus]])
*[[Dala dala]] in Tanzania
*[[Dollar van]] a.k.a. jitneys, in the United States.
*{{lang|tr|[[Dolmuş]]}} in Turkey
*Modern [[Jeepney]] in the Philippines
*Maeul-bus (Korean 마을버스) in South Korea
*[[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 bus]]es, in Hong Kong.
*[[Sherut]] in Israel
*[[Songthaew]] around Thailand and Lao
*[[Tap tap]] in Haiti
*[[Tro tro]] around Ghana
*[[Weyala]] in Ethiopia

==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)

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&nbsp;kg GVW (or 4250&nbsp;kg GVW if the vehicle is designed to be wheelchair accessible).

A driving licence issued in [[Ontario]], Canada, for an equivalent of a [[Uk driving license|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 bus licence. This will allow, for example, its holder to drive 12- and 15-passenger vans] that [[Transport Canada]] defines as large passenger vans.<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| ]]