Renting a minibus for 15 people with driver: costs, vehicles and examples
A minibus with driver for 15 people costs EUR 600 to 750 per day, or EUR 550 to 650 for half a day. What determines the price, when a minibus becomes too small or the distance too long and why the licence settles the question of driving yourself.
The short answer
A minibus with driver for 15 people costs EUR 600 to 750 per day in Germany, including driver and VAT. A half-day tour of four to six hours comes to EUR 550 to 650. Depending on distance and duration that is EUR 37 to 50 per person – usually less than three cars with fuel and parking, and nobody in the group has to drive.
The driver is always included in the price. Here we explain what moves the price up or down, which vehicle really fits 15 people and when a minibus becomes too small.
Your price for 15 people in 30 seconds
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Which bus fits 15 people?
Minibus: 8 to 17 seats
For 15 people the minibus is the vehicle of choice. Common models offer between 8 and 17 seats, usually with air conditioning, individual seats and room for hand luggage. That is plenty for day trips, celebrations and club outings – with large suitcases it gets tight at full occupancy, because luggage space is limited on most minibuses.
If you travel with a lot of luggage, for example for a weekend with an overnight stay, mention it in your request. Some operators have minibuses with a trailer or a separate luggage compartment.
What about 18 to 20 people?
This is where it matters: a minibus has at most 17 seats. From 18 people you need a small coach, and that costs more – typically from EUR 1,100 per day. Anyone looking for a minibus for 20 people will not find one that takes everyone. So the honest answer is: for 20 people you are in a small coach, at roughly EUR 55 to 90 per person.
If your group sits right on this line, check whether everyone is really coming. With 17 instead of 20 people you often save several hundred euros.
What determines the price
Half day or full day
Rental duration is the biggest lever. A transfer to a party and back at night – with waiting time in between – is calculated differently from a day tour of 300 kilometres. Many operators work with a base price for the first hours and an hourly rate beyond that.
Distance
Fuel, wear and driver wages rise with the kilometres. A trip to the surrounding area (up to 100 km) sits at the lower end of the range, a journey of more than 250 kilometres at the upper end. From around 450 kilometres or more than nine hours of driving time a second driver is required by law – that adds EUR 200 to 350 and is rare on minibus tours, but quite possible on day trips across the country.
Day of the week and season
Saturdays in May, June and September are the most expensive dates – weddings, club outings and school trips compete for the same vehicles. A Tuesday in November is considerably cheaper. If your date is flexible, request both options.
Waiting time and empty runs
If the bus waits for you on site, for example during a restaurant visit, most operators charge EUR 40 to 60 per hour. Then there is the empty run: the bus has to travel from the operator's base to you and back afterwards. An operator from your region is therefore almost always cheaper than one 80 kilometres away – on Busly you can see directly where the bus company is based.
Minibuses on long distances: an honest limitation
The minibus is supposedly the cheaper alternative – but not the better one for every trip. Two reasons that tend to get lost in price comparisons:
Comfort. Over 300 kilometres of motorway you clearly notice the difference to a coach: less legroom, no toilet on board, hardly any space to move. If you want to arrive fresh – at a company event, a trade fair, a tournament – you travel better in a coach. For extra legroom there are VIP coaches with fewer seats and more space.
Availability. Many bus companies use their minibuses every day for school and senior transport. For a long day trip those vehicles are simply not available in the schedule – and because operators want their guests to travel comfortably, they often do not offer a minibus for such distances at all, but a coach straight away.
The practical tip: if a coach would also work for you, say so in the description of your request. Then operators can offer both, and you see the actual price difference instead of waiting for a minibus offer that will not come for this route.
Three example calculations
Birthday party: pick-up, transfer to the venue, back at night (2 × 30 km) Minibus for 15 people, two journeys with a five-hour break in between. → Guide price: EUR 550–650, i.e. EUR 37–43 per person
Club outing to the surrounding area (120 km, day tour) Minibus for 15 people, departure in the morning, return in the early evening, bus waits on site. → Guide price: EUR 600–700, i.e. EUR 40–47 per person
Company outing to the next big city (2 × 90 km) Minibus for 15 employees, outbound in the morning, return in the evening, no waiting time on site. → Guide price: EUR 600–700, i.e. EUR 40–47 per person
Renting a minibus for 15 people without a driver?
Many people look for a minibus without a driver to save money by driving themselves. There is a clear limit: with a standard category B car licence you may drive vehicles with no more than eight passenger seats – a 9-seater including yourself. For 15 people you need category D1, which hardly anyone outside the bus industry holds.
So for 15 people the question answers itself in practice: a professional drives. On Busly we only arrange vehicles with a driver – the driver's wage is included in the price, and all of you can join the party.
How to get a good offer
- State the exact number of people. Between 15 and 18 people decides whether a minibus is enough or a coach is needed – and that is a jump in price.
- Plan times realistically. Waiting time costs money. If the bus can leave in between and come back later, say so.
- Request early. Four to six weeks of lead time is a good rule of thumb, more on weekends in high season.
- Stay regional. The closer the bus company, the shorter the empty run.
On Busly you get an instant price estimate with your request and then offers from verified bus companies in your region. Many standard tours can be booked directly at a fixed price.
Conclusion
A minibus with driver for 15 people costs EUR 600 to 750 per day, or EUR 550 to 650 for half a day. The price depends mainly on duration, distance and date. From 18 people you move into a small coach – so state the number of people precisely. And the question of driving yourself is settled by the licence: from nine people, a professional drives.
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Frequently asked questions
A minibus with driver for 15 people costs EUR 600–750 per day, or EUR 550–650 for a half-day tour of 4–6 hours. That is EUR 37–50 per person. The driver is included in the price.
A minibus is not enough for 20 people – it has at most 17 seats. From 18 people you need a small coach, which costs from around EUR 1,100 per day, i.e. EUR 55–90 per person.
A minibus for 12 people sits in the same price range as for 15: EUR 600–750 per day, EUR 550–650 for half a day. Since the bus price is not charged per seat, the per-person price rises to EUR 50–63 for smaller groups.
Only to a limited extent. On long motorway journeys you miss legroom, a toilet and space to move, and many operators do not offer a minibus for such trips at all because the vehicles are needed for school and senior transport. For long distances a coach is the better choice – mention in your request that it would work for you.
In practice, no: with a category B licence you may only drive vehicles with up to eight passenger seats. For 15 people you need category D1. On Busly, minibuses are therefore always arranged with a professional driver – included in the price.
A minibus offers 8 to 17 seats, depending on the model. For 18 people or more, a coach with 18 to 53 seats is the right choice.
EUR 600–750 per day for day tours, EUR 550–650 for 4–6 hours. It gets more expensive on long distances (from around 450 km a second driver is mandatory), on weekends in high season and with long waiting times on site (EUR 40–60 per hour).