Renting a bus for 8 to 12 people: business van or minibus – costs with driver

The short answer

For 8 to 12 people the minibus with driver is the right vehicle. It costs EUR 600 to 750 per day, including driver and VAT, or EUR 550 to 650 for a half-day tour of four to six hours. For 10 people that is EUR 55 to 75 per head. Up to 6 people the smaller business van does the job – in the same price range, because the driver sets the price, not the vehicle size.

The driver is included in both cases. Which vehicle fits which group size, what moves the price and when driving yourself is actually allowed – all here.

Van or minibus: which vehicle fits?

Business van: up to 6 people

The business van is an executive people carrier with driver: comfortable individual seats, room for hand luggage, agile in the city. Ideal for business trips, airport transfers and small families. For 3 to 6 people it is the more comfortable vehicle – it is usually not cheaper than a minibus, because the driver costs the day. It is not built for more passengers.

Minibus: 7 to 17 people

From 7 people you are in a minibus. Common models have 8 to 17 seats, air conditioning and usually a small luggage compartment. For 8 to 12 people it is the standard solution: stag and hen parties, family celebrations, company outings, preschool trips with chaperones.

One detail that is often overlooked: with 12 people and large suitcases the boot of a minibus gets tight. 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 a minibus for 10 people costs

The price is not based on the number of people but on driver, duration and distance. A minibus for 8 people therefore costs the same as one for 12 – per head it gets cheaper with every additional person.

Duration

A day tour costs EUR 600 to 750, a half-day tour EUR 550 to 650. Pure transfers – to the airport, the venue, the station – start at around EUR 550: even a short trip ties up driver and vehicle for several hours, empty run included. On multi-day trips add EUR 80 to 120 per night for the driver's accommodation.

Distance

Up to 100 kilometres one way the price stays in the lower range. Long day trips cost more, and from around 450 kilometres or nine hours of driving time a second driver is required – rare on minibus tours, but possible.

Date, waiting time, approach

Weekends in high season are more expensive than weekdays. If the bus waits on site, that costs EUR 40 to 60 per hour. And the closer the operator is to your starting point, the cheaper, because the empty run disappears – on Busly you can see the operator's location directly.

Four example calculations

Airport transfer for a team (45 km, one way, early morning) Minibus for 10 people with luggage, no waiting time. → Guide price: EUR 550–650, i.e. EUR 55–65 per person

Stag party: city, winery, back (2 × 50 km, bus waits 5 hours) Minibus for 12 people, Saturday. → Guide price: EUR 600–700, i.e. EUR 50–58 per person

Business trip to a client meeting (2 × 150 km, day tour) Business van for 5 people, driver waits on site. → Guide price: EUR 650–750, i.e. EUR 130–150 per person

Family celebration: hotel to venue and back at night (2 × 25 km) Minibus for 9 people, two runs with six hours in between. → Guide price: EUR 600–650, i.e. EUR 67–72 per person

Renting a minibus without a driver: when is it possible?

At this group size the question is legitimate, because this is where the legal line runs. With a category B car licence you may drive vehicles with up to eight passenger seats – a 9-seater including yourself as the driver. For 8 people, driving a rental 9-seater yourself is therefore legally possible.

From 9 passengers you need category D1. For 10, 11 or 12 people a professional driver therefore always drives.

On Busly we only arrange vehicles with a driver – for small groups too. That has advantages even for 8 people: no deposit, no excess, no searching for parking, nobody has to stay sober, and the driver knows the route. Compare the cost per head and you often end up closer to the self-drive price than you think.

For long distances, better a coach

For transfers, city trips and excursions to the surrounding area the minibus is ideal. On long motorway journeys, however, it gets uncomfortable – little legroom, no toilet – and many operators do not offer it for that at all, because their minibuses run daily school and senior transport. If you are travelling 300 kilometres with 10 people to a company event and want to arrive fresh, you are better off in a coach – for small groups it is often hardly more expensive. If a coach would work for you, say so in the description of your request and you will be offered both options.

How to get a good offer

• State the number of people and the luggage. Both decide between van and minibus – and whether a trailer is needed.
• Describe times precisely. A transfer without waiting time costs less than a bus standing outside for five hours.
• Request regionally. An operator nearby saves the empty run.
• Be early. Two to four weeks is usually enough for minibuses – more for Saturdays in season.

On Busly you get an instant price estimate with your request and then offers from verified bus companies in your region. Standard transfers can often be booked directly at a fixed price.

Conclusion

For 8 to 12 people a minibus with driver costs EUR 600 to 750 per day, EUR 550 to 650 for half a day; the business van for up to 6 people sits in the same price range. The price depends on duration, distance and date, not on the number of seats. Driving yourself is only allowed up to 8 passengers – from 9, a professional is at the wheel.