The Kleinbus: made for travelling as a small group

For families, wedding parties, club teams and small tour groups, a minibus is often the best fit: one vehicle, everyone together, and small enough to reach the village square.

Nine to sixteen, plus the driver

A minibus carries between 9 and 16 passengers. With more than nine seats in total it counts as a bus under German passenger-transport law; with up to nine seats including the driver it is a car, hired under the Mietwagen rules.

Its driver holds category D1, meant for vehicles of no more than 8 m carrying 16 passengers or fewer. Drivers must be at least 21, or 18 if they are training as professional drivers.

Inside the vehicle

Children under 12 and shorter than 150 cm need a child restraint on seats for which seat belts are required, but this rule does not apply in buses over 3.5 t
Required seat belts must be worn while driving
A vehicle with up to nine seats including the driver counts as a car (Personenkraftwagen); hired with a driver, it runs under the Mietwagen rules
With more than nine seats including the driver, a minibus counts as a bus (Kraftomnibus) under the PBefG
Category D1 covers vehicles built for up to 16 passengers besides the driver and up to 8 m long; the minimum age is 21, or 18 during or after training as a professional driver

Children on board

Everyone wears a belt where one is fitted. Younger children may also need a booster or child seat: the rule covers under-12s below 150 cm, and only buses above 3.5 t are exempt. Many minibuses are lighter than that, so give ages and heights when you book.

Families often find a minibus easier than two cars: everyone hears the same stories from the driver, and nobody gets lost following the other car.

Luggage and comfort

The rear luggage space is generous with a few seats free and tight with every seat taken. For an airport run with suitcases, size up or leave a row empty.

A minibus can stop where coaches cannot, from a farm shop to a narrow wine village, which is why small groups often prefer it.

Questions travellers ask

We are eight people. Minibus or car?

Eight passengers can still ride in a van-type car with driver. A minibus gives more space for luggage.

Can a minibus go on a week-long tour?

Yes. The driver works within the EU hours rules, so long days are planned with breaks and overnight stops.

Does it need a sticker for city centres?

Where a city keeps an Umweltzone, the vehicle needs its green sticker, and the operator checks this for each route.

Is a minibus good for the Romantic Road or the Black Forest?

It is ideal: it reaches small towns, parks more easily and lets you change the plan when a village tempts you to stay longer.