Moving an unMOTed bus

[cat]

I'm a member of CULES, the Cambridge University Light Entertainment Society, dedicated to taking theatre to people that can't normally go and see it, such as special needs schools, nursing homes and homeless shelters. A few months ago we purchased a double decker Leyland Atlantean from ebay so we could go on tour and visit venues far and wide, and CUBES (the CU Bus Entertainment Society) was born. We're currently refitting it and giving it a thorough sorting, but the lady who is storing it for us is now selling her property.

We've found a new home for it, but desperately need someone to transport it for us! It needs to go about 140 miles from Nottingham to Bury St. Edmnds, but the bus starts and runs fine (although it hasn't been driven very fast in quite some time). Does anyone have any advice on where I could find someone who could help? We'd be happy to pay, but being a student-run charity, we are somewhat low on funds.

[lbretth]

Hi Cat,

I wouldn't recommend dring an unMOTed and consequently un-insured bus on the road as a new driver it'd be particularly dangerous. That being said I believe it is legal to drive an unMOTed vehicle on the road to a booked MOT, so that may be a way around it. But I wouldn't like to comment on the legality of that.

Incidentally i've had a look at the CUBES website and would be grateful if you could give me the details of the driver training you have listed on the finance page as the prices seem better than i've been able to find.

Thanks and good luck with it.

Luke

[suburbanhippy]

Hi there,

I bought an untaxed, unMOTeed bus for conversion to a motorhome last year - faced a similar problem in moving it. To be able to move the vehicle legally over that kind of distance, the cheapest option is to find a mobile HGV mechanic with trade plates to drive it.

If it's still recorded on the logbook as a fully seated service bus, you've got a bit of legwork to do to get it reclassified... Assuming all but <15 of the seats have been removed and you're carried out obvious work to make the vehicle an 'exhibition space' or project vehicle, it will be classed as a HGV Class 2 vehicle - not PSV. It should appear on the logbook as Private HGV and as such it would be put through a class 4 MOT, the same as a car... (I think - but feel free to correct me if you know different?!!!) At the MOT station you would need to complete a form for tachograph exemption also...

but, not to digress too far from the point, the HGV mechanic with trade plates makes it pretty legit - it's on its way for repair if the police stop the driver. Best to take an escort vehicle and a yellow flashing beacon, just in case. It's insured and taxed if the mechanic is driving (without passengers) and displaying trade plates. To make your case watertight, it's also worth provisionally booking it in to a 'friendly' class 4 MOT station local to the destination point.

The only other means of moving it is to put it on the back of a low loader... I got quoted £600+ for a trip of 90 miles though... the mechanic only charged me £100.

Hope this helps
Ali

[cat]

Thanks everyone, after about 4 hours on the phone I managed to find a company that specialises in moving large vehicles around with trade plates, who moved it for £100. Unfortunately, lbretth, that quote on the site is an old one that was wrongly placed on a companies website - they quoted that for the whole course wheras I actually think it was per day.

At this point we're fairly sure the only way we can afford to trin someone is if they go and work for a bus company - does anyone have any idea how long you have to work for Stagecoach after they get you your license!?

[suburbanhippy]

Hi again,

Sounds like the bus itself could be classed as a project vehicle... check out this link, you may be able to get around the licensing issue

www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/special_licensing_arrangements_f.htm


__________________________________

17.

mobile project vehicles - having a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes and constructed or adapted to carry not more than 8 persons in addition to the driver and carries principally goods or burden consisting of;

1.

play or educational equipment and articles required in connection with the use of such equipment, or
2.

articles required for the purposes of display or of an exhibition, and the primary purpose of which is used as a recreational, educational or instructional facility when stationary.

_____________________

The problem starts when you carry more than 8 passengers. I gather that's the purpose of the bus really so this probably isn't that helpful to you. That said, you can drive a minibus with up to 15 passengers with a normal Cat B license so long as you're not being paid to do so. I imagine you could probably get away with carrying driver + 15 passengers at a push.

Perhaps your best bet would be to ring DVLA themselves, or better still write to them, to clarify what license you need to be able to drive it for its intended purpose. I got my HGV class 2 license last year for my motorhome conversion, quite glad I got the training - it set me back £800, but a bus is a big bugger to get used to driving.

On top of training, you have to have a medical (£35+) and take the relevant theory test...

It's all bureaucratic nonsense - DVLA and VOSA suck.