A ‘qualified’ engineer needs to complete your safety inspections and ideally it should not be the engineer that complete services and MOTs. If an issue is identified this should not be resolved as part of the inspection.

A proper safety inspection should take 45-60 mins.

Yes, you need to not only keep records that these inspections are completed for 15 months but also have 6-month plan in place for MOTs, services and inspections.

On the government website.

11.3 Vehicle safety inspections and routine maintenance checks –
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/section-19-and-22-permits-not-for-profit-passenger-transport/section-19-and-22-permits-not-for-profit-passenger-transport

A minibus safety inspection checklist is what engineers complete when they do a safety inspection. This checklist lets the school know if there are any problems with the vehicle. Minibus Safety Inspections are required under a Section 19 Permit and need to be completed by a qualified engineer every 10 weeks (or 6 weeks for vehicles over 12 years old) regardless of mileage.

Owners of minibuses also need to complete daily/weekly checks to ensure the vehicles are ready to be driven, and there are no faults or issues. Castle Minibus has a free minibus safety checklist app that drivers can download with a 12-point and 40-point checklist that they can then send to their designated transport manager to be managed and filed.

If you operate your vehicles under a Section 19 Permit you are required to have a minibus safety inspection, or check, every 10 weeks ( 6 weeks for vehicles over 12 years old) regardless of mileage. These checks need to be completed by a qualified engineer and are as well as regular services and MOTs but it is recommended you use an independent engineer for safety inspections.

The DVSA recommend that Minibus Safety Inspections are completed every 10 weeks for vehicles less than 12 years old, and every 6 weeks for vehicles over 12 years. This is regardless of milage.

For more information visit DVSA Guide to Roadworthiness

A minibus safety inspection is a thorough check completed by a qualified engineer to ensure that the vehicle is roadworthy. Minibus Safety Inspections are required under both a Section 19 Permit and PSV Operator’s licence every 10 weeks for vehicles under 12 years old – as recommended by the DVSA, regardless of mileage.

The DVSA recommends that minibus safety inspections are completed every 10 weeks for vehicles of 12 years and under, regardless of mileage, and every 6 weeks for vehicles 12 years+. These checks are as well as regular servicing and MOTs

No, a minibus safety inspection is different to a regular service, and both are required, along with an MOT, to ensure roadworthiness. It is recommended by the DVSA that a minibus safety inspection is completed every 10 weeks for vehicles under 12 years old and that it is carried out by an independent qualified engineer – not the same engineer that completes the MOT and service.

The DVSA updated its guidance in 2017 recommending that minibus safety inspections should be completed every 10 weeks for vehicles under 12 years old, and every 6 weeks for those over 12 years of age. These inspections are required to prove roadworthiness and are a condition of the Section 19 Permit and Operators’ licence. They are in addition to services and MOTs.

A minibus safety inspection is not the same as a walk-around check and has to be completed by a qualified engineer that can certify the vehicle is roadworthy. It is recommended that these safety inspections are completed by an independent engineer to identify any issues to potential failings – repair work can then be completed, but not as part of the inspection. The DVSA recommends that these inspections are completed every 10 weeks for vehicles under 12 years old, regardless of mileage or how often they are used.

If you are operating a minibus under a Section 19 Permit or PSV Operators licence, you will require minibus safety inspections every 10 weeks for vehicles under 12 years old (every 6 weeks for vehicles 12 years+). These checks are regardless of milage, or use of the vehicle and the paperwork must be kept for 15 months.

The DVSA requires holders of a Section 19 Permit to have a 6-month plan of their minibus maintenance schedule that includes services, MOT and minibus safety inspections. On completion of the inspection, the engineer will provide a copy of the inspection checklist that organisations are required to keep for 15 months. When applying for a Section 19 Permit (new or renewal) details of your vehicle maintenance arrangements are required including contracts/agreements from your safety inspections provider.

A minibus safety inspection should take around 45 minutes and includes the removal of the wheels to check tyres and brakes. The engineer will complete a checklist that they leave with the school identifying any issues, or potential issues. The engineer completing the check will not/should not complete any remedial work. It is recommended that minibus safety inspections be completed by an independent engineer who is not also responsible for service and MOT.

Yes, unlike a service or MOT a minibus safety inspection can be completed onsite by a mobile engineer. Castle Minibus are the UK’s leading provider of minibus safety inspections, having completed over 10,000 in 2021 with two mobile engineer partner organisations. Minibus safety inspections are a requirement under a Section 19 Permit and details of maintenance arrangements including a copy of an agreement/contract are required when applying for a permit.