Europcar adjusts fleet to help customers meet new minibus rules

Europcar has created a new vehicle group to help organisations comply with the new minibus rules.

The CPC (Certificate of Professional Competency) came into effect On September 10, 2013  for drivers of vehicles with passenger seats of nine or more, for journeys for Hire & Reward or Commercial Gain.

Anticipating the impact of the new rules on customers that use minibuses, in particular those in the public sector and charities, Europcar has adjusted its fleet to help these organisations remain compliant.

It has introduced a new vehicle group which is exempt from the CPC rules – comprising a range of vehicles that provide seating for a maximum of eight passengers, and thereby enabling the wide diversity of public sector and charitable organisations that need to move people around to maintain their service.

Vehicles in this group include full size MPVs and small minibuses. 

A separate group has been created including larger vehicles, such as 17 seaters, for which CPC compliance will be required.

Under the new rules, professional drivers including lorry and bus and coach drivers and minibus drivers, must hold a CPC, as well as their driving licence, which is renewable every five years.

The CPC aims to improve the knowledge and skills of lorry, bus and coach drivers, to enhance road safety.

Ken McCall, managing director of Europcar UK Group, said: “We know how important it is for public sector organisations and charities to be able to access vehicles to help people in their local communities.

“We were very concerned that the new CPC regulations may limit these services if it wasn’t easy for our customers to select the right size vehicle, particularly where a driver may not have a CPC. 

“Whilst we fully understand the objectives of the new CPC, there are a number of occasions when a smaller vehicle will suffice and will not, therefore, require the driver to comply with the new rules.

“We are fully committed to maintaining a vehicle group that helps our customers select the right vehicle – and remain compliant.”