Planning seats, bags and drivers for a group
Give the confirmed passenger number rather than a best guess. List luggage, sports kit or equipment separately, because a full seat count can leave little room for bags. Agree one clear meeting point for the group before travel. Share the intended driver's age and licence details when you enquire, so the team can check eligibility for the size of minibus before quoting.
Fitting the minibus to your trip
Base your choice on how many passengers are travelling, the luggage and who is eligible to drive. Smaller groups may be well served by a 7 or 9-seater, whereas 12, 15 and 17-seat vehicles call for closer checks on licence, age and luggage space. The range includes the Vauxhall Zafira 5 + 2, Galaxy 7 Seater Manual, Galaxy 7 Seater Automatic, 9 Seater Manual and 9 Seater Automatic, depending on dates, driver details and availability. Make, model, transmission, seating, payload and licence position are all confirmed when you are quoted, so treat the vehicles listed as a guide to the kind of hire on offer, not a guaranteed reservation of a particular model.
Briefing your designated driver
Because minibus hire from SDVH Scotland is self-drive, someone in your group will be behind the wheel, so give that person a clear briefing before the day. Write down the date, the pickup and drop-off points, the expected timings and the passenger numbers so nothing rests on memory. Walk through the route together and agree where stops will fit in, particularly for longer journeys with children or older relatives on board. Confirm what the driver needs to bring on the day and any documents the team has asked for, raising questions at the enquiry stage rather than the morning of the trip. If plans shift, tell the driver first so timings can be adjusted before passengers arrive.
Gathering everyone's travel details
Collecting information from a group takes longer than expected, so start early. Ask each passenger for their pickup point, contact number and how many bags they are bringing, then tally the totals before you enquire. A wedding party with overnight luggage has different requirements from a sports team with kit bags, and the difference matters when vehicle groups and luggage space are discussed. Note any passengers with particular needs, such as extra time boarding, so the schedule can absorb them. Share the final itinerary with the whole group once it is settled, including the return time, so nobody is left guessing. A short message thread or group chat usually keeps all of this in one place and cuts down repeated questions.
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What to confirm on the phone
Ahead of confirming the hire, go over the key points: whether the vehicle is available, what the driver needs, mileage, insurance, delivery or collection arrangements and any extras you have asked for. The number of passengers, luggage, driver age, licence entitlement and any D1 requirement should all be checked before the minibus is confirmed. A clear enquiry gives the date, length of hire, rough route, delivery or pickup address, expected passengers or load, and any special requirements that might affect whether a vehicle is suitable.









