Frequently asked questions about Dazbus - the Oxford minibus hire company

How many people can you take on the bus?

All of our minibuses can take 16 passengers.

Where are you based?

Dazbus is based in south Abingdon, in Oxfordshire, approximately 8 miles from the centre of the city of Oxford.

Which towns and cities do you serve?

Anywhere within 20 miles of Oxford is within our catchment area. So we are perfect for minibus hire in Oxford, but this also includes the towns of Abingdon (where we are based), Didcot, Wantage, Wallingford, Faringdon, Witney, Thame and Bicester and all the surrounding villages. Please note that this is our catchment area for picking you up – we are happy to take you wherever you need to go.

What information do I need to give you for a quote?

In order to check on availability, we will firstly need to know your intended date(s) of travel. Next we need to know where you would like to be picked up from, and your destination. Then the approximate pick-up and return times. Then how many pick-ups and drop-offs you require. Next we need to know how many people will be travelling. Don’t worry if you don’t know the exact number – a rough estimate is fine. It is also useful to us to know what kind of event you are going to. Is it somebody’s birthday? A music concert? A hen do? A wedding? An airport transfer? If you leave a message for us on our landline answer machine or on our mobile voicemail, then don’t forget to leave your contact telephone number, so that we can ring you back – it’s amazing how many people forget this, and then we unfortunately have no way of getting back in contact with them.

Do you have any taxis?

No, Dazbus is purely a minibus company, and we do not operate any taxis.

Do you have any coaches for hire?

No, we do not presently have any coaches for hire. Our vehicles are all minibuses, each one equipped to take 16 passengers.

There are 18 of us. Could a couple of us stand on the bus?

No. The maximum number of passengers allowed in any one minibus is 16, and everybody must be seated. Standing on the bus is not allowed by law, and is also highly dangerous.

There are only 5 of us. Can we still get a quote from you?

Here at Dazbus, we are always more than happy to work out a quote for you, regardless of whether there are 5 of you, or 15 of you.

Do you offer discounts for OAPs?

No, we do not currently offer discounts for OAPs.

Do you offer discounts for students?

No, we do not currently offer discounts for students.

Do you offer multiple-trip discounts?

Yes, if you book Dazbus for 2 or more trips, where the trips are all very close together, then we are happy to offer you a discount. Although this is at our discretion, the discount is normally around 10%. So, for example, if you booked with us to take you and a group of your friends out for a meal on a Wednesday night, and then you needed transport for a wedding that you were attending on the following Saturday, then we would happily offer you a discount.

Do you provide child seats?

No, we do not provide child seats, but we are always more than happy to take babies and children of any age on our minibuses. You are of course permitted to bring along your own child seats and to use them in the minibus in the same way that you would use them in your own private car.

Do you do airport transfers?

Yes, we frequently do airport transfers. We are happy to do one-way trips as well as return trips. Please contact us if you would like a quotation for a trip to or from any UK airport.

Do you do long-distance trips?

Yes, we are more than happy to do trips of any distance, and offer very competitive prices for all long-distance trips. Over the years, we have taken groups up to Edinburgh, across to south Wales, down to Cornwall, and to pretty much everywhere else in-between. We can also take you over to continental Europe if you wish.

Do you have a minimum charge?

Yes, we do have a minimum charge. It is £50 for any one-way journey, and £100 for any return journey.

Do you offer self-drive hire?

No, at present we do not offer self-drive hire. We are a private hire minibus company, and our minibuses are all chauffeur-driven.

Do you charge a “per person” price?

No, not normally. We operate in the same way as a taxi, so our prices are governed mainly by the distance involved in your journey, and the price remains the same, irrespective of how many people are travelling. When we provide you with a quotation, we often tell you how much this equates to per person, so that you get a better feel for the price. £300 sounds like a lot of money, but if there are 15 of you, then this works out to £20 per person – which sounds a lot more manageable!

Do you take stag parties and hen parties?

Yes, we are very happy to take groups of stags and hens. As well as the usual nights out into Oxford, Reading, London, etc., we have also taken stag and hen groups round the Cotswolds, to the Cherwell Boathouse to go punting for the afternoon, on brewery tours, and on activity days, where you get the chance to go quad-biking, rally driving, hovercrafting, clay-pigeon shooting, and a myriad of other adventurous activities.

Can you offer suggestions for tours?

Yes, we can. If you would like a tour around the Cotswolds, or you’re thinking about visiting Stonehenge, Salisbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle, Windsor Castle, etc., then please feel free to contact us, and we will be very happy to talk through your plans and offer some suggestions. We can offer you half-day tours as well as full-day trips, and if one day is not enough for your itinerary, then we can help you to design a tour which lasts for 2 or 3 days, or even more if you wish.

Do you still run the scheduled tours of Stonehenge and Stratford?

No, we no longer run the scheduled tours of Stonehenge and Stratford. However, if you are part of a group of at least 10 people, who would all like to go on a tour together, then we can help you to devise a tour that is specifically tailored to your requirements. Please contact us if you are thinking about doing this, as we would be only too happy to offer suggestions and to help out.

Do you still run scheduled surfing tours down to Cornwall?

No, we no longer run scheduled surfing tours down to Cornwall. However, if you are part of a group of at least 10 people, who would all like to go on a surfing tour to Cornwall together (or indeed to any of the other UK surfing hotspots), then please do contact us, as we would love to hear from you.

Are we allowed to eat and drink on the bus?

Yes, you are currently allowed to eat and drink on all of our minibuses. Please take your litter home with you though, as we often go from one job to the next, and it’s not fair for the next group if they are greeted with a dirty, messy or untidy bus.

Do your minibuses have disabled access?

No, unfortunately none of our minibuses currently have any disabled access.

Are older people easily able to get on and off the minibus?

Older people, and those who have problems walking, do not normally have any problems getting on and off our minibuses. The platform by the sliding door, where people enter and exit the vehicle, is relatively high, but all of our minibuses carry a step to make access much easier, and there is also a railing behind the passenger seat.

Do your minibuses have air-conditioning?

No, none of our vehicles currently have air-conditioning.

Do your minibuses have microphones?

No, none of our vehicles currently have microphones.

Is there a toilet on board the minibus?

No, there are no toilets on board any of our vehicles. On longer journeys, we always factor in rest stops along the way. Generally speaking, one rest stop every one-and-a-half to 2 hours, but our drivers are always flexible on this matter.

Are there seatbelts in the minibuses?

Yes, for your comfort and safety, all of our vehicles are fitted throughout with 3-point seatbelts. 3-point seatbelts are over-the-shoulder belts, as opposed to lap-belts, and every single seat has its own individual belt.

Can we just hail you down in the street, like we can a taxi?

No, all journeys must be pre-booked in advance.

Why don't we see any of your buses sitting in the taxi ranks?

By law, minibuses are not allowed to sit in taxi ranks and wait for business. Journeys must be pre-booked in advance. This is because the licence is different. We do not hold a hackney carriage licence, which permits vehicles to sit in ranks and wait for business. Instead, we hold a PSV (Public Service Vehicle) Operator’s Licence. This licence is not issued by the local council, but is instead issued by the Western Area Traffic Office in Bristol.

How do I know that your vehicles are properly licensed?

Unfortunately, as with any trade or profession, there are “cowboys” out there – people who are offering a minibus service who do not hold the correct licence. You can’t just go out and buy a bus and start taking people around in it for money. This is highly illegal and highly dangerous, as it puts people’s lives at risk. You can be assured that all of our minibuses are properly taxed, licensed, insured and MOT’d. We hold a PSV (Public Service Vehicle) Operator’s Licence, issued by the Western Area Traffic Office in Bristol. In all of our vehicles, the operator’s licence disc is located next to the tax disc on the passenger side of the front windscreen. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding our vehicle licensing responsibilities – we are always happy to help.

How do I know that your drivers are properly qualified?

You have to have a special licence to drive a minibus for hire or reward. For hire or reward essentially means that you are carrying fare-paying passengers, i.e. you are operating a commercial enterprise for profit. The licence required is a D1 licence. This is halfway between an ordinary car licence and a bus licence. By law, all minibus drivers working for profit-making companies MUST have at least a D1 licence. In order to obtain a D1 licence, you have to take a separate theory test (one specifically geared to larger vehicles) and pass a separate practical driving test (designed specifically for minibuses). You can be assured that all of our drivers have obtained their D1 licence. If you are in any doubt whatsoever, then please feel free to ask any of our drivers for evidence of his or her qualifications. They will be only too happy to help put your mind at ease. Or simply contact us here in the office.

How do I know that your minibuses are roadworthy?

Under the conditions of our PSV (Passenger Service Vehicle) Operator’s Licence, all of our minibuses must be inspected every 10 weeks. This 10-weekly inspection is like a mini-MOT test. Each PSV Safety Inspection Report lists 72 separate things that must be tested each time (i.e. every 10 weeks). This includes seatbelts, mirrors, brakes, handrails, tyres, the chassis, shock absorbers, transmission shafts, and all the lights, both internally and externally, as well as many other things besides. If a fault is found with anything, then it must be put right there and then, in order for the minibus to pass the inspection. Here at Dazbus, we take the safety of our vehicles and the safety of our passengers very seriously, and you can be assured that all of our vehicles are inspected every 10 weeks, and all are in a roadworthy condition. If you have any questions or concerns about this, then please feel free to contact us. Here in the office, we keep a copy of every single inspection that each of our minibuses undergoes, and we would be more than happy to send you a copy of the most recent inspections if you would like us to.

Do you have any public liability insurance?

Yes, we have public liability insurance, covering us for any claims of up to £5 million. This insurance is separate from, but runs alongside, the fully comprehensive insurance cover that we have in place for all of our vehicles, and means that we, and you, are covered for all eventualities.

Have your drivers been CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked?

Yes, all of our drivers have been fully checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. This means that any of our drivers can legally take unaccompanied children in a minibus. It is not a legal requirement for a professional minibus driver to undergo these checks (unless they are contracted to do a school run or do other work for the local or county councils), however, as a company, we feel that it is important. All of our customers can then be reassured that the driver of their vehicle is operating under the strictest of professional standards.

Do you have any other industry-related qualifications?

Darren Joiner, the owner of Dazbus, has achieved a Level 3 CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) in National Passenger Transport Operations. This is effectively a Transport Manager’s qualification, and something that only employees (normally the Transport Manager) of larger transport companies would usually have. For somebody to have achieved this level of competence and ability in a small company like Dazbus is most unusual, and is proof that Dazbus takes its responsibilities to its customers very seriously indeed.

Do the minibuses carry a First Aid Kit?

Yes, all of our vehicles carry a First Aid Kit. This is normally located inside the glove box on the passenger side.

Do the minibuses carry a fire extinguisher?

Yes, all of our vehicles carry a fire extinguisher. This is normally located on the floor, in the gap between the driver’s seat and the passenger seats in the front of the vehicle.

On longer journeys, can we stop along the way?

Yes, that’s no problem at all. On longer journeys, we are happy to stop along the way. At Dazbus, we pride ourselves on our service and flexibility. We want to ensure that you enjoy a smooth, comfortable, trouble-free journey with us, so we will always go the extra mile to provide you with an excellent all-round service.

Do you offer multiple pick-ups and multiple drop-offs?

We respect and appreciate the fact that without our customers, we wouldn’t exist as a company. It really is as simple as that. The recent recession has shown that if you don’t look after your customers, then your business is on a very slippery slope, in a downhill direction. At Dazbus, we believe that we look after our customers extremely well. Consequently, we are very happy to provide multiple pick-ups and multiple drop-offs. When you ring up, or email us, for a quotation, you will be asked how many pick-ups and drop-offs you require. Obviously the price(s) that you are quoted will take this factor into account, so if you require 3 pick-ups and 5 drop-offs, for example, then this will be reflected in a slightly higher price than if it were just 1 pick-up and 1 drop-off.

Do you charge any extra for late night or early morning pick-ups and drop-offs?

Yes, we do charge a supplement for late night or early morning pick-ups and drop-offs. The charge is an extra £10 to £20 for any pick-ups or drop-offs between the hours of 12 midnight and 8am. The exact charge depends on the exact pick-up or drop-off time and is usually worked out as a percentage of the standard cost of the trip. This supplement will be factored into the quotation that we provide you with – it won’t come as a nasty after-surprise, as we firmly believe in being clear and transparent with our prices. For clarification, expect to pay £10 extra for a 1am pick-up for a shorter journey and £20 extra for a 3am pick-up for a longer journey.

Do you have a daily charge for minibus hire?

As a rough guide, our daily charge is normally between £300 and £400, depending on the distance involved in your journey, and the pick-up and drop-off times. However, please note that all of our quotations are tailored specifically to your requirements, so depending on where it is that you need to get to, it is quite possible that your quotation could be more than £400 or less than £300.

Do your prices include VAT?

The rules surrounding VAT are incredibly complex. However, for the most part, the supply of transport services is what they call zero-rated as regards VAT. This means that you will not need to pay any VAT when you hire one of our chauffeur-driven minibuses. It is important to us that our prices are always clear and transparent, and so there are never any hidden extras with Dazbus – the price that we quote you is the full price that you will pay if you choose to book with us.

Do you offer any kind of guarantee?

Yes, we are unique amongst transport companies in the local area, in that we offer all our customers a triple guarantee. We guarantee that we will always be on time, that our drivers will always be professional, courteous and polite and that we will always offer you great value-for-money. We are happy to offer you some money back, or offer you money off your next trip with Dazbus, if we do not meet any of these criteria. It is very important to us that you are a happy customer. For full details of our unique triple guarantee, please see the link on our homepage. Or click here:Triple Guarantee

Do you accept credit or debit cards?

No, we do not currently have the facility to accept credit or debit cards.

Will I need to pay a deposit to secure a booking?

Yes, you will need to pay a deposit to secure a booking. The deposit is normally 25% of the total cost of minibus hire for your trip or trips, with the minimum being £25. For more expensive trips, we will negotiate a fair deposit with you. The deposit will need to be paid via internet banking. Please note that deposits are non-refundable in the event of cancellation by you.

How can I pay for minibus hire?

After paying a 25% deposit, normally via internet banking, the outstanding balance is payable on the day of travel. In cases where the return trip is on a separate day, e.g. a return airport transfer, then, unless otherwise agreed in advance, the full outstanding balance will be payable on the first day of travel. The outstanding balance can be paid in cash or by a cheque, made payable to Dazbus – whichever is more convenient for you.

How long in advance do I need to make a booking for minibus hire?

There are no hard and fast rules around this, however, the earlier, the better. We would suggest that you make enquiries for your intended trip(s) at least 3 to 4 weeks in advance, in order to avoid disappointment. For major events, such as Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, weddings, stag and hen dos, airport transfers, music concerts, Christmas parties, etc., we would suggest that you book at least 2 to 3 months in advance, as these events are always very popular, and tend to get booked up very quickly.

When are your busiest times of the year?

Our busiest times of the year are the summer months of June, July and August and around Christmas. Booking well in advance for trips taken at these times is most definitely recommended.

When are your quietest times of the year?

January and February, and October and November, are usually quieter months. Although booking well in advance at any time of the year is always recommended, there is usually less of a necessity to do so in these 4 colder months.

Are you flexible with pick-up times?

Yes, we will always try to be flexible with pick-up times. If you had originally booked the minibus to pick you up at 10:30pm, for example, but decide at the start of the evening that 11pm would be better, then we will definitely do our best to accommodate this request. Please note, however, that we cannot guarantee this, as we may have other bookings on the same night / day, and on these occasions, we will have to stick to the original timings, as it would not be fair to let our other customers down.

What happens if I have to cancel my booking?

It all depends on the reason why you need to cancel your booking. If it is because you are ill, have had an accident, or there are circumstances beyond your control, then in most cases, we would refund you any money that you had already paid us. Circumstances beyond your control are things such as events being cancelled due to bad weather conditions, your flight being cancelled or postponed, your ship being unable to dock due to rough seas, etc. If, on the other hand, you are wanting to cancel due to people dropping out or your plans have changed, then you will lose your deposit, and, depending on how close to the date of travel it is, possibly also any other monies that you have paid to us. Ultimately, all refunds are at our discretion, but we will always treat you in a fair and appropriate manner. Please see our terms and conditions on the homepage for a more detailed explanation.

Do you belong to any local business organisations?

Dazbus is a very proud member of both the FSB and BNI. The FSB is the Federation of Small Businesses, an organisation with over 215,000 members here in the UK. The organisation represents the voice of small businesses throughout the country, and with such a high volume of membership, is able to strongly lobby government to take on board the opinions of small businesses and the self-employed. The FSB has been very successful in doing this in recent years, and has persuaded the government to implement several policies that benefit the UK’s thriving small business sector. BNI is a business networking organisation. The aim of BNI is to generate business between local small businesses, and the organisation provides a structured, supportive environment in which local business people can get together to network, learn valuable new marketing skills and develop strong personal relationships. This in turn fosters the trust and respect that can ultimately lead to the generation of significant business for each other.

Click here to find out more about the FSB: Federation of Small Business

Click here to find out more about BNI: BNI Home Counties West

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