Choosing the Vehicle: Headcount, Luggage and Stopping Place
Every vehicle listed here is supplied with a driver by a licensed partner operator. The right size depends on more than seats: luggage, the stopping place and the length of the day all count.
Sizing by more than seat count
Up to 8 passengers travel by car with driver, under the Mietwagen rules. From 9 passengers the vehicle is legally a bus: a minibus or Sprinter carries up to 16 on a D1 licence, a midi-coach usually 29 to 35, a full-size coach usually 49 to 57 with underfloor holds. A minibus with every seat taken has little room for suitcases, so airport groups often move up a size.
The kerb matters too. BER's forecourts take vehicles up to 3.5 t only, so coaches use Bus Stop B.
Planner questions
Can we split a group across vehicles?
Yes. Two midi-coaches can serve two hotels at once, where one coach would do both in turn.
Are wheelchair-accessible vehicles available?
Yes, on request. A wheelchair space needs proper restraints, so state wheelchair users in the brief.
Do coaches drive at 100 km/h on the motorway?
Only when approved and equipped for it; otherwise the limit is 80 km/h. The operator plans timings accordingly.
Pick a vehicle
- Full-size coach (Reisebus) — Seats: 49-57
- Midi-coach (Midibus) — Seats: 29-35
- Minibus (Kleinbus) — Seats: 9-16 passengers plus the driver
- Executive Sprinter-style minibus — Seats: 8-16 passengers plus the driver
- Executive car with driver (Mietwagen mit Fahrer) — Seats: 1-3 (up to 8 passengers in a van-type car)
- Wheelchair-accessible minibus — Seats: Varies by layout; wheelchair positions replace seats