12 people

Coach hire for 12 people

For a group of 12 people we recommend a minibus. Fill in your route below and compare straight away which coach companies are suitable.

26 coach companies offer a suitable option

Our advice for 12 people

For a group of up to 16 people, a minibus is the most nimble and affordable choice — ideal for shorter trips and transfers.

At 12 people the choice narrows

This many coaches at the affiliated companies have at least 12 seats:

85coaches for a group of 8at 27 companies

81coaches for your group of 12at 24 companies

80coaches if there were 16 of youat 24 companies

Larger groups can also travel with several coaches from the same company; we include that as soon as you fill in your trip.

Driving yourself with 12 people?

With 12 people that is not possible on a normal car licence. Licence B lets you carry up to 8 people, not counting yourself. If one of you drives, there are 11 passengers on board, and that takes bus licence D1, with a certificate of professional competence (code 95).

What does work: 2 vans, each with its own driver on licence B and at most 8 passengers. Then you do not travel as one group, and in every van someone has to stay sober and know the way. Or a minibus with a driver: you compare those here, and the driver holds the licence that goes with it.

Which licence for how many passengers?

Bup to 8 passengers, up to 3,500 kg

D19 to 16 passengersyour group of 12

Dmore than 16 passengers

The driver does not count. For D1 and D you must be at least 18 and hold code 95.

Sources: Dutch government (Rijksoverheid): which driving licence for a car and Dutch government (Rijksoverheid): which driving licence for a bus, read on 15 October 2026.

Which coach suits 12 people?

A comparison of the capacity per type of coach. The type that best suits your group stands out. Click a bar for more about that type.

Travelling with supervisors, large luggage or a wheelchair? Work out how many coaches you need.

Which size do you choose for 12 people?

Twelve people no longer fit in a people carrier, which takes up to eight. The size you're looking for is a minibus: it has eight to sixteen seats, so with twelve people you have a few seats spare. If you were searching for a twelve-seater people carrier, this is what you actually need. Two people carriers is also possible, but then you pay two drivers and don't arrive as one group.

Recommended type of coach

What does a coach for 12 people cost?

A price without your trip would be a guess for 12 people, so it is not shown here. What you pay mainly depends on four things:

The coach. For 12 people we recommend a minibus; 81 coaches at the affiliated companies have at least 12 seats. If a group of 12 does not fit in one coach, we calculate a combination of coaches from the same company.
The trip. How long the coach is on the road with your 12 people, how far it drives, and how far the coach company has to travel from its base to reach you.
The day. If your 12 people travel on a Saturday, a Sunday or public holiday, or at night, our standard rate adds a surcharge.
The month. For 12 people our standard rate is 15% higher in July and August, and 10% lower in January and February.

The prices page shows example trips with a price, for groups of 16, 30 and 50 people; for 12 people we only work it out once you fill in your trip. See the example trips with a price.

Work out what a coach for 12 people costs

Practical points for 12 people

A minibus for twelve people is the usual vehicle for a group of friends, a team or a family heading to a party, an airport or a day out. It's nimble enough for the city centre, but bigger than a people carrier: with a low car park or a narrow driveway it's worth passing on the pick-up address. A minibus has no toilet; on a long trip the driver plans a stop.

What to look out for with 12 people

With twelve people, choose a minibus with at least fourteen seats if you're bringing luggage. The empty seats then become the luggage space.
A VIP coach of the same size has fewer seats in the same length and therefore more legroom. Pleasant for a business trip or a long distance.
Give all the pick-up addresses. A group of twelve is often collected from several places, and every stop adds driving time.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about transport for 12 people

Does a group of 12 fit in a people carrier?

No, a people carrier takes up to eight passengers. For twelve people you need a minibus, or two people carriers.

How big is a minibus for 12 people?

A minibus has eight to sixteen seats. With twelve people you therefore have a few seats spare for luggage or an extra person.

Is one minibus cheaper than two people carriers?

Usually it is: you pay for one driver and one trip, and the group travels together. Request a price estimate and you'll see the amount for your trip.

Does a minibus for 12 people have a toilet?

No, you only get a toilet in a coach. On a long trip the driver plans a stop along the way.

Can I drive a minibus for 12 people myself?

Not with a normal car licence. If one of you drives, there are 11 passengers; licence B allows up to 8. You need bus licence D1 with a certificate of professional competence (code 95). Alternatives: 2 vans each with its own driver, or one minibus with a driver.

What does it cost to hire a coach for 12 people?

That depends on your trip: how far and how long, on which day and in which month. For 12 people we recommend a minibus. Fill in your route and date, and within a minute you see what coach companies charge for your trip.

Written and checked by Martijn Smeets, founder of BusOffer.com. Last updated on 15 October 2026.

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