Driving Hired Vehicle(s) on behalf of Student Activity

Please see below for information on how to drive on behalf of your Activity.

Can I drive a hired vehicle on behalf of my Student Activity?

To drive a hired vehicle on behalf of your Student Activity, you must meet specific criteria set by our insurance company.

If you qualify, you will be classified as a "standard driver" and approved by the Students' Union without the need for further referral to Endsleigh.

To determine your eligibility, please see "What is Endsleigh's "Standard Driver" Criteria?" below.

How do I register as an approved driver?

To apply to be be an authorised driver please complete Students' Union Driver Registration

Please note that applications may take up to 5 working days to process, and this timeframe may be extended during busy periods or holidays.

You cannot drive any hired vehicles for your Student Activity until you receive confirmation from the Students' Union that you are an “approved driver.”

How often do I need to register?

Applications must be submitted each new academic year to ensure coverage under the Students’ Union insurance.

If your details change after registration and before re-registration, you must submit an updated Students' Union Driver Registration - failure to do so will invalidate your insurance cover.

How do I obtain a DVLA Summary?

The Students' Union Driver Registration states I require to submit a DVLA Summary. How do I obtain this?

You can share your driving licence information (i.e., DVLA Summary) if your licence was issued in England, Wales or Scotland. Before you start, you will need:

your driving licence number
your National Insurance number - find your National Insurance number if you’ve lost it
the postcode on your driving licence

Once you have this information to hand enter details here

What is Endsleigh's "Standard Driver" Criteria?

To be considered as an approved driver, the Students Union will review your application against the Endsleigh "Standard Driver" criteria outlined below. If you meet this criteria, you will be considered a "standard driver" and approved by the Students' Union without needing further referral to Endsleigh.

All Drivers must hold a UK or EU Licence for a minimum of 1 year, increased to 2 years for minibuses.
- Licences issued in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Norway are also acceptable and are treated in the same way as EU licences.
- Drivers with an EU licence are limited to vehicles with 8 passenger seats or less.
  - Use this tool to see if you can drive in Great Britain with your non-GB driving licence.
Be aged between 18 and 70 to drive Cars, MPVs, and Vans.
Be aged between 21 and 70 to drive a minibus**.
- A minibus is defined as a vehicle with a driver and between 9 and 16 passenger seats (not a 9-seater MPV).
Have disclosed a medical condition reportable to DVLA where DVLA have applied terms to their licence e.g. reduced licence period
Have been involved in any accidents in the past 3 years
Have disclosed motoring convictions that are not on the approved list, or who have more than one conviction.

The Students' Union recommends completing an eye test within the last 24 months, although this is not required by our insurance. You must wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive if you need them to meet the standards of vision for driving. You could be prosecuted if you drive without meeting the standards of vision for driving.

If you wish to drive a vehicle with a trailer, you must have a license that allows you to tow. Ensure that the combined weight of the vehicle and loaded trailer does not exceed your license limits (You may need to check this with the DVLA)

I dont meet the criteria for Standard Driver - what happens now?

If a driver does not meet the criteria for a Standard Driver and discloses any conditions outlined in the “Endsleigh Non-Standard Driver Procedures” below, they will be classified as non-standard and must be referred to Endsleigh.

Drivers with a non-UK/EU Licence other than Norway, Channel Islands and Isle of Man
Drivers over the age of 70
Drivers who have disclosed a medical condition reportable to DVLA where DVLA have applied terms to their licence e.g. reduced licence period
Drivers who have disclosed any accidents in the past 3 years
Drivers who have disclosed motoring convictions that are not on the approved list, or who have more than one conviction.

If you fall into any of the categories mentioned, please complete the Endsleigh Non Standard Driver Form as provided in the Students' Union Driver Registration. Alternatively, you can fill out the form and email it to the Students' Union Sports Office on ausa-transport@abdn.ac.uk.

I have an International (non-UK/EU) Licence - is there anything I need to consider before applying?

Please be aware that licenses issued outside of the UK/EU (including Norway, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man) must be referred to Endsleigh for consideration. To be eligible for approval drivers must be at least 21 years old, have no accidents or convictions, and have held a full license for a minimum of 3 years. If approved, drivers aged 21-24 will incur a high excess and an additional premium, which may be payable by either the Activity or the individual. Please consider these factors before submitting your driver for approval.

Driving abroad

Endsleigh does not have specific guidelines regarding driving outside the UK. Generally, the requirements are similar to those in the UK; however, the Student Activity must ensure there are no specific regulations for the country in which they intend to drive.

The Student Activity must inform the Students' Union of your intention to drive outside the UK, as we need to notify Endsleigh. An additional premium will be required, and there will be an increase in the excess for any damage claims.

I want to drive a minibus - do I need a special qualification?

Due to recent legislation changes, you no longer need to take a separate MiDAS test to drive a minibus. You can use your current car driving license as long as:

there’s no payment from or on behalf of the passengers (it’s not for ‘hire or reward’).
you meet the undernoted conditions:
- between the ages of 21 and 70 and have held a full UK licence for a minimum of 2 years.
- you are driving on a voluntary basis and the minibus is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body.
- the total weight of the minibus including passengers is not more than 3.5 tonnes (plus up to 750kg of equipment for disabled passengers)
- you are not towing a trailer.

Driver Quality Monitoring (previously MiDAS)

While it’s not mandatory under the Students' Union Insurance Policy, both the Students' Union and Endsleigh Insurance recommend that drivers without a Category D1 license complete a Driver Quality Monitoring Assessment for risk management purposes. If you would still like to undertake a Driver Quality Monitoring Assessment, please let the Students Union Sports Office know. We need a minimum of 8 participants before an Assessment can take place and will be in touch when we have reached that minimum.

If you have any queries relating to the above, please do not hesitate to contact :