Legal Resources for School Passenger Vans

Frequently Asked Questions about Schools & Passenger Vans

What does the law say about schools and passenger vans?

California Vehicle Code states that drivers must have a commercial driver license (CDL) when driving a vehicle designed, used, or maintained for carrying more than 10 passengers, including the driver.

A vehicle that carries more than 10 passengers, including the driver, is considered a bus.

Source: CA Commercial Driver Handbook

Is it ok to convert a 12 or 15 passenger van to a 10 passenger van?

Yes, the California Highway Patrol has issued a memo stating that this type of modification is allowed.

Source: CHP 800A (Rev. 3-99) OPI 062

Are Hengehold's 10-passenger vans modified?

Yes, we remove enough seats so that they carry 10 persons, including the driver and we permanently modify the floor brackets so that the seats cannot be installed again.

Additionally, we affix an NHTSA-compliant label stating that the vehicle has been altered and is now considered a passenger car per the NHTSA definition.

Source: NHTSA 49 CFR Part 571.3 Definitions

Are other schools using modified 10-passenger vans?

Yes, Ford dealers send 12 and 15-passenger vans to bus manufacturers to perform the identical modification we perform. Additionally, we have sold modified passenger vans to dozens of public and private schools for nearly 20 years. If you have any questions, please call us at 800-757-4462.

About Hengehold Trucks

Founded in 1948, Hengehold Trucks is Northern California’s most trusted source for pre-owned commercial vehicles, rentals, service, and professional upfitting. Family-owned and based in Palo Alto, we’ve built our reputation on trust, straightforward pricing, and the best-maintained fleet in the region. For over 75 years, contractors, businesses, and public agencies have relied on us to keep their operations moving—with work-ready trucks, expert service, and support you can count on.