Binz – Thoroughly legal limousines
There has been a growing level of controversy over the use and licensing of limousines around the UK. This has been precipitated by the burgeoning growth of American style stretched limousines which can often be designed to carry eight or more passengers. This brings them into the category of being mini-buses, and as such they ought to have Certificates of Initial Fitness (COIF) issued by the Vehicle Inspectorate in the UK.In order to obtain a COIF any vehicle has to pass stringent tests, both on its roadworthiness and its compliance with European and UK regulations on minibus specifications. These American style stretched limousines cannot meet those requirements so are illegal to use for hire or reward whilst equipped to carry more than eight passengers. For the American stretch limousine to be legal it has to have not more than eight passenger seats, and if used for hire or reward must be licensed for private hire.
These regulations are in place to protect the public from unsafe vehicles and unscrupulous operators. Remember, if their vehicle is illegal, the chances are the driver has had no checks made on his suitability as a private hire driver.
The European formal limousine is a very different animal indeed. One of the leading manufacturers is Germany’s Binz, represented in the UK by Binz UK. A Binz limousine is based on the Mercedes E-Class and is built upon an extended chassis that has full Mercedes-Benz engineering approval. These are cars designed to carry a maximum of seven passengers plus driver in comfort and discrete style. Inside, the trim is functional yet luxurious, affording small groups of friends, family or business people the chance to relax together on their way to airport, event or engagement.
The Binz limousine has also undergone crash testing, and was developed with privileged access to original equipment manufacturer’s design and test data. From the standpoint of occupant safety, it means that Mercedes’ safety innovations such as side air bags for every row of seats, the Pre-Safe occupant protection system, and the E-Class’ stability control and brake assist electronics have all been appropriately re-calibrated to account for the changed dynamics of a longer wheelbase and altered weight distribution.
These vehicles are used throughout the UK and indeed The World by limousine operators who wish to remain clearly within the law, and who see a Binz’s coachwork promoting just the right combination of understated elegance, dignity and professionalism.
When members of the public ride in a Binz limousine they can be assured that the vehicle is fit for its purpose, that it meets full European construction standards, and that its operators have no reason to evade licensing arrangements where they apply. It is highly unlikely that a Binz operator would put his reputation at risk by ignoring or side-stepping public safety and licensing legislation.
