Public School Restrictions

• Passenger vans, because of their designed purpose, have a higher center of gravity than many other vehicles. The history of these vehicles has demonstrated a high tendency to be involved in rollover accidents. Studies have shown that accidents involving vans designed for 9 passengers and above result 34.5 percent of the time in rollover crashes. For that primary reason, North Carolina law does not allow their use in the public schools unless they meet school bus construction standards. Private schools in the state are exempt from this law.
  
  

License Requirements

• North Carolina passenger vehicle drivers must have a class C operator's license. Drivers operating passenger vans which carry up to 15 passengers including the driver need only have a class C license. In order to carry more than 15 passengers, a Commercial Driver's License is required.
  
  

Seat Belt Use

• The same rules governing seat belt use in private vehicles also apply to passenger vans. Any vans manufactured after 1971 are required to have seat belts in all seating areas. The North Carolina Child Passenger Safety Law requires drivers of any vehicle to be responsible for proper seat belt use of their passengers under age 16. Persons over the age of 16 are responsible for their own seat belt security. Passenger vans must comply with these same laws. In addition, children under the age of 5 are not allowed in the front seat of passenger vans installed with active front airbags.
  
  

Other Regulations

• Other than the one major restriction, passenger vans in North Carolina are subject to all other rules governing public and private passenger vehicles. Church groups, organizations and sporting groups unaffiliated with North Carolina public schools may use passenger vans to transport their members. The vehicles are subject to the same licensing, tag, insurance, seat belt and driving while impaired laws as all others on the highway requiring a class C license.