Minivan rental for a large family: what to look for

Minivan rental: where to start

The most common mistake is choosing a car by its photo and the seat count in the listing. "Seven seats" means different things in a crossover and in a minivan: a crossover's third row is usually meant for children and short rides, while in a minivan an adult can sit there comfortably for hours. So before browsing models, answer three questions:

1. How many people are travelling and how many of them are adults. A teenager of adult height counts as an adult.
2. How many children need child seats, and how old they are: an infant carrier, a child seat and a booster take up space differently.
3. What luggage you will carry: a couple of backpacks for a weekend in the mountains, or suitcases for a week, a pushchair, scooters, a cool bag.

With these answers the choice narrows to one or two options, and then the budget decides. All spacious cars are collected in the minivan rental section; below is how to compare them.

How many seats you need: minivan, crossover or minibus

Five or six people

A family of five often doesn't need a minivan: a roomy crossover or estate is enough if there is little luggage. A sixth passenger is the point to look at seven-seaters: a five-seat car simply has nowhere to put them. Even with five of you, two adults and a child seat in the second row feel cramped on a long drive.

Seven or eight people

This is minivan territory. Most minivans in the Rent-Trip catalogue are seven-seaters, while the Hyundai Starex and Peugeot Traveller seat eight. The Kia Carnival and Toyota Alphard, for example, work well for families: both have a full-size third row. Classic minivans like these also have sliding side doors, which make it easy to get children in and out in a tight parking space without hitting the car next to you.

More than eight passengers

If two families or the whole extended family travel in one vehicle, you need a minibus. Check your licence first: category B allows you to drive a vehicle with no more than eight passenger seats in addition to the driver's. A 14-seat minibus requires category D1, a 19-seat one category D. If you don't hold these, rent the vehicle with a driver: that solves the licence question and frees you from driving.

Minivan and other spacious cars compared

A summary of the options most often rented for family trips. Prices are the catalogue minimum per day; the deposit depends on the car class under our rental terms.

A minivan usually costs more than a crossover, but on a long trip the difference pays off: nobody sits with their knees up, and you don't have to choose between the third row and the luggage.

Minivan boot space and the third row: fitting everything in

Every seven-seater follows one rule: with the third row up, the boot shrinks. In a crossover there is room for literally a couple of bags behind the third row. A classic minivan has more space, but there are surprises here too: in executive minivans with individual second-row seats, the luggage area behind the third row is smaller than the body size suggests.

How to estimate the space in advance

• Count your suitcases one by one and tell us their sizes: we'll tell you whether they fit behind the third row of a specific model.
• A folded pushchair takes up a noticeable part of the boot, so count it as another suitcase.
• If there are six of you in a seven-seater, one third-row seat can be folded to make room for luggage.
• For a long trip, pack in soft bags: they are easier to fit tightly than hard suitcases.

If you have a lot of luggage

When the luggage won't fit even in a minivan, it is better to take a car one size up, such as an eight-seat minivan for seven people or a minibus, than to pile bags into the cabin. Items on the seats and on the floor between rows get in the passengers' way and are dangerous under hard braking.

Child seats in a rented minivan

Kazakhstan's traffic rules require young children to travel in child restraints suited to their age, height and weight. As the driver of a rental car you are responsible for this, so it is best to arrange child seats when booking rather than on the day of the trip.

How many seats to order and where to put them

You can rent a child seat together with the car for 1,000 ₸ per day. Tell us each child's age and approximate weight and we will prepare the right one: an infant carrier for a baby, a child seat for a toddler or a booster for a schoolchild. Child seats are best placed in the second row: the child is within easy reach, and in a minivan with individual seats there is still a gap to walk through to the third row. The rear seats are better left to older children and adults.

What to check when you collect the car

Ask the staff member handing over the car to show you the Isofix anchors if the model has them, and make sure the seat is fitted firmly and doesn't wobble. Check that the child locks on the rear doors are on and that the rear windows can be locked from the driver's seat. It takes a couple of minutes and saves you surprises on the road.

How much minivan rental costs and what the price includes

Minivans in the Rent-Trip catalogue cost from 46,990 ₸ per day, seven-seat crossovers from 27,990 ₸. The most affordable seven-seater is the Lada Largus from 22,990 ₸, but it has a manual gearbox, so keep that in mind. The final price depends on the model, year of manufacture and rental period: the longer you rent, the cheaper each day.

Deposit, mileage and insurance

For minivans, minibuses and seven-seat crossovers from the SUV class the deposit is 100,000 ₸ (premium models such as the BMW X7 carry 150,000 ₸); for the Lada Largus, a comfort-class car, it is 50,000 ₸. The deposit is returned within 1–3 working days after the car is handed back without damage or fines. CASCO and MTPL insurance are included in the price, and the rate includes up to 200 km per day; beyond the limit there is a per-kilometre charge set out in the contract. This matters for a family trip out of town: plan your route in advance and tell us where you are going so the final amount is no surprise.

Delivery to your door or to the airport

It is convenient to receive the minivan right at your door: delivery within the city takes 30–60 minutes. If relatives are flying in, you can collect the car at Almaty airport and seat everyone with their luggage at once instead of calling two taxis.

Checklist: renting a family minivan in five steps

1. Count the passengers and, separately, the children who need child seats.
2. List the luggage: suitcases, pushchair, sports gear.
3. Check your licence: vehicles with more than eight passenger seats require category D1 or D.
4. Plan your route and daily mileage: the rate includes 200 km per day.
5. Send us your dates, the family line-up and the route: we will pick a model and give you the final price and deposit before you sign the contract.

Minivan rental questions

Can I rent a minivan with a category B licence?

Yes. Seven- and eight-seat minivans are driven on a standard category B licence. Category D1 or D is only needed for minibuses with more than eight passenger seats. The general driver requirements are a minimum age of 21 and at least two years of driving experience.

How many child seats fit in a minivan?

It depends on the model and where the anchors are. The second row of a seven-seat minivan usually takes two child seats. If you have more children, tell us when booking and we will choose a model where child seats can also go in the third row.

What should a family of six choose: a minivan or a crossover?

For a short trip with little luggage, a seven-seat crossover is enough. For a long journey with teenagers or adults in the third row and plenty of luggage, take a minivan: its third row is full-size and there is still room for bags behind it.

Can I take a minivan out of town?

Yes, routes outside Almaty are agreed when booking. Keep the 200 km per day mileage limit in mind: on a long route, extra kilometres are charged separately under the contract.