Passenger Bus for Sale Buyers Guide
When you are
ready to buy a passenger bus or commercial motor coach to use in
your tour operation, or as church transportation, you should be aware of some
of the issues at stake among the many types, makes, and models. If you haven't
read our Seven Commandments for buying ANY bus
- read that first! These commandments of advice will save you thousands of dollars
and a lifetime of headaches. This page does NOT address the issues for converting
a bus to an RV - see Conversion Bus Issues
for that information. If you haven't seen our bus
make and model quick reference chart - read that next! It identifies most
major makes and models of buses, complete with a list of advantages and disadvantages.
For instance, older coaches offer huge advantages in price, parts are readily
available for the most popular brands, and they are easy to locate and purchase.
However, they can be substantially more expensive to finance and insure under
certain circumstances.
Bus Parts for the major brands
are available for even 30 to 40 year old buses from licensed dealers. More obscure
brands, those made in foreign countries and imported, and models only produced
one year, present problems however. Financing a passenger bus -
this makes and breaks most passenger operations, not the choice of bus make. However
many companies offer better financing for certain preferred builders and even
certain models, especially those that have the lowest depreciation. The purchase
of any bus used for business should not be done without a thorough evaluation
of the finance options that are attached to it. Insurance for a passenger
bus - this can be the other BIG "deal breaker". If you cannot insure
your coach at a good rate you will never be able to turn the kind of profit needed
to deal with depreciation, attrition, maintenance, and sales operations. Do NOT
underestimate this part of the process. Also realize you may have to pass your
states and others DOT regulations. Get an insurance quote in writing from at least
TWO major carriers before signing to purchase a bus of any type.
Size is an important issue when
considering your purchase. Many prefer the larger 102" wide coaches but they
are more expensive than the standard 96" wide units. Make sure there are
no height restrictions, weight restrictions, or special licenses needed to run
the one you are considering on the roads you will be running on. Passenger
operations have a very special interest in "seating capacity" as it
pertains to profitability. Longer buses cost more, but generate more revenue when
running full. Weight issues for your new coach should not be ignored,
or underestimated. Heavier coaches usually cost more to operate but may hold up
better. If you are trying to locate a passenger bus for sale, there are
also some other things you'll need to keep in mind. The passenger bus industry
has many facets, and when looking for a passenger bus for sale, you will need
to have an understanding of your needs. Passenger bus for sale hunting can
lead to many listings. There are some passenger buses that are similar to shuttle
buses, there are double-decker buses and coaches
that all meet the various needs of those looking to get into the tour industry.
Depending upon your own specific needs, you will be able to sift through the passenger
bus for sale listings and find what you are looking for.
Our bus for sale prepurchase checklist is helpful when shopping for a coach. There are many major bus lines that specialize in tours, like Peter Pan and
Gray Line. But, many small local companies also offer charter tours, and perhaps
that is what led you to search for a passenger bus for sale. Passenger buses can
be used for school trips, college trips, to sporting events, to big cities, to
concerts, historic sites, shopping excursions and other events. In addition, many
large conventions can use passenger buses to get attendees to and from the airport,
hotel and other points of interest. Often times, you will see tours in
the classified section or travel pages of your local newspaper. These tours
include trips to sporting events, where a busload of patrons can enjoy the game
without the drive, parking and traffic themselves. And, many tour companies like
this will include everything in a package - that is usually a tremendous deal
- tickets, transportation, lunch and maybe even something else like a souvenir.
Depending on what part of the country you are in, there may be daily runs to places
like Atlantic City. With that, casinos have a deal with the charter bus companies
that give all gamblers money toward their bets. Still, more passenger bus companies
will offer overnight trips to destinations within a few hours drive. And, many
private clubs or groups will hire a charter company to make travel arrangements
for a trip. Since many passenger buses for sale are equipped with lots of
extra, they make for a comfortable drive- almost like being in a plane. The seats
usually will recline, there is a restroom - with or without a sink, plenty of
luggage storage, overhead lights, one or several televisions with VCR/DVD capabilities
for each passenger and more. These amenities can change from bus to bus, so be
sure to check all the features when shopping for your passenger bus. Some major
companies that manufacture tour buses are ElDorado and Star Trans, but large tour
companies, like Peter Pan, often sell off their older model buses through companies
like http://busbusbus.com to
get the newest passenger buses. This means savings on quality passenger buses
for smaller, more local companies. So, whether you are looking for a passenger
bus for charter tours, sightseeing excursions, day trips or overnights stays,
you will have lots to choose from when searching for your own passenger bus
for sale. Now you just need the tourists! NOTE: After evaluating the information above on SPECIFIC issues related to this particular platform you may find the prepurchase checklist helpful. It covers GENERAL issues you should be aware of for ALL platforms. It will serve as a very valuable resource to assist you in evaluating a bus, motor home, or RV for purchase. Take a copy of it with you when shopping.
Our bus for sale prepurchase checklist is helpful when shopping for a coach. |