Used buses for sale are often referred to as minibuses or commercial buses and are usually built on a cutaway van chassis. There are various shuttle bus types and models available for sale in the market today but what you choose depends on how you need to use it for your business or group. For example, a charter bus is used for large group destination travel whereas a minibus is more often used for local trips around the neighborhood or longer trips for smaller groups. You will see shuttle busses traveling everywhere from churches, hotels, casinos, daycare centers, airports, colleges, and even sports teams. Their primary advantage is to make group transportation hassle-free, reduce walking time, and make sure every member reaches his/her destination in comfort and safety. The average reliable lifespan of a shuttle bus is 12-15 years and up to 300,000 miles (depending on location and service availability) and they cost $50,000 and up if purchased new. However, good pre-owned counterparts are often already used from 50,000 to 150,000 miles and can cost anywhere between $10,000 to $35,000 depending on the vehicle’s age, mileage, condition, and features. These used buses for sale still have plenty of life and offer a lot of interesting opportunities for small businesses and organizations to fulfill their transportation needs. There are several brands particularly Ford and Chevrolet that manufacture these minibusses buses for sale.
Used buses for sale are excellent vehicles to take cross-country road trips because your family car or SUV just does not have the space to seat everybody and their gear. They can also be used by churches to pick up and drop off the congregation on Sundays and attend functions together. There are many ways a bus can be used to meet the requirements of almost any group that plans to travel together. They have a lot of space and are more convenient than most other modes of transportation. Many buses are available with creature comforts including entertainment systems making them the ideal go-to vehicles for group transportation. New ones are expensive but used buses for sale are affordable and cost roughly 40% to 75% less than their new counterparts.
Used motor coaches are less affordable but they are much more expensive to maintain, run and insure than shuttle buses. Many small businesses and organizations that have limited budgets rarely buy them outright. You can always find more than 45 used shuttle buses for sale on our lot with a wide variety of features that make them affordable for those with limited budgets. Check out the above sliders and click on any vehicle image to get detailed information about the vehicle along with more than 40 exterior and interior photos. The vehicles that you chose should depend on your needs. For example, do you need a bus with a wheelchair lift to assist senior and disabled passengers? Similarly, do you need storage compartments overhead, over the seats, or at the front or at the rear end of the passenger cabin for luggage? Most rear luggage compartments are separated by a wall from the passenger cabin or do you want an interior luggage rack? It is your needs that will decide what features are required on your bus.
Church buses:
Transport your congregation or community members in style and comfort with affordable used buses for sale. Offering transportation services to and from the church gives ministries a unique opportunity to know people and make lasting relationships in the community. If the church is located near a college or university, increase your mission to serve the community on college campuses with the help of an affordable church bus. It makes traveling easier for those who cannot drive by themselves, for example, students, disabled persons, senior citizens who suffer from cataracts or can’t see in the dark, etc. Having access to a church vehicle helps them visit the church with ease and comfort. Otherwise, they would have preferred to stay at home because of the difficulties they face while traveling. These buses are not just used on Sunday mornings. They are also used for other functions of the church like organizing community kitchens, youth group events, reach outs, church trips, mission work, one-day outing, weekend or extended trips, and other service opportunities. Providing transportation to the community can soon become a full-fledged ministry. And if the bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift then it can reach out to the disabled as well as seniors who have difficulties with mobility. You don’t need to read a newspaper to know about the church van accidents. Many insurance companies have already refused to cover 15 seater vans and have raised the monthly premiums on existing ones. The only proper choice is to buy a 15 passenger shuttle bus for your church. It’s safer and financially rewarding than a church van.
We have sold thousands of buses to churches across America for the past 35 years and know the requirements of every buyer. As a result, our used buses for sale are outfitted with features and equipment that are always demanded by most startup and local churches. With more than 3 decades of experience, we help and guide every church through the bus buying process and choose the right vehicles with the right amenities that are perfect for their situation.
Engine type:
Most small buses for sale are built on several Ford chassis and are equipped with a gasoline engine. The coach body is built above the chassis from the ground up and typically can seat from 8 to 30 passengers including the driver. When it comes to mid-sized busses that are bigger than minibusses, yet smaller than a full-sized motor coach, they are built on similar Ford chassis but the manufacturers build the chassis long enough to seat anywhere from 16 to 29 passengers. These mid-sized busses are similar to trucks and other medium-duty vehicles available and are equipped with either gas or diesel engines. Buses with gasoline engines are less expensive than those with diesel engines and the price difference can be as high as up to $7,000 to $12,000 with modern emission controls. The cost of diesel is more than gasoline and offsets the higher efficiency of diesel in most cases. It is easier to find technicians to fix a gasoline engine because they are the most dominant engine type in North America. Due to these reasons, many savvy buyers choose mid-sized busses equipped with gasoline engines, and therefore manufacturers have adjusted production accordingly. Note, however, on average, a diesel engine can last up to 500,000 miles whereas a gasoline engine typically lasts from 200,0000 to 300,000 miles, and both don’t require major repairs until they have passed 100,000 miles. In small and mid-sized buses diesel engines typically operate at 12-15 mpg (miles per gallon) and gasoline engines operate at 10-12 mpg(miles per gallon) on the road. Despite these performance variations every buyer needs to analyze if they want a diesel engine or a gasoline engine. If they opt to pay a higher amount initially at the time of purchase or should they consider the economies of a somewhat longer engine several years down the road? One should also remember that with proper care and maintenance, it’s common to get the same benefits from gasoline engines that diesel engines have to offer. Keeping these facts in mind we would suggest most buyers choose gasoline engines whenever possible. Purchasers should check the hours on the engine whenever possible, not just the bus’s odometer.
Since their primary objective is to transport people over varied terrain. It’s advisable to buy busses with the biggest practical engine. The more people and cargo you transport on a single trip the more engine power will be required for comfortable travel and to support the demands of the air conditioning system which can be substantial. It will be worth the additional cost in the long run especially if you want to use the bus as a commercial carrier i.e. to transport people for a fee. Such business models are most successful if you transport the greatest number of people on a single trip which more often requires a more powerful engine.
Recreational Vehicles:
Many travel enthusiasts want to satisfy their wanderlust by traveling across the country or even the continent in their own vehicles. In the early 20th century travelers had to purchase a truck and hook a camper trailer behind it. This was expensive, inconvenient as well as hard to maintain. As the demand for family travel and camping vehicles increased, manufacturers got creative and started making buses that can be used as a recreational vehicle. The truck plus trailer model was combined together into a single unit that had a cabin for the driver as well as a living room for the passengers. But such vehicles are still expensive and cost from $75,000 to $1,000,000 for the new vehicles. It’s indeed a luxury to own a recreational vehicle but with prices, so high many travel enthusiasts and vacationers cannot afford to buy them even with financing. However, people got creative and started looking at used buses for sale to fulfill their vacation and travel needs. They can purchase a used bus, remove its seats, and convert it into a recreational vehicle by installing entertainment systems, custom seating, bedding, water tanks, bathrooms, microwaves, stove, refrigerator, table, chair, cupboards, etc. Anything they could come up with to make their journey across the country easy and hassle free. Installing a power inverter for 110 volt service with standard outlets helps to power all their electrical appliances and with proper plumbing, these used buses could be easily hooked at water supplies available at campgrounds. Across the internet, there are hundreds of DIY ideas and a new industry has developed over the years that convert used buses for sale into recreational vehicles. These vehicles could be owned well within a $20,000 to $50,000 budget including the cost of conversion. So if you are planning to go on a long vacation around the North American continent then buy a used bus for sale and modify it into a recreational vehicle. Search the internet for inspiration and do the modification by yourself or outsource it to professional converters. By using recycled materials, the cost of conversion can be as little as $10,000. Use this vehicle for 5 years and maybe you can sell it to another travel enthusiast for the same amount that you purchased it initially because new RVs are expensive and beyond the reach of most budget-conscious travelers.
Rust:
Every used bus has some amount of superficial rust on its undercarriage. Some are visible and obvious while others are hidden. Rust cannot be stopped, it grows, and replacing rusted parts can wreak havoc with your budget. Buyers should avoid buying vehicles that have rusted engine mounts, compromised frames, soft floors, and rusted sidewalls at all costs. A little bit of rust is okay but when it enters the critical areas of the bus then it should be avoided. Just because the vehicle has low mileage and is being offered at lower than new vehicle price does not mean it is a good bus to buy. It would be of great concern if the previous owner let rust eat up his bus and did not take proper care of the body and chassis. A motorcoach may have a shiny exterior but the biggest issues especially those related to rust may be hidden out of immediate sight. It is important to get the vehicle inspected by professional third-party mechanics or technicians before investing heavily in a used bus. They should check for structural integrity and look for signs of damage, rust, and corrosion. A reputable dealership will always allow inspection by third parties before selling their vehicles. The inspectors should check all major components such as transmissions, engines, body frame, electrical and hydraulic systems, air conditioning, etc, and be able to give you a detailed written analysis about the bus. Listen carefully to their advice and concerns and don’t let your immediate need for a bus to cloud your decision.
Major Vehicle Exchange has been providing used buses for sale to buyers across the country since 1985. We always have a stock of approximately 45 reconditioned used buses with varying features and functionality for almost any purpose and budget. Whether you are a church, transportation company, limo service provider, hotel or casino owner, adult daycare operator, senior center, assisted living facility, etc. we will do everything to get a bus that fits your budget and requirements. Every bus is made to go through a rigorous reconditioning process of inspection, servicing, and replacement of up to 250 parts and components. Any part that fails the inspection is either repaired or replaced. This process gives the vehicle buyer confidence, a new life and they often stay with their new owners for 10 years or more. Moreover, all our used buses have clear titles, typically one previous owner and a clean title report. After highly trained technicians complete the reconditioning process, they are 100% ready to hit the road. Once purchased the vehicles are then picked up or delivered to the buyer’s location anywhere across America. Buying a bus can be a tedious process even for the most experienced person. Our aim is to make the bus buying and owning process simple and easy even for first-time buyers. We are with you throughout the journey. When your bus is no longer needed we are often ready to buy it back from you at a reasonable price. This is sometimes the fastest and easiest way to get rid of a big vehicle that is no longer needed.
For more information about used buses for sale call the CEO, Mr. Charles Kaufman at 516-333-7483 today and subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest updates on vehicles we have in stock.
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