Costopedia / Automotive / How Much Does a Bus Rental Cost?

How Much Does a Bus Rental Cost?

$ School Buses: $350-$1,200 per day $ $ Deluxe Charter Buses: $775-$1,300 per day $ $ $ Entertainer/Sleeper Buses: $1,000-$3,000 per day

Buses are lifesaving vehicles for big groups of people and have been known for being one of the best public transportation options in many places.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a traveling group, a sports club, or a group of students going on a field trip, they will surely need to rent a bus at some point.

What Affects The Costs Of Renting A Bus?

There are many factors and details that affect the final price of renting a vehicle; between these factors can be included:

  • Number of Passengers: There are many sizes of buses, and depending on the number of people in the group, you can rent a bigger or smaller bus. Charter buses can accommodate over 50 passengers, while minibusses are perfect for smaller groups.
  • Distance: local trips are often charged by the hour, while trips that cover long distances are priced by day or by mile. Also, if you are traveling on a one-way trip, it will be cheaper than a round trip.
  • Day and Season: Depending on when you are renting, prices can go up or down. Winter is the cheapest season to rent a bus, while prices reach a peak between spring and summer. The day is also a determining factor that affects the price for bus rental, as the weekends tend to be more expensive.
  • City: Depending on the city you are renting the bus, fares can vary. And also, if the city or place you are going is not in good condition for the bus, the price can increase.
  • Company: Among the different companies that rent buses prices can vary a lot.
  • Extras: Depending on the extras the bus has, it will cost more. Among the extras can include Wi-Fi, smartphone hookups, DVD players, and on-board restroom facilities.

What Type Of Bus Can Be Rented?

The list of buses that can be rented for groups of any number of members include:

  • School buses: Seating 44 to 72 passengers.
  • Trolleys: Seating 20 to 58 passengers.
  • Minibusses: Seating 18 to 36 passengers.
  • Limobuses: Seating 18 to 36 passengers.
  • Deluxe Charter Buses: Seating 37 to 59 passengers.
  • Executive Charter Buses: Seating 18 to 32 passengers.
  • Entertainer/sleeper buses: Seating 9 to 12 passengers.

You can rent school buses for about $350 to $1,200 per day; school buses don’t offer restrooms, air conditioning, or storage space.

Renting a trolley can cost about $1,000 to $2,000 per day, and minibusses for about $550 to $1,600 per day; minibusses rarely have restrooms, and trolleys don’t have them at all.

A limobus, which is a more spacious type of bus, can be rented for about $1,200 to $2,500 per day.

Deluxe charter buses can be rented for about $775 to $1,300 per day; these buses often offer restrooms, comfortable seats, air-conditioning, and luggage storage.

You can rent executive charter buses for about $1,000 to $2,500 per day; these buses offer restrooms, comfortable seats, air-conditioning, luggage storage, space to move, and some amenities like an entertainment center and a kitchenette.

Entertainer/sleeper buses can be rented for about $1,000 to $3,000 per day; these buses offer air conditioning, luggage storage, restrooms, a kitchen, a shower, bunk beds, and also amenities like an entertainment center and lounge area.

Top Companies

You can rent a bus at online bus rental websites such as Bus.com, Bookbuses.com, Busrates.com, Trailways.com, Buscharterexpress.com, Uscoachways.com, and more.

Florida Charter Bus Company shares its fares for bus rental comparing different types of buses and fares:

Bus Type Passenger Capacity Per Hour Per Day Per Mile
Charter Bus 56 $127 – $180 $1,310 – $1,665 $4.00 – $4.95
Minibus 25 $125 – $160 $1,270 – $1,570 $4.30 – $5.15
Minibus 20 $117 – $155 $1,220 – $1,455 $4.25 – $5.15
Minibus 18 $115 – $150 $1,215 – $1,445 $3.90 – $4.90

Book Buses shares its fares for bus rental comparing different types of buses and fares:

Price Estimates 4-Hours Minimum Additional Hours 8-Hours Full Day
Yellow School Bus $500-$600 $81-$115 $968-$1,200
Charter Bus $550-$850 $135-$195 $1,350-$2,200
Minibus $500-$700 $110-$160 $1,000-$1,600

Things To Consider

Before Buying

  1. First, check the different pages that specialize in bus rental and get to know what they offer to choose the best option for you.
  2. Always verify the company’s safety rating with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
  3. Ask the bus rental company about their insurance; they should cover this fully.
  4. Take into consideration that to rent a bus it’s needed a deposit to book it, usually of about 20%.
  5. Ask the bus rental company if they charge a fuel surcharge because that can affect the final cost.
  6. Always plan with time. It is recommended to book a bus three weeks to three months in advance.
  7. Take into consideration that, if you are planning on traveling long distances, there exist government regulations that prohibit bus drivers from driving more than ten hours consecutively without a break of a minimum of eight hours off.

When Buying

  1. Take into consideration the group’s needs when choosing the type of bus you are renting. Many companies display photos of their buses’ interiors and amenities.

After Buying

  1. Some companies can include a fee for parking and tolls incurred on the road.
  2. Gratuity is a common practice in the USA. It is common to give the bus driver 10, 15, and up to 20% gratuity.
Giovanna Soto