School Buses

Buying a used school bus starts with bus type, passenger count, CDL needs, and condition.

Best fit: Schools, churches, activity programs, and skoolie buyers.
Budget: Often $8,000-$30,000 depending on age, mileage, and condition.
Check: Rust, title class, service history, tires, brakes, and CDL fit.

Need help choosing? Compare Type A-D, budgets, buyer fit, and CDL notes after the listings. View the decision guide

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2012 International CE NJ Spec School Bus

16274

The 2012 International CE NJ Spec School Bus is a dependable option for safe and efficient student transport, designed to accommodate up to 54 passengers. This used school bus is equipped with durable high-back vinyl seats and advanced safety features, making it ideal for public school districts, private schools, and community outreach programs. With a robust diesel engine and Allison automatic transmission, it ensures smooth and reliable performance for daily routes. Its clean yellow exterior offers a professional appearance, making it a preferred choice for educational institutions seeking a high-capacity transport solution.

International is renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation in the transportation industry. The CE model stands out with its emphasis on safety and comfort, making it a preferred choice for school transportation.

Notable Features

Passenger Comfort: High-back vinyl seating provides a comfortable travel experience for students and staff.

Safety and Reliability: Equipped with hydraulic brakes, ensuring a secure and dependable ride.

Exterior: Clean yellow paint maintains a professional appearance.

Additional Specifications

Engine: Diesel

Transmission: Allison Automatic

Mileage: 153,724 miles

Exterior Dimensions: Length: 39 ft, Width: 8 ft, Height: 10 ft

GVWR: 29,800 lbs

Contact for Price

Mileage 154983

Passengers 54

Year 2012

2017 Thomas C2 77P AC

51612

2017 Thomas C2 Saf-T-Liner 77 Passenger Air Conditioned school bus with a Cummins diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, air brakes, rear air suspension, front and rear air conditioning, seat belts, and more. This bus was recently retired from daily school bus fleet service in Florida and is ready to get back to work.

$49,000

Mileage 124123

Passengers 77

Year 2017

2016 Thomas C2 77P Air Con

51600

2016 Freightliner Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 77 Passenger full sized school bus with a Cummins diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, Front and rear air conditioning, air brakes, rear air suspension, and more. This bus was recently retired from daily school bus fleet service in Florida and is ready to get back to work. This air conditioned school bus is perfect for any public school, private school, church, summer camp or any fleet business interested in providing group transportation.

$49,000

Mileage 116480

Passengers 77

Year 2016

2016 Thomas C2 77P Air Con

51583

2016 Freightliner Thomas C2 Saf-T-Liner 77-Passenger School Bus that was recently retired from school bus fleet use in Florida. This unit has front and rear air conditioning, seat belts, tinted glass, air brakes, air door, audio system and more. This bus is powered by a Cummins Diesel and has an Allison automatic transmission. It is perfect for a public school, private school, fleet operator or any compnay looking to provide air conditioned transportation to large groups of people.

$44,000

Mileage 151334

Passengers 77

Year 2016

2015 Thomas Saf-T-Liner 72P

51580

2015 Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 full size yellow school bus featuring a Cummins diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, hydraulic brakes, engine brake, and more. This bus was recently retired from daily school bus fleet service and is ready to get back to work. Perfect for any public school, private school, day camp, employee transport company or fleet operator looking to provide mass transportation options.

$27,700

Mileage 131629

Passengers 72

Year 2015

2022 International CE 72P

51560

2022 International CE 72 Passenger school bus with a Cummins diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, Air brakes, Engine brake, tinted glass, and more. This bus was recently retired from daily school bus service and is ready to get back to work. One owner, low miles and perfect for private schools, employee transport, or fleet operators.

$79,000

Mileage 79376

Passengers 77

Year 2022

2017 International CE 77P

51513

2017 International CE 77-Passenger Yellow School Bus with only 77,000 original miles. This bus has had only one previous owner and it was recently retired from daily school bus fleet use. It has been fleet maintained since new and we have the records. Cummins diesel, Allison automatic, air brakes, air door, tinted glass and more. This is an excellent bus for privat schools, public school, employee transport, charter services or any fleet operator interested in moving large groups of students or employees.

$47,000

Mileage 77966

Passengers 77

Year 2017

2020 International CE 72P

51461

2020 International CE 72-Passenger School Bus with a Cummins Diesel, Allison automatic transmission, air brakes, air door, engine brake, tinted glass and more. One owner and just retired from fleet use. This bus has very low miles and is ready to work. It is perfect for any public school, fleet operator, private school or any other company looking to transport students or employees in style.

$64,000

Mileage 47088

Passengers 72

Year 2020

2012 Blue Bird Vision

51416

2012 Blue Bird Vision full size American Yellow School Bus with 72-Passenger capacity. This bus has had only one previous owner and was recently retired from daily school bus fleet use. It is powered by a Cummins Diesel engine, allison automatic transmission, air brakes, air door, tinted glass and more. This bus is perfect for school use, employee transport needs, private schools, church programs, exporters or any company looking to carry children or adults in comfort.

$17,000

Mileage 90866

Passengers 72

Year 2012

2012 Blue Bird Vision 72P

51415

2012 Blue Bird Vision full size yellow school bus with 72-Passenger capacity. This bus is powered by a Cummins Diesel with an Allison automatic transmission. It has had only one previous owner and was recently retired from daily school bus fleet use. It has air brakes, an air door, tinted glass and more. 40 matching buses like this one are available now. Call now if you need a large quantity.

$16,600

Mileage 123952

Passengers 72

Year 2012

2012 Blue Bird Vision 72P

51411

Another excellent 2012 Blue Bird Vision 72-Passenger full size yellow School Bus with a Cummins diesel engine, air brakes, air door and more. We have 40 of these matching units in stock now and ready to ship. These buses are perfect for employee transport, agricultural employee transport, data center employee transport, public schools, private schools, daycare centers, churches or any other company interested in buses to move large groups of students, children, employees or clients.

$15,000

Mileage 172291

Passengers 72

Year 2012

2013 Blue Bird Vision 72 Passenger

51313

2013 Blue Bird Vision 72 Passenger Yellow School Bus with a Cummins Diesel Engine, Allison Automatic Transmission, Air Brakes and more! Recently retired from daily school bus fleet service and ready to go back to work.

$18,000

Mileage 115018

Passengers 72

Year 2013

2015 Blue Bird Vision 72 Passenger

51312

2015 Blue Bird Vision 72-Passenger Yellow School Bus with a Cummins Diesel engine, Allison Automatic Transmission, Air Brakes, Engine Brake and more! Recently retired from daily school bus fleet service and ready to go back to work.

$20,000

Mileage 212414

Passengers 72

Year 2015

2016 Blue Bird 72 Passenger

51309

2016 Blue Bird Vision 72-Passenger Yellow School Bus with a Cummins Diesel Engine, Allison Automatic Transmission, Air Brakes, and more! Recently retired from daily school bus fleet service and ready to get back to work.

$22,000

Mileage 232739

Passengers 72

Year 2016

2017 THOMAS C2 72 Passenger Bus

51300

2017 Thomas SAF-T-LINER C2 72 Passenger School Bus with a Cummins Diesel engine, Allison Automatic Transmission, Engine Brake, Tinted Glass and more! Recently retired from daily school fleet use and ready to get back to work.

$39,500

Mileage 119338

Passengers 72

Year 2017

2017 Thomas Saf-T-Liner 72P

51299

2017 Freightliner Thomas 72-Passnger full size yellow school bus with a Cummins Diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, air brakes, air door, tinted glass and more. This is a one owner bus that has been fleet maintained since new. It was recently retired from daily school bus fleet use and is ready to get back to work.

$43,000

Mileage 99593

Passengers 72

Year 2017

2017 Thomas C2 78 Passenger

51298

2017 Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 78 Passenger School Bus with a Cummins Diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, Air brakes, Engine Brake and more. Recently retired from daily school bus fleet use and ready to get back to work.

$38,500

Mileage 117215

Passengers 78

Year 2017

2017 Thomas C2 72 Passenger Bus

51297

$42,000

Mileage 95465

Passengers 72

Year 2017

2017 Thomas 72 Passenger

51295

The 2017 Freightliner C2 Thomas is a fleet-ready school bus that offers a safe and reliable transportation solution for public and private schools. With its Cummins Diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, and air brakes, this 72-passenger bus is ideal for daily routes and extracurricular activities. The inclusion of features like tinted glass and an engine brake enhances comfort and safety, making it a cost-effective choice for schools looking to expand their fleet and reduce dependency on rentals.

Freightliner is a respected name in the commercial vehicle industry, known for its durability and performance. The combination of a Freightliner chassis with a Thomas body ensures a high-quality bus that delivers long-term reliability. This reputation provides school districts and private institutions with the peace of mind needed to focus on delivering compliant and effective student transportation.

$43,000

Mileage 89561

Passengers 72

Year 2017

2017 THOMAS C2 78 Passenger

51293

2017 Thomas SAF-T-LINER C2 78 Passenger Yellow school bus with a Cummins Diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, Air brakes, Engine brake, and more! Recently retired from daily school bus fleet use and ready to go back to work!

$38,000

Mileage 135796

Passengers 78

Year 2017

2017 THOMAS C2 72 Passenger School Bus

51292

2017 Thomas SAF-T-LINER C2 72 Passenger Yellow school bus with a Cummins Diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, Air brakes, Engine brake, and more! Recently retired from daily school bus fleet use and ready to go back to work!

$40,000

Mileage 105850

Passengers 72

Year 2017

2017 Thomas C2 78 Passenger

51291

2017 Freightliner Thomas C2 Saf-T-Liner 78 Passenger Yellow School Bus with a Cummins Diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, air brakes, engine brake, air door, tinted glass and more. One owner and fleet maintained since new. Multiple matching units in stock now.

$39,000

Mileage 114194

Passengers 78

Year 2017

2017 THOMAS C2 72 Passenger

51289

2017 Thomas SAF-T-LINER C2 72 Passenger Yellow school bus with a Cummins Diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, Air brakes, Engine brake, air door, tinted glass and more! Recently retired from daily school bus fleet use and ready to go back to work!

We have 12 matching units from the same fleet available now. These units are in stock and ship ASAP with no delay.

$40,000

Mileage 92053

Passengers 72

Year 2017

2017 Thomas C2 72 Passenger

51286

2017 Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 72 Passenger school bus with a Cummins Diesel Engine, Allison automatic transmission, Air brakes, Engine brake and more. Recently retired from daily school bus fleet use and ready to get back to work.

$38,000

Mileage 121042

Passengers 72

Year 2017

Which School Bus Is Right for You?

School buses show up on more buyer shortlists than you might expect. Whether you're a fleet manager, a church administrator, or a first-time converter, the right type depends on your passenger count, driver licensing, and budget. Here's how the main use cases stack up.

School bus buyer-fit matrix by use case
Buyer Type	Recommended Type	Typical Budget (Used)	Key Consideration
School district / fleet operator	Type C or D (66–90 passengers)	$15,000 – $40,000	FMVSS 222 compliance, CDL Class B + P + S endorsements required for drivers, fleet pricing on multiples
Church / nonprofit	Type A (14–20 passengers) or activity bus	$8,000 – $18,000	Non-CDL operability below 26,001 lbs GVWR and 15 passengers; look for MFSAB (Multi-Function School Activity Bus) titles
Skoolie conversion	Short Type C (40 ft or under), flat-nose preferred	$3,000 – $12,000	Interior ceiling height (minimum 6 ft standing clearance), rust-free frame, no major accident history — cosmetics don't matter, structure does
Shuttle / charter operator	Type A transit-style or activity bus	$10,000 – $25,000	Passenger comfort, ADA lift option, low mileage relative to age; confirm title as activity or transit bus (not school bus) if drivers lack CDL S endorsement
Exporter	Type C or D, any age	$3,000 – $15,000	Clean title, no rebuilt/salvage designation, major mechanical systems intact; cosmetic and compliance condition matters less for export markets

School Bus Types at a Glance

The federal classification system divides school buses into four types by body configuration and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR — the maximum safe loaded weight). The type you choose determines CDL requirements, route fit, and resale value. If you're unsure which type fits your operation, the buyer matrix above is a good starting point.

School bus Type A through D: specifications and CDL requirements
Type	Passenger Capacity	Typical Length	GVWR Class	CDL Required?	Used Price Range
Type A	Up to 24 passengers	20 – 28 ft	Under 10,000 lbs (A-1) or 10,001 – 14,500 lbs (A-2)	No CDL if ≤15 passengers and <26,001 lbs GVWR	$8,000 – $20,000
Type B	Up to 35 passengers	23 – 30 ft	10,001 – 26,000 lbs	CDL Class B required above 26,000 lbs GVWR	$10,000 – $22,000
Type C	Up to 66 passengers	35 – 40 ft	Over 10,000 lbs (conventional cab-over or flat-nose)	CDL Class B + P + S endorsements	$12,000 – $35,000
Type D	Up to 90 passengers	40 – 45 ft	Over 10,000 lbs (transit/flat-nose, rear engine)	CDL Class B + P + S endorsements	$15,000 – $50,000

Capacity figures reflect standard school-bus seating (three-abreast, padded compartmentalization). Actual capacity varies by manufacturer configuration and seat spacing.

Understanding the Four School Bus Types

Type A — Small Body on Van or Cutaway Chassis. Type A buses are built on a van or cutaway chassis — essentially a commercial van extended into a bus body. You get seating for up to 24 passengers and a footprint that stays manageable in parking lots and urban routes. Many configurations stay under the CDL threshold, which is why they're the default choice for churches, daycares, and small nonprofits. Popular platforms include the Ford E-450 and Chevy Express cutaway.

Type B — Bus Body on Van or Truck Chassis. Type B buses extend a conventional bus body forward over the engine, mounted on a heavy-duty van or truck chassis. You're looking at seating for up to 35 passengers — useful when a Type A cutaway isn't enough but a full-size Type C feels like overkill. Less common than Type A or C in used inventory. One thing to verify before you buy: CDL requirements depend on the GVWR, so confirm whether your driver needs a license upgrade.

Type C — Conventional Full-Size School Bus. Type C is the iconic yellow school bus — flat-nosed or conventional cab-forward body on a heavy chassis, seating 48–66 passengers. If you're shopping used inventory, you'll find the Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 and Blue Bird Vision dominating the listings. Both are well-supported nationwide for parts and service. Expect well-maintained examples with 100,000–200,000 miles to fall in the $15,000–$30,000 range. Your drivers will need a CDL Class B with P and S endorsements.

Type D — Transit-Style Full-Size School Bus. Type D buses use a transit (flat-nose, rear-engine) configuration — the same profile as a city bus. If you're running high-density routes, the 90-passenger capacity is hard to beat. The rear engine improves front-end serviceability and reduces passenger-area noise, which your drivers will appreciate on long runs. Used pricing typically starts around $15,000 and climbs to $50,000 for later-model, low-mileage examples. Same CDL endorsements apply as Type C.

Shop by Model

Looking for a specific make? The Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus is one of the most common Type C units in used inventory — parts availability is excellent and mechanic familiarity is high nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a used school bus cost?

Used school bus prices range from $3,000 for high-mileage export candidates to $50,000 for late-model, low-mileage Type D units. If you're targeting the most common used option — a Type C conventional — expect to spend $12,000–$30,000 for a serviceable unit. Condition, mileage, model year, and title type (school bus vs. activity bus) all affect your final price.

How many miles is too many on a used school bus?

Diesel school buses — the majority of used inventory — routinely reach 250,000–350,000 miles with proper maintenance. Mileage alone is a poor indicator for your purchase decision: a 150,000-mile bus with documented oil changes and a clean frame is worth more than a 90,000-mile unit with deferred maintenance and rust. Always request service records and inspect the frame before you buy.

Do I need a CDL to drive a school bus?

In most states, yes — if you're transporting students. A CDL Class B with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements is required for vehicles over 26,000 lbs GVWR carrying more than 15 passengers. Type A buses under 26,001 lbs with 15 or fewer passengers may not require a CDL, but state rules vary — confirm with your DMV before purchase.

Can I legally convert a school bus into an RV (skoolie)?

Yes, in all 50 states — but the process varies. You'll need to retitle the bus from "school bus" to "motor home" or "converted bus" with your state DMV, which typically requires photos of the completed conversion and a vehicle inspection. Most states don't allow school-titled vehicles to be registered for personal use without retitling. Budget $50–$300 for fees depending on the state.

What should I inspect before buying a used school bus?

Prioritize frame integrity (look for rust at crossmembers and outriggers), transmission function, engine oil condition, and brake system wear. Check the roof for delamination on older units. Request a Carfax or NMVTIS report to flag salvage or rebuilt titles. A pre-purchase inspection by a diesel mechanic familiar with Cummins or International engines typically costs $150–$300 and is well worth it.

What's the difference between a school bus and an activity bus title?

A school bus title restricts the vehicle to student transportation under state education regulations and requires CDL-endorsed drivers. An activity bus (also called MFSAB — Multi-Function School Activity Bus) title allows broader use — field trips, church groups, youth programs — and may not require the S endorsement. Activity-titled buses often sell at a premium for non-school buyers.

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School Buses

Which School Bus Is Right for You?

School Bus Types at a Glance

Understanding the Four School Bus Types

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a used school bus cost?

How many miles is too many on a used school bus?

Do I need a CDL to drive a school bus?

Can I legally convert a school bus into an RV (skoolie)?

What should I inspect before buying a used school bus?

What's the difference between a school bus and an activity bus title?

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