Small Groups (10-14)

Buying a 10-14 passenger bus: Small group vehicles are usually passenger vans, compact shuttles, or cutaway buses built for groups that need more capability than a minivan without stepping into full-size bus operations.

Best fit: Churches, nonprofits, hotels, schools, camps, sports teams, and small corporate routes.
Budget: Often $18,000-$70,000 depending on year, mileage, seating, chassis, and ADA equipment.
Check: Seat belts, passenger rating, GVWR, lift equipment if equipped, service history, and state driver rules.

Need help choosing? Compare 10-14 passenger layouts, MFSAB needs, budgets, buyer fit, and state driver rules after the listings. View the decision guide

Which 10–14 Passenger Bus Fits Your Organization?

The 10–14 passenger bus is the sweet spot for churches, daycares, camps, and senior centers that have outgrown a van but don't need a full 30-seat shuttle. Your use case — student transport, congregation runs, ADA access, or general group travel — determines the right body, chassis, and compliance spec. Use this matrix to find your fit.

Buyer / Use Case	Recommended Vehicle	Typical Budget (Used)	Key Consideration
Church / Ministry	Ford Transit 350 or E-350 Starcraft, 12–14 passengers	$28,000–$55,000	Most units in this range are CDL-exempt — a big advantage when your drivers are volunteers and you need to keep licensing simple. Check seat belt availability on every position. The Ford Transit Starcraft MFSAB at $49,000 is a strong church option: no CDL required, 14 passengers, seat belts throughout.
Daycare / Child Care Center	Collins MFSAB or Starcraft Prodigy on Ford or Chevrolet, 14 passengers	$35,000–$65,000	MFSAB compliance — high-back padded seats, seat belts, specific mirror and emergency exit requirements — is often legally required for transporting children. Verify your state's childcare transport rules. A Collins MFSAB or Chevrolet Starcraft Prodigy is the right starting point.
School / Activity Program	Ford T350HD Blue Bird MFSAB or Ford Transit Collins MFSAB, 14 passengers	$40,000–$75,000	School activity buses must meet FMVSS and MFSAB standards in most states for K–12 student transport. The 2019 Ford T350 HD Blue Bird MFSAB (14 passengers, 35,960 miles) and 2024 Ford Transit Collins MFSAB (14 passengers, 2,597 miles, $49,000) are the benchmark units in this segment.
ADA / Paratransit / Senior Care	Ford E-350 or Transit Elkhart Coach / Goshen ADA, with wheelchair lift	$35,000–$70,000	ADA-configured small buses carry ambulatory and wheelchair passengers in the same vehicle. Always cycle the lift before you buy. Verify Q'Straint floor-track securement is intact. The 2021 Ford E350 Elkhart Coach (12 passengers + 2 wheelchair positions) is a typical used-market example.
Summer Camp / Youth Program	Ford E-350 Starcraft Allstar or Chevrolet Starcraft, 12–14 passengers	$28,000–$55,000	Durability and parts availability matter most when you're running daily routes in summer. Ford E-Series chassis are serviced at virtually every independent shop. Check A/C condition — a broken system in summer camp season is an immediate problem.
Hotel / Airport Shuttle	Ford E-450 Endera or Transit 350 Starlite, 14 passengers	$40,000–$85,000	The 2024 Ford E450 Endera (14 passengers, 29 ft, 7.3L V8, Freedman seating, USB ports, backup camera) is purpose-built for this use case. Confirm luggage storage configuration matches your typical guest load.

10–14 Passenger Bus Types: Chassis, Body Builders & CDL Requirements

Every 10–14 passenger bus starts with a chassis. That's Ford E-Series or Transit, or Chevrolet Express/4500 — with a body built by a coachworks company on top. Your combination determines passenger layout, ADA capability, MFSAB compliance, and price. Here's how the main configurations stack up.

Configuration	Capacity	Typical GVWR	CDL Required?	MFSAB Compliant?	Typical Used Price
Ford E-350 / Transit 350 — Standard Shuttle (Starcraft Allstar, Goshen, Starlite body)	12–15 passengers	9,900–14,500 lbs	No	Usually No	$25,000–$55,000
Ford E-350 / Transit 350 — MFSAB Activity Bus (Collins MFSAB, Blue Bird T350, Starcraft Prodigy)	10–14 passengers	9,900–14,500 lbs	No	Yes — FMVSS compliant	$35,000–$75,000
Ford E-350 / Transit — ADA Accessible (Elkhart Coach, Goshen ADA, TCI Mobility)	8–12 passengers + 2–4 wheelchair positions	9,900–14,500 lbs	No	Varies	$35,000–$70,000
Ford Transit 350HD — MFSAB / Activity (Collins MFSAB, Blue Bird MFSAB, Starcraft Allstar)	12–14 passengers	11,500–14,500 lbs	No	Yes (on MFSAB-certified builds)	$40,000–$80,000
Chevrolet 4500 / Express — Shuttle / MFSAB (Starcraft Prodigy, Trans Tech, Arboc)	10–14 passengers	14,200–17,950 lbs	No	Yes (on MFSAB-certified builds)	$30,000–$65,000
Ford E-450 — Commercial Shuttle (Endera, Starcraft Allstar, Elkhart Coach)	12–16 passengers	14,500–22,000 lbs	No (most builds under 26,001 lbs)	Varies by build	$40,000–$85,000

MFSAB vs. standard shuttle: MFSAB (Multi-Function School Activity Bus) means the vehicle was built to specific FMVSS safety standards. That includes high-back padded seats, seat belts on every position, and specific emergency exit and mirror requirements. If you plan to transport K–12 students on school trips, your state may require MFSAB compliance. A standard shuttle bus doesn't automatically qualify. See our guide to choosing buses for daycares and schools for the 9 things to check.

10–14 Passenger Bus Body Builders: What Each Offers

In this segment, you're almost always buying a Ford or Chevrolet chassis with a body built by a specialist coachworks company. Your body builder determines interior layout, seating quality, MFSAB compliance status, and build durability. Here's what to know about the builders you'll see most often.

Starcraft Bus — The Volume Leader in Small Buses

Starcraft (part of Forest River) builds more small buses than any other coachworks company in North America. When you browse the 10–14 passenger used market, Starcraft Allstar and Prodigy models on Ford E-350, E-450, and Transit 350 chassis will dominate what you find. A 2019 Ford Transit Starcraft MFSAB with 14 passengers and 34,000 miles is a typical used find. New 2024–2025 Starcraft Allstar units on Ford E-450 (12–14 passengers) are available through dealers. The Starcraft Prodigy is the student transport variant — MFSAB-certified, high-back seats, seat belts throughout. If you're buying your first small bus and want the widest parts and service support, Starcraft is the safest choice.

Collins Bus — The MFSAB Specialist

Collins Industries builds purpose-designed MFSAB activity buses in the 10–14 passenger range. Their body on Ford Transit 250 or Transit 350 chassis is a go-to when your childcare center or school needs verified MFSAB compliance out of the box. The 2021 Ford Transit 250 Collins (14 passengers, 12,394 miles) and 2024 Ford Transit Collins MFSAB (14 passengers, 2,597 miles) are typical examples. What sets a Collins apart: padded interior, thoughtful emergency exit placement, and a body certified under FMVSS — not just marketed as compliant. If your legal counsel or insurance carrier requires documented MFSAB certification, your builder is Collins.

Elkhart Coach & Goshen — ADA Configuration Specialists

Elkhart Coach and Goshen Coach specialize in accessible configurations — buses that serve ambulatory passengers and wheelchair users in the same vehicle. A typical Elkhart Coach build on Ford E-350 or E-450 seats 8–12 ambulatory passengers plus 2–4 wheelchair positions, with a Braun or Ricon lift. The 2019 Ford E350 Elkhart Coach (10 passengers + 2 wheelchair positions, 23,137 miles) is a typical find. So is the 2021 Ford E350 Elkhart Coach (12 passengers + 2 wheelchair positions, 21,144 miles). If your organization serves passengers with mobility needs alongside ambulatory riders, these ADA configurations give you the right floor layout and certified securement. There's no costly retrofit after you've already taken delivery.

Endera Mobility — Commercial Shuttle Grade

Endera Mobility builds commercial-grade 14-passenger shuttle bodies on Ford E-450 chassis for hotel, airport, healthcare, and senior facility operators. The 2024 Ford E450 Endera (14 passengers, 7.3L V8 flex-fuel, 29 ft, Freedman seating, USB ports, backup camera, rear luggage, GVWR 14,500 lbs) is a current inventory example. What sets an Endera apart: Freedman seats designed for frequent boarding cycles, stainless wheel inserts, and a fit and finish built for a guest-facing environment. If your operation involves daily guest pick-up in a hotel or hospital setting, the Endera spec is worth the premium over a basic shuttle. It's built to stay professional-looking at 150,000 miles.

Blue Bird MFSAB & T350 Activity Buses

Blue Bird is the most recognized name in school bus manufacturing. Their MFSAB activity bus builds on Ford T350 HD chassis are the gold standard for school-sponsored student transport. The 2019 Ford T350 HD Blue Bird MFSAB — 14 passengers, 35,960 miles, seat belts on every position — shows why schools choose a Blue Bird body. You get documented MFSAB certification, school-bus-level construction quality, and brand credibility with parents and insurance carriers. Blue Bird MFSAB buses carry a slight premium over Starcraft — expect $5,000–$10,000 more for comparable mileage. For your organization, the compliance documentation and build quality often justify it when student transport liability is a real concern. See our guide for choosing the right bus for daycares and schools.

Essential Reading Before You Buy

Choosing a Bus for Your Daycare or School

The 9 things to check before you buy a bus for student or child transport — including what MFSAB compliance actually requires and how to evaluate a used activity bus for safety. If your organization transports children, read this guide before you look at a single listing. Our guide to finding the right bus for daycares and schools covers every consideration.

ADA Compliance: What to Check on an Accessible Van or Small Bus

If your bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift or ramp, ADA compliance means more than a working lift. You need functioning floor-track securement, appropriate aisle width, and certified tie-down positions. A used accessible bus that looks fine on a walk-around can have failed hydraulic seals, degraded anchors, or a lift that needs a $5,000 repair. Our ADA-compliant bus inspection guide covers every system to verify before you sign.

Insurance for Church Buses, Daycare Vans & Small Shuttles

A 14-passenger church bus carries a very different insurance profile than a 14-passenger airport shuttle. Your passenger type, use frequency, driver status (volunteer vs. commercial), and DOT authority status all shape your coverage needs. Many nonprofits and churches underinsure their transport vehicles — and you only discover the gap after an incident. Our bus insurance types and nonprofit vehicle coverage guide breaks down what organizations at this scale actually need.

How a Church Expanded Its Fleet: A Real-World Case Study

Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church's experience expanding their transport program across six Louisiana locations is a useful reference for any church evaluating a 10–14 passenger bus purchase. Their process — evaluating vehicle needs, navigating the used market, building a fleet for multiple campuses — reflects what most ministry transport buyers face. Read the full story: Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church fleet expansion case study.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a 14-passenger bus cost?

Used 14-passenger buses range from about $25,000 for a high-mileage Ford E-350 Starcraft to $75,000+ for a late-model MFSAB-certified Collins or Blue Bird build with low mileage. New commercial units like the 2024 Ford E450 Endera start around $80,000–$90,000. Your most active used market sits between $35,000 and $55,000 — covering 2015–2020 Ford builds with 30,000–80,000 miles.

Do you need a CDL to drive a 14-passenger bus?

In most cases, no. Nearly all 10–14 passenger buses on Ford E-350, Transit 350, and Chevrolet 4500 chassis fall under the 26,001 lb GVWR federal CDL threshold. A standard driver's license is sufficient. However, some states add CDL-like requirements for transporting children or seniors regardless of vehicle weight. Always read the data plate on the specific unit. Check your state's rules for your intended use before you assume you're CDL-free.

What is an MFSAB and does my organization need one?

MFSAB stands for Multi-Function School Activity Bus. It's a small bus built to specific FMVSS safety standards for transporting students: high-back padded seats, seat belts on every position, specific emergency exits, and mirror requirements. Whether you need one depends on your state's rules. Many states require MFSAB compliance for any vehicle carrying K–12 students on school trips — including private schools and daycares. A standard shuttle bus does not qualify by default.

Are seat belts required on 10–14 passenger buses?

For adult passengers, federal law does not mandate seat belts on most small buses — but many states and most liability-conscious organizations require them. For student transport, the answer is clearer: MFSAB-certified buses have seat belts on every position by definition. If you're buying a bus for child transport, verify that every seating position has a functioning belt before you buy. Don't assume — check the specific unit.

What should I inspect before buying a used 10–14 passenger bus?

Your priority checklist, in order: (1) seat belts — buckles, retractors, webbing on every seat; (2) wheelchair lift if equipped — cycle it fully and check hydraulic seals; (3) engine and transmission service records; (4) A/C — small bus systems fail hard in summer; (5) door actuator and step condition — entry hardware wears fast; (6) body-to-chassis attachment and floor pan condition on older units. Request the full service history before you commit.

Ford or Chevrolet — which platform is better for a small bus?

Both are excellent — but they suit different priorities. Ford E-350/Transit 350 is the dominant platform: more body builder options, wider parts availability, and a deeper used market mean more selection and lower prices for you. Chevrolet 4500/Express is slightly more limited in body options but proven and reliable. For your first small bus purchase, Ford gives you more choices. If you already run Chevrolet fleet vehicles, staying on the same chassis simplifies your maintenance program.

Your Quick-Start Buying Checklist

Before you buy, here's what you need to confirm. First, check the GVWR on the data plate — most units here are CDL-free. Second, decide whether you need MFSAB compliance for your use case. Third, verify seat belts on every position. Fourth, if your bus has a lift, cycle it before you sign. Fifth, request the full service history. That's it. If you can confirm all five, you're ready to move forward.

Ready to Find Your 10–14 Passenger Bus?

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