The Knowledge Center
Bus Buying & Selling Guide
Nineteen guides on buying, selling and running a bus. They're written for people doing it for the first time, and for people who have done it forty times and want to check something. You'll find advice on inspections, CDL rules (the Commercial Driver's License some buses require), financing, valuation, and listing your bus.
How to Buy a Used Bus: 5 Steps
Shopping for a used bus can feel overwhelming, especially if it's your first one. Here's the short version our sales team walks buyers through.
Define the job first
Count the passengers you carry on a typical trip and check who will drive, because a bus listed at 14 passengers or fewer usually doesn't need a CDL driver.
Set a budget that covers ownership
The purchase price is only part of the cost, so plan for insurance, maintenance, fuel, and registration. If you'll finance, check your financing options early: loans run up to $500,000 with 24 to 84 month terms.
Search and compare listings
Use SmartSearch with short terms such as "2009 70 passenger school bus", then compare year, mileage, engine, and seating across similar buses.
Inspect before you commit
Check the frame for rust, the engine and transmission, brakes, tires, and maintenance records, or ask us for a live video walkaround if you can't travel.
Handle paperwork and compliance
Confirm the VIN matches the title, check for liens, and register the bus under your state's rules (including a USDOT number if you'll operate commercially).
How to Sell Your Bus on BusesForSale.com
Selling a bus you've relied on for years can feel like a burden, but listing it is free. There are no listing fees and no commissions, and on average buses on our marketplace sell within 30 to 60 days. Here's how it works.
Submit your bus
Click "Sell A Bus" in the top menu and fill in the year, make, model, VIN, mileage, engine details, passenger capacity, and condition. Your bus needs to be in running condition, with a clear title.
Add good photos
Upload at least 8 clear photos of the interior and exterior, because buses priced competitively and with good photos tend to sell faster.
Set your asking price
Price it against comparable buses on the marketplace (the guides below explain what drives used bus values).
Close the deal with your buyer
Our team helps you connect with qualified buyers, and you deal with them directly, so all negotiations and the transaction stay between you and the buyer.
When you're ready, sell your bus here.
From First Look to Final Sale
Read the One That Matches Your Week
Nobody reads nineteen guides at once, and you don't need to. Filter by Buying, Selling, or Ownership and pick the one about the thing in front of you. If you're comparing bus types, start with our school buses for sale and mini buses for sale. Ownership guides cover what happens after the sale, from preparing your bus for inspection to choosing the right bus insurance.
Common Questions
Eighteen Things People Ask Before They Commit
What it costs to sell. Whether you can view a bus remotely. What needs a CDL. The ones our team hears most, answered in full.
What does it cost to sell a bus?
Nothing. Listing your bus on BusesForSale.com is completely free, with no listing fees and no commissions ($0 from start to finish). You deal directly with buyers, and all negotiations and transactions are between you and the buyer.
How do I sell my bus?
Click "Sell A Bus" in the top menu and follow the step-by-step form. Provide accurate details (year, make, model, VIN, mileage, engine, passenger capacity, and condition) and at least 8 good photos. We build a detailed listing from that, and our team helps you connect with qualified buyers.
How long does it take to sell a bus?
On average, buses listed on our platform sell within 30 to 60 days. The exact timing depends on price, condition, and demand for that type of bus. Buses priced competitively, with good photos, tend to sell faster.
Do you buy buses?
Yes, when a bus is a good fit for our lot in Pedricktown, New Jersey. Send us the year, make, mileage, and a few photos, and our team will tell you whether we're interested in buying it or recommend listing it.
What is SmartSearch?
SmartSearch is BusesForSale.com's intelligent search engine. You'll find it in the banner at the top of every page, so you can start a new search from anywhere on the site.
What can I type in SmartSearch?
Keep it short and specific, with the details that matter most to you. For example, "2009 70 passenger school bus" finds buses by year, capacity, and type in one go. You can then narrow the results with filters.
What are Additional Keywords?
Any words you type in the Additional Keywords field are searched inside the bus descriptions. Use it for features that don't have their own filter, such as "wheelchair lift", "luggage racks", or "rear air".
How can I see buses you have on site?
Featured buses are usually on our lot in Pedricktown, New Jersey. Tell us which ones you're interested in and we'll confirm they're on site before you travel.
How can I refine my search?
Click, tap, or swipe the red "Search" tab on the left side of your screen. It opens filters for year, passenger capacity, brand, and price, so you can narrow the results without starting over.
What is Virtual Bus Sales?
Virtual Bus Sales connects you with one of our sales representatives by video chat, such as Zoom or FaceTime. They'll walk you around the bus live, inside and out, so you can check its condition without traveling to the lot.
How can I go see a bus?
Let us know which bus you'd like to see, and we'll make the arrangements for you.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. We arrange financing through our lending partner, JR Capital, which specializes in commercial fleet financing. You can finance new and used buses up to $500,000, with terms from 24 to 84 months, and some programs need no money down. Options include conventional loans, lease-to-own with a $1 buyout, TRAC leases (a lease with flexible end-of-term options), and programs for municipalities, schools, churches, non-profits, and startups. Most applications get a decision within minutes on our financing page.
Are the prices negotiable?
Our buses are priced competitively with market value, so prices are generally firm. If a bus is close but not quite right, ask our team about similar buses in your budget.
Why do some buses show zero mileage?
A zero-mileage listing means either the mileage is unknown or the listing covers more than one bus (a fleet sale). Ask our team for the exact mileage of each unit before you buy.
What kind of buses require a CDL?
Under federal rules, a CDL is required for a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver, or one with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, the maximum loaded weight) of 26,001 lbs or more. States can add their own rules (for example for school transport), so check with your state's DMV before you buy.
Does a 15-passenger bus need a CDL?
Usually, yes. On BusesForSale.com, passenger counts don't include the driver, so a bus listed at 15 passengers carries 16 people once the driver is aboard, which puts it over the federal CDL threshold. A bus listed at 14 passengers or fewer, under 26,001 lbs GVWR, usually doesn't need a CDL. Check your state's rules, because some add requirements of their own.
What does Featured mean?
Featured buses always appear at the top of search results and are usually available to view on our Pedricktown lot.
Does the passenger count include the driver?
No. Every passenger count on BusesForSale.com is the number of people the bus carries in addition to the driver. A "14P" shuttle seats 14 passengers plus the driver, for 15 people in total. Keep this in mind when you compare listings from other sellers, and when you check CDL rules, which count everyone on board.
Ready for Its Next Owner
Listing is free, there's no commission, and on average buses sell within 30 to 60 days.
Keep your price
No listing fees and no commissions. The price you agree with your buyer is yours.
List in five minutes
Year, make, mileage, a few photos. That's the listing.
A team on it
We help you connect with qualified buyers, from single buses to full fleets.
Talk to a specialist
Contact Us
- Address125 N Railroad Ave, Pedricktown, NJ 08067
- Phone877-287-7253
- Emailsales@busesforsale.com
- HoursMonday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET
Or Send Us the Details Instead
Form not showing? Call 877-287-7253 or email Sales@BusesForSale.com.
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“Outstanding experience purchasing our bus. George Lekas was professional, knowledgeable and made the whole process smooth and stress-free. He was patient, honest and incredibly thorough, answering every question and helping us find the perfect bus.”
“Ryan was very communicative and helped with a smooth process of buying a bus. He never missed a call and even helped on his off hours. Awesome sales guy.”
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“I definitely recommend this company to anyone looking to buy a bus. They have great buses and the staff are so kind!”
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The largest used bus marketplace. Filter by year, capacity, brand and price.
- 6,000+buses in stock
- All 50 statesnationwide delivery
- Financingup to $500,000, 24–84 month terms
