Used Gillig busesGillig Buses for Sale
Gillig builds heavy-duty transit buses, including low-floor models in several lengths and powertrain configurations. Used examples can serve transit, campus and airport routes when their layout suits the job. Check seated versus total passenger capacity, door arrangement, accessibility equipment and maintenance records on the individual bus.
Why choose a Gillig bus
- ✓
The low-floor design (no steps at the front door, plus a kneeling feature and ramp) makes boarding easy for every passenger, including wheelchair users.
- ✓
It's built for 12-year, 500,000-mile transit duty cycles, so even retired units have a heavy-duty structure.
- ✓
Gillig is common in US transit fleets, so mechanics, parts and service manuals are widely available.
- ✓
Retired Low Floor buses usually sell for a small fraction of their new price, which suits budget-limited operators.
Gillig bus specifications and capacity
| Model Family | Typical Capacity | Primary Use | Engine Options | CDL Required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gillig Low Floor 29-ft | 23 - 27 Seated + Standees | Circulator, Campus Shuttle | Diesel | Usually yes |
| Gillig Low Floor 35-ft | 30 - 34 Seated + Standees | Transit, Employee Shuttle | Diesel, Hybrid, CNG | Usually yes |
| Gillig Low Floor 40-ft | 36 - 40 Seated + Standees | Fixed-Route Transit, Park & Ride | Diesel, Hybrid, CNG | Usually yes |
Find the right Gillig for your operation
Best for Campus & Employee Shuttles
A 29- or 35-foot Low Floor handles high-volume loops at universities, hospitals and corporate campuses.
Best for Small Transit Agencies
Retired Low Floor buses give smaller agencies proven transit equipment at a fraction of the new price.
Best for Accessible Routes
Kneeling, ramp-equipped Gillig buses suit routes with frequent wheelchair boardings.
Best for Party Bus Conversions
The flat, open floor of a Gillig makes it a popular base for limo and party bus builds.
About Gillig Buses
Table of Contents
About Gillig Buses
Gillig traces its roots to a carriage shop founded in San Francisco in 1890 and builds transit buses in Livermore, California. Its Low Floor model replaced the high-floor Phantom and is offered in diesel, hybrid, CNG and battery-electric versions.
What Buyers Look for in Used Gillig Buses
Buyers usually compare length, engine and transmission (most Low Floors use Cummins diesel engines with Allison transmissions), ramp and kneeling operation, A/C condition, and corrosion in the floor and underbody. Retired transit buses often come with detailed agency maintenance records, so ask for them.
How to Shop Gillig Inventory on BusesForSale.com
Filter by year, length and fuel type in the Transit Buses category. As of October 2026, priced Gillig listings on BusesForSale.com ranged from about $29,000 for a 2006 40-foot Low Floor to $40,000 for a 2008 Low Floor.
Did you know?
Gillig model codes encode the bus size. In a code like "G27D102," the "102" refers to the 102-inch body width, which helps you compare units across listings.
Featured Gillig inventory
View All Gillig Inventory →
2012 Gillig 40ft Low Floor Hybrid
2012 Gillig Low Floor 40 foot Hybrid transit bus with ice cold Thermo King air conditioning, Cummins diesel, ADA ramp, kneeling air suspension, tinted glass and more. Inspected and fresh from daily use. This bus runs and drives well and the a/c is cold. Ready for work.
2006 Gillig 40 foot Low Floor Transit
The 2006 Gillig Low Floor Transit Bus is a spacious and versatile vehicle, designed to accommodate 35 seated passengers and 45 standees comfortably. This 40-foot transit bus is perfect for public transit agencies, theme parks, and organizations seeking a reliable transportation solution for mass transit. Powered by a Cummins diesel engine and equipped with an automatic transmission, it offers smooth and efficient performance, ensuring a safe and comfortable ride for all passengers. Fresh out of service from Disney in Florida, this bus features a clean undercarriage and is in good overall condition, ready to serve your transportation needs. Available for immediate purchase, it represents a valuable investment for high-volume transit applications.
2012 Gillig 40 Foot Transit
2012 Gillig 40 foot ADA accessible low floor transit bus with a Cummins diesel engine, automatic transmission, air brakes, front ADA accessible ramp, and more. This bus was recently retired from daily bus route service and is ready to get back to work. In stock and ready to ship.
2007 Gillig 35 foot
2007 Gillig 35 Foot Transit Bus with a Cummins Diesel and Allison automatic transmission. We have 3 matching units available that were recently retired from the same fleet. This bus features dual entry doors, aluminum wheels, Thermo Kinbg air conditioning, ADA ramp with wheel chair positions, kneeling bus feature and more. These buses are in stock and ready to ship with no delay. These are pre-DEF units.
5 Units 2012 Gillig 40 foot Transit
2012 Gillig 40 Foot 39 seated passenger transit bus with two entry doors, ADA wheel chair accessible ramp, kneeling feature, Thermo King A/C System, Cummins diesel engine, destination sign and more. This bus was recently retired from daily fleet use and is ready to get back to work.
Financing and leasing options
Need a payment structure that matches your operation? We help buyers compare financing and leasing options that support faster approvals and predictable monthly costs.
Commercial Financing
Competitive rates for qualified buyers, with terms built for transit agency, campus, and fleet shuttle acquisitions.
Leasing Programs
Flexible lease structures for organizations that need predictable monthly costs and regular fleet refresh cycles.
Common Questions
Gillig bus FAQs
The questions our team hears most about buying a used Gillig, answered in full.
Who owns Gillig, and where are Gillig buses built?
Gillig is privately owned by Henry Crown and Company through its CC Industries unit, which bought Gillig in 2008, and all Gillig buses are built in California. Gillig moved production from Hayward, its home for more than 80 years, to a larger plant in Livermore in 2017. The company reports about 1,100 employees, all in the US, and is the only one of North America's three heavy-duty transit bus makers that originated in the US.
How does Gillig compare with New Flyer?
Gillig is the second-largest transit bus manufacturer in North America by volume, behind New Flyer, and both build low-floor transit buses for public agencies. Gillig held about 31 percent of the US and Canadian heavy-duty transit bus market in 2013, the most recent widely cited figure. New Flyer, based in Winnipeg and owned by NFI Group, also builds 60-foot articulated buses, while Gillig concentrates on 29-, 35- and 40-foot buses; listings often describe the shortest as 28-foot.
How much does a Gillig bus cost?
A new 40-foot Gillig bus typically costs from about $550,000 to more than $900,000, depending on fuel type and equipment. Recent public purchases include Gillig's 2022 Pittsburgh Regional Transit bid at about $554,000 per diesel bus, Gold Coast Transit District's 2021 order at about $587,000 per CNG bus, and Fresno's 2024 purchase of 11 CNG buses for $10.26 million. Battery-electric Gillig buses cost more than diesel or CNG versions.
What fuel and power options does Gillig offer?
Gillig builds transit buses with diesel, hybrid-electric, CNG and battery-electric powertrains, and it is adding a hydrogen fuel cell model. In April 2024 Gillig announced a fuel cell electric bus developed with BAE Systems and Ballard Power Systems, with production reported for 2026. Zero-emission versions are heavier: Gillig's 40-foot battery-electric bus carries a gross vehicle weight rating of about 48,200 pounds, compared with roughly 39,600 to 41,600 pounds for diesel and CNG buses.
Did Gillig ever make school buses?
Yes, Gillig built yellow school buses for decades before it switched to transit buses. Its Transit Coach school bus was produced until 1982, and Gillig later sold a school bus version of the Phantom from 1986 to 1993, ending it after poor sales. Since then Gillig has built only transit buses, so a Gillig school bus on the market today is a vintage unit or a transit bus repainted for school or activity use.
Not sure which Gillig fits your route?
Tell us your passenger count, route profile and budget. We will shortlist the Gillig stock that matches and tell you what is realistic.