Tour Bus for Sale Buyers Guide
When you are ready to buy a tour bus or commercial motorcoach to use in your tour operation, or as church transportation, you should be aware of some of the issues at stake among the many types, makes, and models. If you haven't read our Seven Commandments for buying ANY bus - read that first! These commandments of advice will save you thousands of dollars and a lifetime of headaches. This page does NOT address the issues for converting a bus to an RV - see Conversion Bus Issues for that information.
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Financing a tour bus - this makes and breaks most tour operations, not the choice of bus make. However many companies offer better financing for certain preferred builders and even certain models, especially those that have the lowest depreciation. The purchase of any bus used for business |
should not be done without a thorough evaluation of the finance options that are attached.
If you haven't seen our bus make and model quick reference chart - read that next! It identifies most major makes and models of buses, complete with a list of advantages and disadvantages. For instance, older coaches offer huge advantages in price, parts are readily available for the most popular brands, and they are easy to locate and purchase. However, they can be substantially more expensive to finance and insure under certain circumstances.
Bus Parts for the major brands are available for even 30 to 40 year old buses from licensed dealers. More obscure brands, those made in foreign countries and imported, and models only produced one year, present problems however.
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Insurance for a tour bus - this can be the other BIG "deal breaker". If you cannot insure your coach at a good rate you will never be able to turn the kind of profit needed to deal with depreciation, attrition, maintenance, and sales operations. Do NOT underestimate this part of the process. Also realize you may have to pass your states and others DOT regulations. |
Get an insurance quote in writing from at least TWO major carriers before signing to purchase a bus of any type.
Size is an important issue when considering your purchase. Many prefer the larger 102" wide coaches but they are more expensive than the standard 96" wide units. Make sure there are no height restrictions, weight restrictions, or special licenses needed to run the one you are considering on the roads you will be running on.
Tour operations have a very special interest in "seating capacity" as it pertains to profitability. Longer buses cost more, but generate more revenue when running full.
Weight issues for your new coach should not be ignored, or underestimated. Heavier coaches usually cost more to operate but may hold up better.
If you are trying to locate a tour bus for sale, there are also some other things you'll need to keep in mind. The tour bus industry has many facets, and when looking for a tour bus for sale, you will need to have an understanding of your needs.
Tour bus for sale hunting can lead to many listings. There are some tour buses that are similar to shuttle buses, there are double-decker buses and coaches that all meet the various needs of those looking to get into the tour industry. Depending upon your own specific needs, you will be able to sift through the tour bus for sale listings and find what you are looking for.
There are many major bus lines that specialize in tours, like Peter Pan and Gray Line. But, many small local companies also offer charter tours, and perhaps that is what led you to search for a tour bus for sale. Tour buses can be used for school trips, college trips, to sporting events, to big cities, to concerts, historic sites, shopping excursions and other events. In addition, many large conventions can use tour buses to get attendees to and from the airport, hotel and other points of interest.
Often times, you will see tours in the classified section or travel pages
of
your local newspaper. These tours include trips to sporting events, where
a busload of patrons can enjoy the game without the drive, parking and
traffic themselves. And, many tour companies like this will include everything
in a package - that is usually a tremendous deal - tickets, transportation,
lunch and maybe even something else like a souvenir. Depending on what
part of the country you are in, there may be daily runs to places like
Atlantic City. With that, casinos have a deal with the charter bus companies
that give all gamblers money toward their bets. Still, more tour bus companies
will offer overnight trips to destinations within a
few hours drive. And, many private clubs or groups will hire a charter
company to make travel arrangements for a trip.
Since many tour buses for sale are equipped with lots of extra, they
make for a comfortable drive- almost like being in a plane. The seats
usually will recline, there is a restroom - with or without a sink, plenty
of luggage storage, overhead lights, one or several televisions with VCR/DVD
capabilities for each passenger and more. These amenities can change from
bus to bus, so be sure to check all the features when shopping for your
tour bus. Some major companies that manufacture
tour buses are ElDorado and Star Trans, but large tour companies, like
US Trailways, sell off their older model buses through companies like
used bus list
to get the newest tour buses. This means savings on quality tour buses
for smaller, more local companies.
So, whether you are looking for a tour bus for charter tours, sightseeing
excursions, day trips or overnights stays, you will have lots to choose
from
when searching for your own tour bus for sale. Now you just need the tourists
and a tour bus for sale!
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