Bus Buying 101

You want your bus purchase decision and experience to be a positive and rewarding one with the end result being the purchase of a bus which meets and serves your needs for many years. Bus Buying 101 is provided to help you ask the right questions to help ensure the bus you purchase is the correct one for you and your organization

At Carolina Thomas our professional and highly trained sales staff is dedicated to assisting you and your organization in making the correct purchase decision to ensure that you receive the best bus possible to meet your needs

What Things Should I Consider When Purchasing A Bus

This is a very broad question because there are so many different applications and uses for buses including buses for Church Ministries, buses for Child Care Centers, buses for public and private schools, shuttle buses for public and private transportation and the list goes on and on. The things you should consider are truly dependent on the use of the specific bus however there are some general considerations that apply to most every bus application and usage. Some of these may seem elementary to you, however you may find some things here that you have not thought of that might help you make a better decision.

What size & type of bus meets my needs. Is it available within the budget I have to work with?

Is a gasoline or diesel engine better for my transportation needs?

Does the size of bus I am considering require the driver to have a Commercial Drivers
License?

Are there Federal and State requirements that the bus must meet? For example a Child Care bus must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for School Buses.

What amenities are available such as air conditioning, reclining seats, luggage storage inside and outside of the vehicle, reading lights, trays, cup holders, audio visual systems, just to name a few. Your Carolina Thomas sales professional can assist you with the many optional accessories that are available.

What warranties are available on the buses I am considering? Bus warranties vary by type of vehicle, by manufacturer, and by the components on the vehicle. It is very important to clearly understand the warranties as they will vary by product.

Who is going to service and support my bus after the sale? This is one of the most important questions you need to ask as the product is only as good as the dealer that stands behind it. Before purchasing , be sure the dealership you are considering purchasing from has a reputation of servicing what they sell. Also be sure the dealership has the facilities and staff capable of both servicing the product and supplying parts for the product you are considering. All dealers do not have the same capability or desire to service the products they sell so this is a key question because you want to be assured that when you need service and support you will be able to get it.

Is financing available on this vehicle?

How long will this vehicle last and how should I take care of it?

Are there things that I should consider adding to my bus now that may make it more valuable when it comes time down the road to trade it in on the purchase of another bus?

These are just a few of the considerations when purchasing a bus. You will find that the professional sales staff at Carolina Thomas is ready to assist you in making the right purchase decision for your organization.