Steps To Purchasing A Replacement School Bus

It is not something that happens very often in the US, especially as the majority of schools lease their school buses. But should your school be in a position where one of your school buses has broken down and needs to be replaced, it can be frustrating if a replacement option needs to be purchased – and not just because of the cost!

There are lots of other areas that need to be considered when choosing a school bus over a personal vehicle like a car, making it all the more important that you get it right. So, with that in mind, here are some steps to successfully purchase a replacement school bus.

Bring a Mechanic

It sounds a bit over the top to many, but if you can, bring along an independent mechanic when purchasing a replacement school bus, or even if you are looking into school minibus leasing. This will ensure that there is an external party who can give thumbs up or down on any vehicle you want to buy, and they will not be influenced by commission.

See It In Person

The internet is a great thing to have on hand when you are shopping for items like socks or bookcases, not so much when you are placing bids on a school bus!

As with any large purchase, you will need to see every part of the school bus including any areas which the seller may not want you to notice, hence why you will need to see it in person. Have the seller turn the engine on in your presence; can you smell anything out of the ordinary? Is there an issue with the engine, or any odd sounds? If the answer is yes, move on. This is another reason why it is best to take a long a mechanic!

Safety Checks

Of course, before putting any money down, you will need to ensure that the bus has passed all of the required safety checks.

If the bus has been previously owned, then you will need to see the Certificate of Inspection, or COI before purchase. If it is brand new, then be sure that it is all in working order before signing anything. This should be the case even if you are looking to lease a school bus.

Get It Insured

Once you have seen the school bus of your dreams, or at least the one that ticks all the boxes, be sure to look into insurance options. That way should the bus break down, you may be able to have the fault replaced free of charge or may even be able to have a replacement bus sent out to your school.

Upgrade

Many of the newer types of school buses are able to offer features that the older ones didn’t, such as being wheelchair accessible, having soundproofing in certain parts of the bus, and of course, additional safety features.

So, buying a new school bus can provide the perfect opportunity to upgrade your old bus to a new one.