What You Should Know About Buying a Used School Bus

Buying a used vehicle can be a difficult experience, as you have no way of knowing exactly what quality of vehicle you are going to get. It gets even more difficult in the field of specialty vehicles, as there are fewer resellers and a smaller market than with standard used vehicles. Specialty Vehicles are often made with a specific purpose in mind which can create specific problems unique to each type of specialty vehicle.  In today’s blog we will be going over what you should know when you are looking to buy a used School Bus.

One thing that is the same no matter what type of used vehicle you are purchasing is where you should buy it. Always be sure you are buying from a reputable dealer rather than a private individual, otherwise there are no safety nets in place should there be something wrong with the vehicle. With a private seller you have no way of knowing if they have performed the proper inspections, if all of the vehicle’s documentation is available or even if the vehicle works at all. Choosing a dealership with excellent reviews can help give you peace of mind when looking at your used vehicle. You should also try to shop with a local dealership as shipping vehicles can be very expensive.

As mentioned previously it is also important to get a feel for the history of the vehicle. You will want to know if the vehicle has been in any accidents and how it was repaired while it was in use by its previous owners. You should ask for the maintenance records and have the vehicle thoroughly inspected by an experienced mechanic. You should pay extremely close attention to the status of the transmission, engine, brakes and tires as these are all essential for the vehicle’s operation. One area that is extremely important when buying used buses is the frame, frame damage for buses can be extremely expensive to fix and you should ensure that there is no damage or bending when you make the purchase.

You should also keep your eyes open for any rust, if you see more rust on the vehicle than paint it can be indicative that the vehicle was not well cared for. When trying to determine the usage of the bus you should make sure to check the mileage rather than the bus’s age, it is more indicative of how heavily the bus has been used. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how cheap the bus is, a bus in bad condition will end up costing you more in the long run than one that is in good condition when you purchase it.

We hope that we have been able to provide you with a helpful guide to the factors you need to consider when buying a used bus. If you have any questions regarding the purchase of used buses, please feel free to contact our friendly staff.

Dynamic Specialty Vehicles has been supplying and servicing mid-sized buses for over 30 years. With long-term contracts with demanding clients like BC Ambulance and BC Transit, Dynamic Specialty Vehicles knows how to keep their clients safe and their buses running smoothly.

If you have any questions about this article or would like further information about buses and/or services, please call us on our Toll-Free number, (888) 416-9333.