Buying any vehicle can be overwhelming, but when you consider that your choice of buses and bus dealers can greatly affect the profitability of your business and the safety of your employees or customers, the task can seem especially stressful. That's why it's important to understand bus and charter vehicle dealerships key terms.

Bus dealership and vehicle terms may be divided into three broad categories. Understanding the most common words in each of these categories can greatly smooth the process of buying new or used buses. These categories are:

1. Terms used by bus dealerships to define bus types,

2. Terms describing bus manufacture or mechanics, used by general and charter bus dealerships,

3. And terms bus dealers use during the actual buying process.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand terms used to describe bus types in new and used bus sales

When you're shopping for buses, you'll hear a variety of terms applied to bus vehicle types. Some may be confusing because they aren't always used in a specific way. Some of these terms include 'charter bus' (any bus used for a specific trip), 'conversion bus' (a bus that's been converted into an RV), 'shuttle bus' (any bus carrying passengers from one point to another), 'MFSB' ('Multi-Function School Bus,' or a bus that's built with school bus standards but does not look like a school bus) and 'mobility vans' (small buses with wheelchair access). Buses are often broken down into more general categories, too, like small, medium and large buses.

I recommend: For a helpful FAQ on MFSBs, check out Don Brown Bus Sales. For a look at what qualifies as a small, medium or large size bus, visit Commercial Bus Sales.

Learn the mechanical terms used by a bus dealer

Although no one expects buyers to know the lingo of mechanics, some mechanical and manufacturing terms are helpful to understand when buying buses. These include 'articulated bus' (a bus that has two passenger compartments that connect with a flexing middle), 'flat front' (a typical transit or shuttle bus that's 'flat-nosed') and 'type A,' 'B,' 'C' and 'D' school buses (each with a different mechanical configuration).

I recommend: The University of Michigan offers an excellent glossary of bus and truck terms, including definitions of the different types of school buses. Interaction Media Group provides a glossary of charter bus terms.

Research buying terms used by a general or charter bus dealership

When it comes to the nitty-gritty of buying, many terms may be unfamiliar to you. These include 'contract hire' (when you lease a vehicle), 'grey import' (a vehicle that's been imported to the United States without permission from the manufacturer and may not meet U.S. safety and emission standards), 'certified pre-owned vehicle' (used vehicles meeting certain high standards set by the manufacturer) and 'gross polluter' (a vehicle that fails emissions inspection).

I recommend: Read "Glossary of Auto Dealer Terms" at LemonLawOffice.com for a glossary of terms you'll commonly hear at a dealership. See "Glossary of Terms" for information about jargon you might see on a bus's Carfax report.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When working with a general or charter bus dealer, always ask to see the Carfax report yourself; if you have any questions about the terms used on the report, look for definitions on Carfax's website.

While there are many bus dealers around the country, they are not as common as standard automotive dealerships. The largest bus dealerships maintain websites with information about purchasing, available models and financing. These dealers can sell any sort of charter vehicles, including buses, minibuses, school buses, double-deckers, trolleys, and vans. With so many options available from a charter bus dealer, you must shop around. Online charter bus dealerships offer many advantages such as customization, delivery of vehicles and financing.

It's additionally important to make sure that the bus and charter vehicle dealerships provide you with the right sort of information. A good bus dealer can advise what regulations are required to run your bus.

Keep the following points in mind when looking for a bus dealership:

1. Research the specific buses you want ahead of time. Many charter bus dealerships sell only certain buses.

2. Consider both new and used buses — some used bus dealers will refurbish and customize buses to meet your company’s needs.

3. Shop both bus dealerships and bus manufacturers to get the best prices.

4. Make sure you know the government regulations concerning your buses before you invest.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Compare vehicles by using the websites of large bus and charter vehicle dealerships

With an interest in selling their products nationally as well as locally, most larger bus dealerships advertise their stock online and offer shipping to any location.

I recommend: Bus Group offers both new and used buses for sale. They also provide specific information on purchasing buses for churches, child-care uses and assisted-living facilities.

Consider purchasing directly from bus manufacturers

Many of the largest manufacturers of charter vehicles make their products available for direct purchase. You can often get better pricing this way, cutting out the middle-man.

I recommend: Daimler and Champion are two of the largest manufacturers of charter vehicles. Both companies offer direct sales.

Lease charter buses if you are not prepared to buy them

Most larger dealerships have leasing options and information.

I recommend: Bus Group and Nations Bus offer financing for leasing buses and purchasing loans.

Decide if used buses and charter vehicles can meet your needs as well as new vehicles

The cost of new buses and other charter vehicles make it difficult for many businesses to afford such a large investment. Some of the costs can, however, be reduced by purchasing used and refurbished vehicles. Keep in mind that many companies offer either no warranty or only limited warranties on such purchases.

I recommend: CR Buses is a charter bus dealer that specializes in refurbishing used buses to meet the customer’s specific needs. They also offer a three month warranty on all sales.

Educate yourself about regulations before making a purchase from a charter bus dealer.

The government has detailed regulations about purchasing and operating charter buses, and it is the responsibility of the purchaser to know these regulations

I recommend: The Federal Highway Administration's Office of Motor Carriers lists information about regulations, licensing and safety on their website.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Shop several bus dealerships before you make a charter vehicle purchase and evaluate all your options before committing to such a major expense.

There are many important considerations when you're working with bus and charter vehicle dealerships. First and foremost, you need a dealership willing to help you discover which new or used buses truly fit your business' needs. For this and other reasons, this means you need bus and charter vehicle dealerships you can trust.

To find charter bus dealerships (or other commercial bus dealerships) that will serve you well, there are several areas you'll want to research. These include:

1. Finding a reliable, customer-oriented bus dealership.

2. Working with a bus dealership to find the right new vehicle for your needs.

3. Working with a charter bus dealer to find the right used bus for your business' needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Discover the best bus dealerships

Look for a bus dealer who has been in business for many years; this indicates they understand what they are selling -- and treat their customers well. Long-established dealers also tend to have better mechanics on staff and better, more reliable dealer warranties.

I recommend: Bus for Sale Guide is a treasure trove of articles about bus buying; be sure to read their article "Bus Dealers" for tips on finding the right dealer for your business' needs. Nearly every commercial bus manufacturer has a website with information about finding authorized dealers in your area; see, for example, MFSAB's interactive map of dealers in the U.S.

Look into new bus dealership sales

When buying a commercial bus, it's vital to not only know the reputation of the manufacturer and the features of the buses you are considering, but also to consider such things as whether or not replacement parts are readily available and affordable, whether the vehicle is difficult to work on (resulting in higher shop costs), and what exactly is covered in the warranty.

I recommend: American Chronicle offers a good article on bus buying; it's targeted to churches, but has information equally useful for buses for commercial purposes. For tips about extended warranties, read CarBuyingTips.com's "How To Buy An Auto Extended Warranty & Avoid Scams."

Research used bus sales

When buying used buses, all the same guidelines apply. However, extra care must be taken to have your own, qualified bus mechanic examine any bus you're considering buying. Also pay extra attention to the cost and availability of replacement parts. For older buses, parts may be difficult -- or impossible -- to acquire.

I recommend: Be sure to read "How to Buy a Used Bus" at HowToDoThings.com. Safety can be a particularly important issue when looking at used buses; read "15 Passenger Van Safety Hazard Information" at Carpenter Bus for a run-down of this issue.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking at used charter buses for sale, your mechanic should conduct an oil analysis (even if the dealer provides records they've done this themselves), check for rust and study the service records, in addition to looking for mechanical problems.