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Is Leasing Your Bus the Best Option for You?

Purchasing any new vehicle can come with many expenses. Not only do you have to consider the overall price of the bus, but you’ll also need to budget for fuel costs, maintenance costs, insurance costs, and so on. Because adding a brand-new vehicle to your fleet is a commitment, people often hesitate on whether they want to buy or lease their next bus.

If you’re debating leasing your next bus, here are some great reasons why our clients have leased with us:

Benefits of Leasing Your Bus

Are Your Buses Being Repaired?

Over the years, it’s not uncommon for your bus to need a few repairs. Depending on the significance of your repairs, your bus could be in the shop for a few days or even weeks. Because many companies need their buses to complete their jobs, you’re going to need to find a replacement, and fast!

With our leasing program, we can offset the upfront cost to our clients. This allows our customers to get to go home with the vehicle they need when they need it. Then, when your repairs are complete, the return process is simple and easy.

Does Your Company Provide Driver Services?

Nowadays, more and more companies are providing shuttle services for their employees and clients. If your company offers a shuttle service, and you’re looking for an affordable way to add to your fleet of shuttles, we offer a large selection of shuttles available for lease. If you’re still experimenting with your shuttle services, leasing is a great way to save money, time and avoid unexpected maintenance.

There are plenty of great reasons you should offer a shuttle bus service to your staff, and American Bus Sales makes it easy for you to add one to your business.

Do You Have the Budget to Purchase New School Buses?

For some people, purchasing a large bus for sale, or a shuttle, can be out of their financial reach. Because most companies have strict budget requirements, we make sure our leasing program is available to all our customers.

If you don’t think you have the room in your budget to purchase a new or used bus for sale, leasing is an excellent option! With our leasing program, we can offset the upfront cost to our clients. Our financing staff will work with you to help craft the perfect leasing plan for your company. Plus, we make sure that our process is flexible, simple, and easy to understand.

Benefits of Leasing Your Bus or Shuttle

Although it’s nice to own your vehicle, leasing is still an excellent option for many businesses. Let’s look at some of the reasons why people prefer to lease instead of purchase.

The Process is Easy!

Leasing is often preferred because it’s easier financially, convenient, and quicker than purchasing a vehicle. Plus, when you’re ready for an upgrade, you can simply lease your next one without worrying about the re-selling process.

Minimal Maintenance Costs

People choose to lease their vehicles because they typically come with a full warranty during the entire time of the lease period. If anything breaks down, you won’t have to pay for the bus repair maintenance, which is a huge benefit if you have a strict budget.

Receive Newer Models for a Lesser Price

One of the greatest benefits of leasing a bus or shuttle is that you can get a newer model for a lesser price. When you work with a company that leases buses, you can find plenty of options that are newer models, bigger sizes, and fit your budget.

Customize Your Bus to Meet Your Needs

When you lease a bus or shuttle with American Bus Sales, you can customize it to meet your needs. Our expert technicians will happily change your vehicle’s look or add any features that seem to be missing. We’ll paint your bus, apply interior or exterior trim, and we can apply decals and logos.

From air-conditioning systems to wheelchair lifts, we make it easy for you to add the perfect bus or shuttle to your organization.

Rely on American Bus Sales for Your Bus and Shuttle Leases

If you need to lease a bus or shuttle for your business, ask us about our leasing options! At American Bus Sales, we will do everything in our power to make your leasing process as easy as possible.

Give us a call today at 866-574-9970, and let us help you find exactly what you’re looking for!

What to Look for When Purchasing A Bus

If you are looking for a pre-owned bus, the search can become overwhelming as you navigate various sellers. There are several things to consider when selecting a bus to use for personal or business needs.

If you are unsure where to begin, here are the items you need to check:

Size

One of the two biggest factors in finding the right bus for you is the size of the vehicle. You should have a good idea how many people you plan to transport or how much space you need before you do any shopping, and make sure the vehicle will be able to hold all the passengers you need without being unnecessarily large for your purposes.

Engine Size and Reliability

Once you know how many people or how much weight you will have onboard, it is time to find the engine that will get you where you are going. American Bus Sales can help ensure that you get an engine that will stand the test of time, but it is important to check for performance, safety, and fuel economy records, as well as reviews.

Safety

Depending on what you plan to use the bus for, you may want to take extra safety precautions such as seatbelts or wheelchair lifts. Be mindful of additions that you add which can impact the bus’s overall safety, like reclining seats for example.

Electronics

If you are purchasing a used bus for sale, make sure to test all electrical equipment to guarantee everything is working right before making a purchase. It is also important to consider any modifications you want to be included.

Engine Diagnostics

Anytime you are considering purchasing a used vehicle of any kind, it is a good practice to ask for maintenance records for the vehicle and to have it inspected by an independent mechanic, so you can be aware of any potential issues that may arise. You should also be aware of if your bus takes gas or diesel fuel and how that will impact your overall costs.

When shopping for a pre-owned bus, look no further than American Bus Sales, our inventory of professionally inspected pre-owned shuttles, school buses, and coaches are both safe and reliable. Contact us today to inquire about the next addition to your fleet!  

4 Tips to Choose the Right Bus for You

American Bus Sales exhibits a vast knowledge and understanding of sales. This is so you can select the ideal buses for sale for your organization. Our experts have many years’ experience offering buses to clients across the market. We’ll help guide you in choosing a quality bus, perfect for your needs.

Evaluate the Customers

Understanding the type of customer you will be working with is a key factor to consider. Will you be transporting young children or older seniors? Will your guests require any additional comfort considerations such as reclining seats? These are critical considerations when choosing from the various buses for sale. Organizations transporting children must adhere to strict federal safety standards. While an organization transporting seniors must consider accessibility needs such as accessible seating within the vehicle and wheelchair access to door areas.

How Will You Use It?

There are many unique types of buses available. For example, school buses can be used for organizations transporting children or adults around the local region. These vehicles adhere to the highest of safety standards. You might choose a shuttle bus for your small group’s trips. You might need a custom bus for your school’s activities. By considering the application for your vehicle, you can ensure you begin your search by focusing the right type of bus.

Any Storage?

In determining the type of vehicle required for your organization, it’s also important to look at the various storage options. You’ll require a vehicle that has a large storage space underneath in which suitcases and other large storage items can be placed for longs trips. For smaller trips within the city may require smaller on-board storage areas will often suffice. But try to consider how to balance storage availability with the comfort of on board passengers.

Determine the Right Size

The capacity of your vehicle is important if you run a business that is expected to attract more customers soon. While you might pay more for a larger vehicle, the vehicle will give you a greater capacity to respond to the needs of each of your guests.

Why You Need a Custom Bus

No matter what you think a bus is actually created for, we will make it the custom bus you need. For the paintwork, we use a state of the art paint booth which achieves visually attractive results. We will add luxury features and comfortable amenities to make your bus fit your style. Whether its interior work or exterior work you are looking to get done we can turn any old bus into a exciting, state of the art and reliable motor vehicle for any purpose.

Why You Need a Custom Bus

Pride

When arriving at the state championship, your athletes want to be seen driving in. With an American Bus your players will feel confident and competitive. They will walk off of the bus with pride and admiration for their school.  Having a bus that encompasses your school gives students an identity.

Advertising

There are many reasons why a company might need a bus. Your bus could have your brand, contact information and your motto painted onto it. This is a great way to create brand recognition.

Party

If you are looking for a way to ride in style, we have got you covered! Chrome wheels? Crazy paint job? Audio and video capabilities? We can do it. We can make the seating more party friendly, whatever you need to make your bus your own!

If a fantastic bus with all the features you’ve ever dreamed of is on the horizon, make sure to come in and have a chat with our friendly staff, give us a call, or get in touch via email. Our well-trained and experienced technicians are passionate about buses and are the best at what they do. They will be more than happy to take you through the options and run you through any costs involved to get your bus looking amazing in no time! We have affordable options to suit all your needs.

Call the American Bus Sales Team Today, we’d love to hear from you.

How To Purchase a Used Bus With Confidence

Purchasing a bus or coach for your small group, school, hotel, or fleet is a huge investment, and to an extent, you get what you pay for. But, many don’t realize you can still get a vehicle that will provide reliable transportation on a tight budget by buying used. In fact, it may even be the most fiscally responsible decision in some situations.

Not being able to provide transportation to members of your group or your clients can hold you back from growing. But, having to pay out money to a third-party transportation provider can be incredibly expensive in the long run and could quickly rack up more costs than a new or used vehicle would cost you.

Of course, the key to making buying a bus a fiscally responsible choice is to make sure you get the best value for your dollar. Here are some tips to make sure you get the most bang for your buck when you decide you need a vehicle for your group.

Start with a plan

Chances are you already have a general idea what you are looking for. You aren’t just searching for a used bus, you’re trying to find something specific like a church bus, activity coach, or school bus. That is a good start, but it doesn’t narrow down the selection all that much. Take some time to come up with a specific idea what features and options you need beforehand, so you don’t get oversold on flashy features you don’t need or want. Begin by considering some of these options:

Capacity – How many people do you plan on transporting on each journey? Do you see that number growing in the near future? If so, you might want to plan on getting a bus that can accommodate your needs now while allowing for you to bring more people on board when needed.

Purpose – What do you plan on doing with your bus? Matching your bus to your plans can help ensure you get the best fuel efficiency. Some engines perform better for regular short-distance trips while others are optimized to get the best performance on long-distance drives.

Comfort – If you plan on taking longer journeys, you should plan to include features like A/C or even entertainment capabilities to keep your passengers comfortable the entire way to your destination.

Accessibility – Do your passengers have special needs, disabilities, or limited mobility? Make sure your vehicle is prepared to accommodate their needs with wheelchair lifts and other accessibility features.

Don’t buy from individuals

Searching for a used bus on a site like Craigslist can seem like a great way to get an incredible deal on a vehicle, but buying from individuals comes with massive risk. First of all, when you purchase from individuals you have no one to turn to and no recourse if your vehicle isn’t all that was promised. Even worse, there are plenty of scam artists who sell stolen vehicles or defraud people of their money on sites like those. Even if you don’t buy from us, we encourage you to always purchase from a reputable dealership so you can guarantee you don’t get ripped off.

Don’t just look at the price

Price is a serious factor in nearly every bus purchase, but don’t let it be the defining factor. An attractive price can be an indication that a bus was poorly maintained or has lurking problems waiting to cause you big problems in the near future. If that’s the case, you will wind up paying way more to keep your bus running than if you purchased a reliable vehicle to begin with. Make sure to have your vehicle thoroughly inspected for signs of problems and double-check the service history to make sure the bus has been properly maintained.

Work with someone you can trust

Investing a huge chunk of your money in a bus can be daunting and stressful on your own. Find a dealer you can trust so you don’t have to go through the process without an experienced and knowledgeable partner. It will make the process significantly easier and you can feel more confident with the vehicle you choose in the end.

3 Reasons Your Congregation Needs a Church Bus

Church communities do a lot more than worship together. They bring people together for both religious and fun activities, not to mention missionary and humanitarian work throughout their community. However, the larger and more active your church community is, the more likely you are to need a church bus or shuttle to transport your congregation.

American Bus Sales specializes in providing the right buses, coaches, and shuttles that are affordable for congregations of all sizes. We have a wide variety of vehicles, and we would love to help you find the bus, minibus, or coach that fits your needs and will help your church community grow.

Not sure if your congregation needs a bus? Consider these reasons a bus might be useful for your church group.

Bringing your church together

There are many people out there who would like to join your congregation for weekly worship and church events but lack the proper transportation or ability to make the trip. With a church bus, you can be sure members of your congregation won’t be left out.

Church travel

Whether you have a youth group traveling to church camp and other activities or you are planning a trip for your whole church group, a bus can be a simple way to make sure everybody gets to come along. Many groups rent buses for their yearly activities, but owning a used bus can save you a significant amount in the long run and allow your church group to do even more.

Being a part of the community

If your church is active in the community, chances are you need to transport large groups of people and supplies to many places. From taking part in local youth outreach to food drives for the underprivileged, a church bus will solve all your transportation needs and help build awareness for your group.

Whether your group is part of a megachurch or a small local congregation, reliable transportation can help your church community stay engaged and active in the community. We can help you figure out what type of church bus, coach, or shuttle is best for your group and budget. Contact us and we’ll find the right vehicle for you.

What’s The Right Bus For You?

All buses are not created equal. There are many different types of buses available that have their own strong points and weaknesses. The key to finding the perfect bus for you or your group is knowing what kind of bus suits your organization or fleet’s travel needs.

This guide will help you get a feel for what each of the major types of buses are best suited for and what will be the best choice for your fleet or group.

Charter Bus / Deluxe Motor Coach

Right Bus

The motorcoach goes by many names including tour bus and charter bus. They are usually recognizable for their large size and sleek exterior and are the perfect travel solution for group charters, long-distance transportation, and large group shuttles. These tend to include ample storage space so passengers can ride in comfort and can typically carry 42-61 passengers, making them the best choice for large groups.

Since these coaches tend to be for longer trips, it is not uncommon for them to come equipped with more luxury features such as TV/DVD players, comfortable and spacious seating, and an onboard restroom.

Mini Bus

Right Bus 2

Minibusses or shuttles are the exact type of bus you are looking for if you plan on taking short trips with a relatively small group. Usually sitting 14-38 passengers, minibusses are the bus of choice for many church groups, wedding events, corporate outings, and hotel transportation.

Most minibusses offer the comfortable seating you can expect from deluxe motor coaches, but in a more cost-effective package which makes it a better choice for smaller groups and growing businesses.

School Bus

School buses are recognizable for versatility and safety. The classic yellow school buses come in a wide range of sizes and are equipped with extra safety features to keep your passengers safe. They are best suited to provide economical solutions for local group travel and school district transportation.

School buses may not feature the luxury or comfort of motor coaches and minibusses, but they provide reliable and economic travel solutions for medium to large groups who need regular transportation over relatively small distances such as church groups.

Party Bus / Trolley

Right Bus3

Are we looking to have a great night out or provide transportation to people on the most exciting days of their lives? Party buses and trolleys are what you need. Party buses and trolleys can offer everything passengers could want to have a wild time, including alcohol for passengers who are of age, custom seating, and neon lights. That makes them the perfect choice for weddings, graduation parties, bachelor and bachelorette parties, or just a fun night in the city.

Which Is Right For You?

These are just a few of the most common types of buses we offer. The key to finding out what model of bus is perfect for you is knowing how you plan to use the vehicle before you buy it and how many people you will be transporting. If you can tell us the answers to these questions, we can find you the perfect bus, coach, or shuttle you need.

How To Find The Right Size Bus For Your Group

There’s no escaping it. Buying a bus is a big investment. Making sure you get the right size bus for your organization is one of the most important steps you can take to make sure you get the best value for your dollar.

You don’t want to leave members of your organization waiting on the curb, but if you get a bus that is larger than you need you’re spending more than you should. These tips will help you plan for the right size bus for your group’s needs, so you can be sure you’re not spending more than you need to.

Start Small

Whether you are planning on transporting a gaggle of tourists or just a small local church group, it is usually best to start small when it comes to bus size. That may seem counter-intuitive to your plans to grow your group in the future, but it is always easier to move up to a larger bus than to absorb costs for a larger bus you don’t fully utilize. The key is to carefully plan for how many people taking Adipex 37.5 mg. You can always move up later.

What Will Your Group Be Doing?

To best plan for what your group really needs, you have to consider how you will be using your vehicle. Are you helping small groups of people make short trips? Planning long-distance trips across the state or country?

For example, hotels and local attractions typically use shuttles to help smaller groups travel to and from their destinations, but church groups tend to use buses. This way church groups are equipped for long-distance missionary trips, short distance group events, and any other transportation needs their congregation has.

Compare with Others

If you still aren’t sure what size vehicle fits your organizations needs best, take a look at similar or competing groups in your area. Is their audience about the same size as yours? How are they accommodating their members’ transportation needs? Are they operating a fleet of mid-size vehicles, or do they rely on one or two 40 seat buses?

By looking at what others are doing, you can get an idea what might work for your group while identifying ways you can better serve your organization’s needs.

Let Us Help

No matter what your group’s travel needs are, we can help you find the right size vehicle for you – be it coach, shuttle, or bus. Just contact us and let us know how you care planning on using the bus and the size of your group and we can pair you with something that will get you everywhere you plan on going.

Why Leasing May Be The Best Option For You

Buses of all kinds are expensive, especially when bought new. Whether you are looking to grow your fleet or purchase a single bus for private use, it can often be difficult to get a fully equipped bus fresh off the lot without blowing your budget.

That doesn’t mean you can’t get the bus you need. Pre-owned buses can provide years of transportation with proper maintenance, and shopping for a pre-owned bus allows for much greater flexibility in how you manage your money.

When you are shopping for a pre-owned bus, you have several options that aren’t available for new vehicles.

If you are just looking to save a bit of money, buying a pre-owned bus is a reliable way to get a vehicle that will last for years. However, if you can’t afford to purchase outright, you also have a few options.

ABS offers flexible leasing and financing options to help you afford the bus you need, for as long as you need it. Leasing in particular can help you afford adding a quality bus to your fleet even if budgets are tight at the moment.

By leasing, you can reduce your monthly payments. Because you only pay for the portion of the value of the vehicle you actually use, payments can be up to 60% less than for a purchase loan. You also reduce the upfront costs by saving on down payment.

One of the best aspects of leasing buses is guaranteeing you always have reliable vehicles in your fleet. Rather than having to budget for buying new buses every twelve or so years, you can have newer vehicles replenishing your fleet every few years.

Leasing also avoids many of the worries that come with buying a used bus. While we do everything possible to guarantee all the pre-owned buses we sell will run for years after they are sold, it can be natural to worry about having a pre-owned vehicle show its age by breaking down or needing considerable repairs. By leasing, you don’t have to worry about any of that. Just pick up a reliable vehicle and when the lease is up you can continue your lease, change vehicles, or permanently make the lease return your own by buying it at a more affordable price.

Of course there are downsides to leasing or financing your bus. When you lease a vehicle, you enter a contract that extends a few years. You can set how long you wish to lease, but if you decide to return the vehicle before the lease is up you are likely to pay fees for lease termination.

Another important factor to consider is how much you will be driving the bus. When you lease a vehicle, you agree to a certain amount of miles and can be charged for exceeding that amount. So long as you have a solid idea how much you will be using your vehicle, this shouldn’t be much need for worry. But, it is important to remember when negotiating your contract and driving your leased vehicle.

Ultimately, the best way for you to get behind the wheel of a quality bus depends on your budget and how you will use the bus. Take the time to consider all your options and choose the one which best suits your needs.

Our sales associates are happy to help answer any questions so you can make a truly informed decision what works best for you. Just give us a call at 866-574-9970.

Research Shows Alternative-Fuel School Bus Sales Are On The Rise

Propane Bus Tank

Alternative-fuel school bus sales are rising, however there is still plenty of room to grow according to recent research from School Bus Fleet.

Out of 37,663 school buses sold in the U.S. and Canada last year, 2,166 (5.8%) of those buses were powered by alternative-fuel. That may not sound like much, but that figure shows a significant increase from the past.

In the past two years alone, alternative-fuel school bus sales have more than doubled. In the 2012 sales year, School Bus Fleet found 2.5% of the total school buses sold were alternative-fuel buses.

As might be expected, propane is the most popular alternative fuel, with 1,820 propane school buses accounting for 84% of all alternative-fuel school bus sales. The remaining 16% were comprised of compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses, with 346 units sold.

It seems all but guaranteed we will continue to see growth in the number of alternative-fuel school buses, as they offer several benefits to the schools who include them in their fleet such as savings on both fuel and maintenance costs. However, with tight budgets being the norm for school districts across America, it will be up to each school to consider the benefits against their needs and abilities.