How Much does a Charter Bus Rental Cost?

While cost may be an important factor in the planning of your trip, be aware, the cost of your trip depends on many different variables. From Distance and duration of your trip to even the time of year you decide to take the trip, they can all affect the final price you may pay for your booking.

 

So here are the most important factors that affect the price of your charter Bus:

 

  1. The Distance and Duration of your trip: If you’re traveling long distance, you will most likely be billed per mile or per day. For shorter trips you’ll be billed per hour. However, be aware, most bus companies require a 5 hour minimum, and you may be billed for 5 hours.

 

The following chart will give you a general idea of some of the costs involved with chartering a bus.

 

Bus Type Per Hour Per Day Per Mile
Charter Bus $125 – $180 $1,300 – $1,700 $4.00 – $5.50
Minibus $125 – $160 $1,200 – $1,500 $4.00 – $5.50
Entertainer Bus N/A $1,900 – $2,500 $7.00 – $8.50

 

  1. The time of Year: There are times of the year, when buses are in plenteous supply, and those times the prices will naturally be cheaper. However, there are periods during the year when people travel more, and the buses are in short supply, and these times you will be paying more. For example, April May and June are expensive months because people use buses more, for : Graduation, School Trips, Proms, etc. However January, February, and July are cheaper months to travel, as people travel less during this time due to the winter weather, and end of summer.

  2. Starting City: As bus companies tend to be located outside large cities, choosing a city as the pick up location will cost more, as the buses have to come from outside the city to pick you up.

  3. Remember, there are fees that may raise the cost of your trip, that might not be be included in the quote. Fees Such as Tolls, and Parking fees, do increase the cost of your trip, and it’s important, you check with your provider on this ahead of time, so you’re not surprised when you get your final bill.

  4. Extra driver, Gratuity, and Hotel: As drivers cannot drive for more than 10 consecutive hours, before taking  an 8 hour break, your trip may require an additional driver, if you plan to have your bus go non-stop. For overnight trips, most transportation companies will as ask you to book a hotel for the driver as well, so make sure to factor this cost into your overall trip cost. Some companies may add the driver’s gratuity on the bill, however some don’t , it’s a good idea to check with the company to make sure you tip your driver for a job well done. We recommend tipping your driver anywhere between 10-20 percent of the cost of the trip.

  5. Type of Bus: The type of bus you select certainly affects the cost of your trip. If you have less than 35 people, of course it’s cheaper to book a mini bus, but remember there’s no restroom in the minibus and there’s less luggage space. However if you book a Motor coach, it can seat anywhere from 47-61 passengers, and it is also equipped with a lavatory, and additional luggage space, and of course costs more than the minibus. This option would be more suitable for youi if you’re doing longer trips and have 47-61 passengers. Entertainer, and Party buses are closer in size to the minibuses, but the seats are arranged along the edges of the bus. Additionally, the extra amenities, such as: fiber optic lighting, premium sound systems, flat screen tvs, kitchenette, restroom, dance floor etc., puts them closer in price to a motor coach.

 

Here are some ways to control the cost of your charter bus:

  1. Make a detailed itinerary of your trip, including all the stops you expect to take.

  2. Book at least 3-6 months in advance to get the best deal, avoid booking in April, May and June.

  3. Call hotel or venue and enquire about bus parking, and where it’s cheapest. Also enquire if your driver can get a hotel room free or at a reduced rate when doing a group booking.

  4. Get the exact figure on the number of people you expect for the trip to book the right size bus.

  5. Try to book the bus in the same location as your pick up location.

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