Where to Buy Bus Parts: Ordering, Shipping, and Returns
What shops and fleet teams should know before ordering a bus part: the information to have ready, shipping cutoffs, and the return rules.
By Dominic Menard - National Director of Marketing & Technology
Published • Last updated
Carpenter Bus Sales sells replacement bus parts to repair shops, fleets, and other organizations at CarpenterBusParts.com, open 24 hours a day. Order online, or call us at (866) 380-3938 and our parts team will help you find the right part. If we do not have it on the shelf, we can special order almost any part.
Key takeaways
- Steve Bailey, Assistant Parts Manager at Carpenter Bus Sales, says weekday orders placed by 3:30 p.m. Central ship the same day when possible, and delivery usually takes 1 to 5 business days.
- Under the CarpenterBusParts.com return policy, you have 30 days after delivery to return most parts, and defective parts are replaced with new ones.
- Carpenter Bus Sales says the store sells to repair shops across the country, even for buses we did not sell.
Where can I buy replacement parts for a church bus, shuttle bus, or commercial bus?
You can buy replacement parts for your bus at CarpenterBusParts.com, our online parts store. It is open 24 hours a day, and the parts are sorted by what they do, from A/C and heat to wheelchair lifts. Don't see the part you need? Call us and we can special order almost any part.
We have two locations, Franklin, Tennessee, and Elm Mott, Texas, just north of Waco. Not sure which part you need? Call us at (866) 380-3938 and our parts team will help you find it. Then we ship it to you in any of the 50 United States.
What are the main parts of a bus, and where do I find each one?
Our online parts store sorts bus parts by sections of the bus. Doors, windows, mirrors, seats, floors, lights, A/C, and wheelchair lifts each have their own category at CarpenterBusParts.com, so you can shop by the part you need instead of searching by bus builder.
This table shows each part of the bus, the store category to look in, and what you will find inside.
| Area of the bus | Store category* | What is inside |
|---|---|---|
| Heating and cooling | A/C & Heat | Compressors, driers and expansion valves, fans and motors, heating, serpentine belts, pulleys and tensioners, vents and screens |
| Body | Body | Bumpers, wheel covers, interior trim, molding and trim, plastic fiberglass, sheet metal |
| Doors | Bus Door Parts | Entry door motors, switches, latches, seals, and header modules |
| Windows | Bus Windows | Windows, emergency egress windows, roof hatches, latches, and seals |
| Mirrors | Bus Mirrors | Exterior mirrors and interior mirrors |
| Lighting | Lighting | Exterior bus lighting and interior bus lighting |
| Electrical | Electrical | Switches, relays, fuses, circuit breakers, and circuit boards |
| Seats and seat belts | Seating & Seatbelts | Seat belts, buckles, retractors, brackets, foot mounts, and covers |
| Wheelchair lifts | Wheelchair Lift Parts | Braun lift parts and Ricon lift parts |
| Decals | Decals | Replacement decals and safety labels |
| Floors | Flooring | Flooring parts |
| Safety equipment | Safety | Safety parts |
| Audio and video | Audio/Visual | Audio and video parts |
| Rear cameras and sensors | Back Up Cameras/Sensors | Backup cameras and sensors |
*Categories and sections are shown as listed on CarpenterBusParts.com in October 2026.
Who makes bus body parts, and how do I know which company to order from?
Body parts are matched to the company that built your bus, such as Starcraft, Glaval, or Collins, so start by finding your bus's builder. CarpenterBusParts.com has manufacturer pages, like Starcraft and Glaval, that make it easier to find the right parts. Our parts team can help too. In addition to our primary manufacturers, we also sell parts for Turtle Top, Ameritrans, ElDorado National, Champion Bus, StarTrans, Diamond Coach and others.
Some parts do not come from the body builder. Wheelchair lifts, for example, come from lift makers like Braun and Ricon, so those parts have their own place in the store: Braun and Ricon lift parts. Not sure who built your bus? Call us at (866) 380-3938 with your VIN and a photo of the part, and we will help you find it.
What information do I need before I order a bus part?
Have your bus's VIN (vehicle identification number), the body builder, and the model year handy. Add the part number from the part you are replacing and a photo if you can. Missing some of that? Call us at (866) 380-3938 and we will help you work it out.
Here is what to have ready:
- The VIN, which is on the bus's title and registration
- The body builder and the model year, if you know them
- The part number on the part you are replacing, if it has one
- Photos of the part and of any tag or label on it
- Where the part is on the bus and what went wrong with it
If a shop is fixing the bus for you, give them this same list, or call us yourself. Our service shops in Franklin and Elm Mott can do the repair too.
Should I order online or call the parts team?
Order online if you know the part you need. Call us if you are not sure what fits or you need a special order. The store is open 24 hours a day, and our phones are answered Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Central.
| Way to order | Best when | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Online store | You know the part and want to order any time of day | CarpenterBusParts.com |
| Phone | You are not sure which part fits, need a special order, or have a question | Call us at (866) 380-3938, Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Central |
How does shipping work for bus parts?
Parts ship from our Franklin, Tennessee, and Elm Mott, Texas, locations by UPS to all 50 states. Steve Bailey, Assistant Parts Manager at Carpenter Bus Sales, says the team does everything it can to ship the same day when an order comes in by 3:30 p.m. Central on a weekday. Delivery usually takes 1 to 5 business days.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where do you ship? | All 50 United States. No shipping to Canada or Mexico. |
| When do I need to order for same-day shipping? | By 3:30 p.m. Central on a weekday. We do everything we can to ship it that day. |
| How long does delivery take? | Usually 1 to 5 business days, depending mostly on how far you are from us. |
| Which carrier is used? | UPS. Some items ship straight from the supplier, and those may use a different carrier. |
| What about large items? | Steve Bailey says large items usually ship straight from the supplier, sometimes on a freight truck. |
Ordering a large item? Call us first and we will help with timing. Delivery times are estimates, so check with the parts team for current details.
Can I return a bus part?
Yes. Under our return policy, you can return a part within 30 days of getting it. Call us first for an RMA number (that is a return approval number). There is a 20% restocking fee, but we waive it when the mistake is ours. Electrical parts (unless they are defective) and special orders cannot be returned.
Here is how to return a part:
- Call the parts team at (866) 380-3938 and ask for an RMA number.
- Pack the part new and unused in its original packaging. Put a copy of the invoice or packing slip in the box.
- Write the RMA number on the outside of the box.
- Mail the box back to the location you ordered from (Franklin or Elm Mott), or drop it off at that location's parts counter. You need the RMA number either way.
| If this happens | Here is what we do |
|---|---|
| You ordered the wrong part | You can return it within 30 days. The 20% restocking fee applies, and you pay return shipping. |
| We shipped the wrong part or made a mistake | We waive the restocking fee and send you a return label if you ask. |
| The part is defective | Once we confirm it is a defect (and not damage from misuse), we replace it with a new part. |
| You want a different part | We do exchanges. If the exchange is because of an ordering mistake, you pay the shipping. |
| The part is electrical | Cannot be returned unless it is defective. If it is, we exchange it. |
| The part was a special order | Cannot be returned. |
Steve Bailey says, "For a defective part or our mistake, we will provide a return label upon customer request." Refunds go out within 3 days after we get the part and look it over, minus any restocking fee. We send the money back the same way you paid whenever we can.
Electrical parts can't be returned unless they're defective. The store's Electrical category has switches, relays, fuses, circuit breakers, and circuit boards. Not sure if a light or a camera counts as electrical? Ask us before you order. Check the return policy page for the latest terms.
Can I get parts for a used bus or one bought somewhere else?
Yes. CarpenterBusParts.com sells to repair shops and fleets across the country, even for buses that did not come from Carpenter Bus Sales. We do not sell used parts, but we do sell parts for used buses. Not sure we cover your bus? Call us at (866) 380-3938 with your VIN and we will check.
If you are shopping for a bus itself, see our church buses or used buses for sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you sell A/C parts for buses?
Yes. CarpenterBusParts.com has an A/C & Heat category with compressors, fans and motors, heating parts, and serpentine belts. Not sure which part matches your unit? Call us at (866) 380-3938 with your VIN and a photo of the unit's tag or label, and we will help you find it.
Do you carry wheelchair lift parts?
Yes. The store has a wheelchair lift parts category with separate sections for Braun and Ricon lift parts. Have your lift's make and model ready. Don't see the part you need? Call us at (866) 380-3938 and we will help you track it down.
Can Carpenter Bus install a part on my bus?
Yes. Carpenter Bus has two service shops, in Franklin, Tennessee, and Elm Mott, Texas, just north of Waco, with qualified technicians who can install your part. Contact the service department to set up the work. For regular upkeep, see our article on annual bus maintenance costs.
How do I get started with my parts order?
Ready to get your part on its way? Grab your VIN, the part number, and a photo of the part, then order at CarpenterBusParts.com. Not sure which part you need? Call us at (866) 380-3938 on a weekday and we will help you find it.
