Frequently Asked Questions

A new church bus typically costs $75,000 to $100,000 or more, depending on passenger capacity, chassis, and features like wheelchair lifts. Used church buses generally range from $40,000 to $80,000, based on year, mileage, and condition. If budget is your main concern, check our Bargain Bus Deals for our lowest-priced inventory, or call (800) 370-6180 for current pricing and monthly specials.

If the bus you need is on our lot, we can often deliver it the same week or the next, and almost always within a month. We keep 200+ buses in stock. If you need a custom factory order, plan on about 10 weeks from the time you send your deposit. Our relationship with Starcraft helps us turn orders around faster than is typical in the industry.

To time your purchase, count back 10 weeks from the date you need the bus, then add a couple of weeks for logo and lettering and transport. Browse what is in stock now.

A new bus gives you the longest service life and our warranty coverage, including PlatinumCare for churches, ministries, and senior care communities. A used bus costs less up front and carries only whatever factory warranty remains, though an optional service contract may be available. Ask your sales rep what coverage applies to the specific bus you are considering.

Browse used buses for sale.

A well-maintained commercial bus typically lasts 10 to 15 years, or 150,000 to 250,000 miles. Regular preventive maintenance is the biggest factor in how long yours lasts. Our service department can set up a maintenance schedule for your bus.

A small bus seats 15 people or fewer, including the driver, which keeps it under the federal CDL threshold in most states. That is why small buses are the most popular choice for churches and senior living communities: staff and volunteers can drive them with a standard license. If you need more than 15 seats, you are moving into CDL territory.

Browse small buses for sale or read our state-by-state CDL guide.

No. We sell activity buses (MFSABs), which are built to the same federal structural safety standards as yellow school buses and are available to private schools, daycares, churches, and camps.

Carpenter Bus Sales has sold and serviced buses since 1953 and is America’s #1 church bus dealer. We keep 200+ new and used buses in stock, deliver nationwide, and offer PlatinumCare, an 8-year unlimited-mile warranty for churches, ministries, and senior care communities. Learn more about our company.

Every new bus and van from Carpenter Bus Sales includes warranty coverage at one of three levels:

• SilverCare is included free for every customer and covers the powertrain and chassis for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
• GoldCare is an $800 one-time upgrade available to any customer and covers the entire vehicle, bumper to bumper, for 7 years or 70,000 miles.
• PlatinumCare is included free for churches, ministries, and senior care communities and covers the entire vehicle, bumper to bumper, for 8 years with unlimited miles.

Terms end at whichever limit you reach first. See full details on our warranty page.

PlatinumCare is included free on every new bus sold to churches, ministries, and senior care communities, from every manufacturer we carry. Other buyers, including shuttle operators, tour and charter companies, schools, and dealers, receive SilverCare free and can upgrade to GoldCare. Compare all three levels on our warranty page.

PlatinumCare covers the entire bus, bumper to bumper, for 8 years with unlimited miles. Routine maintenance and consumable items such as wiper blades, filters, and fluids are not covered. See your warranty contract for complete terms, or compare all three coverage levels on our warranty page.

Used buses do not include a Carpenter Bus Sales warranty. Any remaining factory warranty still applies, and an optional service contract may be available. Ask your sales rep about the specific bus you are considering, or browse used buses for sale.

Yes. Once our Warranty Administrator approves your claim, you can use a qualified local shop, pay a $100 deductible, and we pay the shop directly for approved parts and labor. Start a claim by calling 615-477-6765 or see how claims work on our warranty page.

Coverage begins on the day of purchase or the official in-service date. It runs alongside the factory warranty and continues after the factory coverage ends. See full terms on our warranty page.

In most states, you do not need a CDL for a bus designed to carry 15 people or fewer, including the driver. Federal rules require a CDL with a Passenger (P) endorsement once a vehicle is designed for 16 or more people, including the driver, or has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. Some states, including California and Connecticut, set stricter rules for churches and nonprofits. Always confirm with your state DMV.

Our state-by-state CDL guide covers all 50 states.

Yes. The federal threshold counts every person the bus is designed to carry, including the driver. A “15-passenger bus” is usually 14 riders plus the driver, which keeps it under the CDL line. A bus with 15 passenger seats plus a driver’s seat holds 16 people and requires a CDL. Browse non-CDL small buses or read the full CDL guide.

Generally, no. Nearly every state requires a CDL for a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more people, regardless of who owns it. In California and Connecticut, nonprofit use makes the rules stricter, not lighter. See our state-by-state CDL guide.

Some buses can. We handle reclassification through the original manufacturer, which issues updated capacity labels that we install at our Franklin, TN or Elm Mott, TX location. The process is more than removing seats, and not every bus qualifies: eligibility depends on the manufacturer, age, and condition.

Reclassification typically costs $3,000 to $5,000, and new labels take about two weeks once paperwork is submitted. Confirm with your state licensing agency and insurance carrier before starting, especially in California, where stricter rules apply. See if your bus qualifies.

Yes. We offer traditional loans on new and used buses (24 to 84 months), TRAC leases, walk-away leases, and lease-to-own programs through a network of lenders. See financing options.

Yes. We almost always finance directly with the church entity, so pastors and board members are not personally liable. See our financing options or browse church buses.

Once we receive your completed credit application, we typically provide a credit decision within one business day. Start a credit application.

Leasing usually means lower monthly payments, little or no money down, and easier fleet upgrades. Buying builds equity and is usually the better choice if you plan to keep the bus 8 years or longer. Compare both on our bus financing page.

Yes, for qualified organizations. Churches and schools with seasonal cash flow can also ask about skip-a-payment programs. See lease and loan options.

A purpose-built bus has dual rear wheels, a welded steel cage, a center aisle, and a higher roof, which give it more stability and rollover protection than a standard 15-passenger van. Many insurers now restrict 15-passenger vans for youth transport. Compare mini buses.

An activity bus, or Multi-Function School Activity Bus, is built to the same federal structural safety standards as a yellow school bus. It does not need stop arms, flashing red lights, or yellow paint, and private organizations can buy it. Our activity buses are Collins Magellan models, including 14-passenger non-CDL configurations. See activity buses.

An MFSAB is the safest option for transporting children because it meets school bus structural standards. Some states require one for licensed childcare transport, so check your state rules before you buy. See daycare buses.

Yes. Most of our buses can be configured with rear or side wheelchair lifts, securement tie-downs, and fold-away seating. Commercial lifts from Braun, Ricon, and Maxon handle up to 800 pounds. See wheelchair buses.

Wheelchair vans are easier to drive, fit standard parking, and hold 2 to 8 wheelchair positions while staying non-CDL. Wheelchair buses carry more passengers and have a center aisle and more interior space. Many organizations use a van for daily routes and a bus for group outings. Compare wheelchair vans and wheelchair buses.

We rent the bus only. Your organization provides the driver and insurance, which lowers your cost and gives you full control of your schedule. We do not provide drivers. See rental details.

We rent to churches, schools, senior care communities, nonprofits, and other organizations with a qualified driver and proper insurance. If you are not sure whether your organization qualifies, call us and we will walk you through it.

Most customers pick up and return their rental at our Franklin, TN or Elm Mott, TX location, but delivery is available. Contact Amanda Crawford, our bus rental manager, at (615) 376-2287 ext. 213 for delivery or eligibility questions.

See details and request a quote for bus rentals in Tennessee or bus rentals in Texas.

Rentals run from 1 day to 3 months, depending on availability. We recommend booking 2 to 4 weeks ahead, especially during spring break, summer mission trip season, and fall retreat season. Check availability for Tennessee or Texas.

Yes. Some of our rental buses have wheelchair lifts. Tell us your accessibility needs when you request a rental quote. If you are buying rather than renting, see our wheelchair buses.

Yes. We accept trade-ins and apply fair market value toward any new or used bus in our inventory. Get an offer.

We buy well-maintained buses and vans nationwide that are model year 2010 or newer, have under 120,000 miles, and seat 12 to 45 passengers, with or without wheelchair lifts. Fill out our form for a no-obligation offer.

Yes. Our ASE-certified technicians handle same-day diagnostics, warranty repairs, AC service, wheelchair lift service, major engine work, and full reconditioning at our Franklin, TN and Elm Mott, TX locations. Franklin services buses only, while Elm Mott also works on trucks, RVs, and other specialty vehicles. Call (615) 376-2287 in Franklin or (254) 799-3000 in Elm Mott to schedule. See service details.

Yes. Our service department works on buses no matter where you bought them, and we support all major bus brands and chassis platforms. Schedule service or order parts.

At our Elm Mott, TX facility, yes. Six full-service bays and certified technicians handle buses, box trucks, utility trucks, RVs, and other specialty vehicles, with authorized service for Ford (E-Series and F-Series), Chevrolet, and other major chassis. Our technicians are factory-trained on Braun and Ricon wheelchair lifts and EPA Section 609 certified for A/C work, and the facility includes a 60-foot paint and body booth, fleet maintenance programs, Federal DOT inspections, and catalytic converter theft prevention.

Our Franklin, TN location services buses only. Call (254) 799-3000 for Texas or see our Texas location page.

Yes, at our Elm Mott, TX facility, for all makes and brands of motorhomes, travel trailers, and 5th wheels. Our technicians handle interior systems (plumbing, appliances, cabinetry, flooring, climate control), electrical and mechanical work (generators, battery systems, wiring, slide-out mechanisms), engine and fluid maintenance, roof and sealant repair, awning service, holding tank maintenance, and DOT compliance checks for commercial RV use.

Our Franklin, TN location services buses only. Call (254) 799-3000 or see our Texas location page.

Yes. CarpenterBusParts.com is open 24/7, with thousands of parts in stock for every bus line we represent. If you do not see what you need, our specialists can special order almost any component. Call (866) 380-3938 in Franklin or (254) 799-3000 in Elm Mott.

Yes. We deliver buses directly to organizations in all 50 states. Browse our inventory or find the rep for your state.

Our locations are 132 Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin, TN 37067 (about 20 minutes south of Nashville) and 6400 Old Dallas Road, Elm Mott, TX 76640 (Waco area, off I-35). Call (800) 370-6180 or contact us.

Yes. We handle bus graphics, lettering, and custom wraps before delivery. Allow a couple of extra weeks on your timeline. See bus graphics.