Shuttle Buses, Mini Buses & Church Buses for Sale in Indiana
Get pricing on in-stock buses from America's #1 Church Bus Dealer, delivering to Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend & all 92 counties.
What happens next
- 1Tell us what you need: One short form. Takes about a minute.
- 2Get your pricing: Our 5 best-priced new buses, one in every size, sent to you right away.
- 3Find the right fit: Your Indiana specialist helps you compare sizes, features, and financing.
*Free lettering: 3 lines per side and 3 on the rear, text only, on bus purchases finalized within 90 days of inquiry.
Over 125 Buses Sold to Indiana Organizations
Carpenter Bus Sales has sold over 125 buses to Indiana churches, senior communities, schools, and shuttle operators, from the Region and South Bend to Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Evansville. Our headquarters is in Franklin, Tennessee (not Franklin, Indiana), about three hours from Evansville and about four and a half hours from Indianapolis. Between Franklin and our Elm Mott, Texas location, we generally have 200+ new and used buses in stock.
Covered Repairs Without Leaving Indiana
You won't need to bring your bus to Tennessee for covered repairs. After our Warranty Administrator approves a claim, a qualified Indiana shop does the work. You pay a $100 deductible, and we pay the shop directly for approved parts and labor. For larger jobs, our qualified technicians in Franklin service buses no matter where you bought them.
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PlatinumCare for Indiana Churches & Senior Care
Carpenter Bus Sales offers the only 8-year unlimited mile warranty in the industry for churches, ministries, and senior care communities. Qualifying Indiana organizations get PlatinumCare free on every new bus.
- Coverage: The whole bus, bumper to bumper, for 8 years and unlimited miles, including the body and the wheelchair lift. Routine maintenance and wear items aren't included.
- Simple Claims: A qualified shop near you handles approved repairs for a $100 deductible, and we pay the shop.
- Other Indiana Buyers: Schools, shuttle operators, and businesses get SilverCare free (5 years or 60,000 miles) and can upgrade to GoldCare (7 years or 70,000 miles) for $800. New buses only.
Custom Solutions for Indiana Industries
Church Buses for Indiana Congregations
• PlatinumCare Included: New church buses are covered for 8 years, unlimited miles, bumper to bumper, free.
• Volunteer-Friendly Sizes: A bus designed for 15 or fewer people, including the driver, can usually be driven on a regular Indiana license when you aren't charging riders.
• Storage Matters: Rear or overhead luggage space is the add-on church buyers most often say they wish they had chosen.
• Financing in Your Church's Name: We almost always finance with the church itself, so no member signs personally.
Wheelchair Accessible Buses for Indiana Senior Care
• PlatinumCare Included: Senior care communities get 8 years, unlimited miles, bumper to bumper, free, and the lift is covered.
• Ask About For-Hire Rules: If your community charges residents for rides, ask the Indiana BMV whether your drivers need a for-hire endorsement.
• Lift and Securement: Most of our buses can be set up with a rear or side lift, wheelchair tie-downs, and fold-away seats.
• Walk-Away Lease Option: Many senior communities lease so they can return the bus after a few years.
Shuttle Buses for Indiana Private Schools
• Teams and Trips: Indiana private schools buy from us most often for athletics, field trips, and activities.
• Room to Choose: Private schools can usually choose any of our shuttle buses, not just school-bus-style vehicles. Check Indiana rules before using a bus for daily routes.
• Child Care Centers: Indiana's center rules call for drivers 21 or older, a yearly license check with the BMV, one restraint per child, and no children in the front seat.
• Activity Buses Available: We can also supply activity buses (MFSABs), built to yellow school bus structural standards. We don't sell yellow school buses.
Indiana Bus Sizes and Licenses
| Bus Size | Passengers (incl. driver) | Common Uses | License Needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Bus | 15 or fewer | Church outings, assisted living trips, hotel and airport shuttles | Usually a regular license (for-hire endorsement if you carry riders for hire) |
| Medium Bus | 16 to 30 | Youth groups, campus and parking shuttles, school athletics | Generally a Class C CDL with Passenger endorsement (Class B if 26,001 lbs or more) |
| Large Bus | 31 to 45 | Large church trips, employee and event shuttles | Generally a Class B CDL with Passenger endorsement |
Passenger counts include the driver, and our largest buses carry up to 45 people. Indiana replaced its chauffeur license with a for-hire endorsement, which covers vehicles designed for fewer than 16 people, including the driver, when they carry passengers for hire. Buses designed for 16 or more people generally need a CDL. Confirm with the Indiana BMV before you buy.
Delivery to All 92 Indiana Counties
We deliver anywhere in Indiana, from Gary and South Bend to Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Evansville.
- Timing: In-stock buses can often be delivered the same week or the next, and almost always within a month. Factory orders take 60 days to 9 months, depending on chassis availability.
- Cost: Delivery is charged per mile, one way. Your specialist will quote the current rate. Bargain Bus Deals buses are pickup only.
- Southern Indiana Pickup: Evansville is about three hours from our Franklin headquarters, open Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Central.
- Lettering: We can add your church, school, or company name before delivery. Allow a couple of extra weeks.
Indiana Bus FAQ
Indiana replaced the chauffeur's license with a for-hire endorsement. The BMV says it applies to vehicles designed for fewer than 16 people, including the driver, that carry passengers for hire. Volunteers driving church members usually just need a regular license, but if you charge riders, ask the BMV. Buses designed for 16 or more people generally need a CDL with a Passenger endorsement.
Yes. Most of what people call mini buses are our small and medium shuttle buses, which carry 15 or fewer or 16 to 30 people, including the driver. We deliver them to Indianapolis and anywhere else in Indiana.
Yes. Used inventory changes daily, and used church buses generally run $40,000 to $80,000 depending on year, mileage, and condition. A used bus keeps whatever factory warranty remains, and an optional service contract is available.
We don't sell full-size highway motorcoaches. Our buses carry up to 45 people, including the driver. Our large buses seat 31 to 45, and our L.A. West luxury executive coaches offer an upscale ride for smaller groups.
No. Our headquarters is in Franklin, Tennessee, about 20 minutes south of Nashville. It's about three hours from Evansville and about four and a half hours from Indianapolis, and we deliver to all 92 Indiana counties.
Indiana Agencies to Know
Here's who handles what when an Indiana organization buys and runs a bus. Rules can change, so confirm the details with each office.
- Licenses and Endorsements: The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) issues driver's licenses, the for-hire endorsement, and CDLs.
- Title and Registration: The BMV also titles and registers your bus, at a branch or online through myBMV. Your paperwork from us starts with the titling form you complete with your specialist.
- Child Care Transportation: The FSSA Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning licenses child care. Its center rule (470 IAC 3-4.7) includes sections on transportation and field trips.
- Federal Rules: The FMCSA sets the federal CDL rules Indiana follows, and NHTSA sets the safety standards new buses are built to.