Senior Living Buses & Vans for Sale
New and used buses and commercial wheelchair vans for senior living communities, nursing homes, and adult day care centers. We sell to organizations, not to individuals.
What Is a Senior Living Bus?
A senior living bus is a shuttle bus or van set up so residents can board safely, usually with a wheelchair lift and stations to secure wheelchairs for the ride. Carpenter Bus Sales offers the only 8-year unlimited mile warranty in the industry for churches, ministries, and senior care communities.*
Most popular
13 passengers + 2 wheelchair stations (passenger count includes the driver)
Lift
Side lift that lowers onto the curb
Warranty
8 years, unlimited miles, free on new vehicles for senior care communities*
Price
New wheelchair vans from about $90,000. New 13 + 2 buses from about $125,000. Used buses with a lift usually $50,000 to $70,000.
Start With 3 Questions
Most senior communities aren't sure what to ask when they first call, says Bryan George, National Senior Care Manager at Carpenter Bus Sales. He starts every first conversation with the same three questions:
1. How many residents ride at once?
Count the busiest trip, not the average. Bryan notes many senior community trips run well under full.
2. Who will drive?
Most senior communities use their own staff as drivers. Buses built for 15 passengers or fewer, including the driver, fall under the federal CDL passenger limit, which keeps your driver pool open. Check your state's rules.
3. How many wheelchair positions do you need?
The buses we stock carry 2. More can be custom built.
Why Our Senior Care Inventory Leads the Market:
- • Massive Selection: With over 200 buses for sale in our inventory at all times, finding the right vehicle for your community won't be a problem.
- • World-Class Leasing: We have a world-class leasing department that can help you save your capital and get you in a new bus with payments you can handle.
- • Global Parts Network: Our parts department ships bus parts to every state in the United States and countries all around the world, minimizing your downtime.
NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN?
Click here to get our free bus buying guide!
Bus or Van?
More senior communities are choosing commercial wheelchair vans. Here's how they compare.
Commercial Wheelchair Van
13 + 2 Bus
| Commercial Wheelchair Van | 13 + 2 Bus | |
|---|---|---|
| Riders | 7 + 2 wheelchair stations | 13 + 2 wheelchair stations |
| New price | About $90,000 to $100,000 | About $125,000 |
| Fits under medical office overhangs | Yes | Usually not |
| Fuel | Better mileage | Lower mileage |
| Boarding | Wheelchair entry, smaller cabin | Walk-in door and aisle |
| Best for | Doctor visits, small groups | Group outings, larger communities |
In Bryan's experience, many doctor's offices have entry overhangs around 10 feet tall, too low for a bus. If medical trips are most of your driving, a van may be the better fit.
Senior Living Buses and Vans in Stock
Commercial Wheelchair Vans
7 passengers plus 2 wheelchair stations. Fits under medical office overhangs.
See all wheelchair vans for sale →
13 + 2 Buses
Our most popular senior living bus. Built for 15 total, including the driver.
See all wheelchair buses for sale →
Larger Buses With a Lift
17 + 2 up to 25 + 2 for bigger outings. Your drivers will need a CDL.
The #1 Complaint From Residents: The Ride
Bryan George says the complaint he hears most from residents who ride senior living buses is the ride itself. Three upgrades make the biggest difference:
- • Kelderman air suspension system smooths out bumps. It adds about $6,000 to $8,000, depending on the size of the bus.
- • MOR/ryde suspension mainly helps with sway in turns. It adds about $800.
- • Upgraded seats add comfort on every trip.
Ask your sales rep about these before you order.
Own a Bus or Outsource Rides?
Senior communities typically use their bus two to six times a week, Bryan says, for short trips: doctor visits, the pharmacy, the grocery store, the movies. At that pace, contracting rides out costs more than owning. Owning also keeps your schedule, your drivers, and your residents' routine in your hands.
PlatinumCare: 8 Years, Unlimited Miles, Free
PlatinumCare is included at no charge on every new bus and van we sell to churches, ministries, and senior care communities.* It covers the entire vehicle, bumper to bumper, for 8 years with unlimited miles.
Some dealers say unlimited miles don't matter because a senior community will never drive 80,000 miles. On a bus making short local trips, the calendar runs out long before the odometer does. That's why 8 years matters.
See Warranty Details10 Things to Settle Before You Buy
1. Count your busiest trip, including the driver. Every passenger count on our site includes the driver.
2. Decide who drives. If it's your staff, stay at 15 passengers or fewer.
3. Plan wheelchair positions for today and five years from now.
4. Measure the overhang at the doctor's offices you visit most. If it's around 10 feet, look at a van.
5. Budget for ride comfort. Air ride and better seats are what residents notice.
6. Plan storage for walkers and folded wheelchairs.
7. Buying used? Have the A/C checked. In the Carpenter Bus service shop's experience, weak A/C is one of the most common problems on older used buses.
8. Call your insurance agent before you buy.
9. Know who will service it. Our service department →
10. Weigh new vs. used. Bryan usually steers senior communities toward new. A breakdown with residents on board is the last thing anyone wants.
Models We Sell to Senior Communities
Financing, Trade-Ins, and Rentals
Financing: Many senior communities finance their bus or van. See bus financing →
Trade-ins: Already have a bus or van? We buy buses →
Rentals: Need a bus for a short stretch? We rent buses (not vans) to senior communities. Your staff drive. See bus rentals →
Bus rentals are provided by CB Bus Rental LLC, a separate company from Carpenter Bus Sales.
Questions Senior Communities Ask
Not for buses built for 15 passengers or fewer, including the driver, under federal rules. Larger buses require one. Some states have more stringent requirements, so check your state's CDL rules.
New 13 + 2 buses start around $125,000. New commercial wheelchair vans run about $90,000 to $100,000. Used buses with a lift usually run $50,000 to $70,000.
About 10 weeks to 3 months, depending on chassis availability. Buses and vans already in stock can be delivered sooner.
Yes. PlatinumCare covers every new bus and van we sell to churches, ministries, and senior care communities.
No. Ask your sales rep about warranty options for adult day care.
Call our Warranty Department at (615) 477-6765, and our Warranty Administrator will walk you through the claim process.
Yes. If you are upgrading, we can buy your current bus to make the move to a new vehicle easier.
Yes, to all 50 states.
No. We sell to senior living communities, healthcare providers, churches, and other organizations.
Keep Reading
Also Worth a Look
Talk to Bryan George, National Senior Care Manager
Call (629) 302-2976, or grab the free bus buying guide below and Bryan will follow up.
*Adult day care centers are not eligible for PlatinumCare.
Download Your FREE Bus Buying Guide!
Expert tips to make your bus purchase simple and stress-free.
