Coach bus rentals are among the most luxurious charter bus rentals available, simplifying transportation for groups of all sizes. Accommodating up to 55 passengers at a time, coach bus rentals can be used for a variety of trip types, ranging from corporate and conference travel to sports teams and out-of-town field trips.
Ideal for trips over longer distances, coach bus rentals can be equipped with a number of onboard amenities, including but not limited to, an onboard restroom, vehicle-wide air conditioning, dedicated undercarriage storage, power outlets, as well as luxurious and comfortable seating.
Before renting a coach bus however, it is important to consider all potential factors. From group size and distance travelled to the driver’s on-duty time, there are a number of elements that ultimately go into the overall coach bus rental cost.
This guide will equip you with everything you need to know to secure the best available coach bus rental price, including what determines coach bus rental costs, how to rent a coach bus, as well as available coach bus rental models.
How much does it cost to rent a coach bus?
Coach bus rental cost is typically the first question trip organizers have before confirming their booking. On average, coach bus rental prices fluctuate between $600 and $1,200 per day, depending on a number of factors, including length of your trip, time of year, itinerary, and local availability. When renting a coach bus, it is important to have your itinerary as streamlined as possible. After all, the more stops your group plans on making, the higher the overall coach bus rental cost will be.
Be sure to input your trip parameters such as travel dates and group size into our easy-to-use online booking system to get started and a detailed coach bus rental price will be generated in less than two minutes.
Factors That Might Affect The Price of Your Coach Bus Rental
Renting a coach bus is the most effective way of transporting large groups over longer distances, however, it is nonetheless important to consider the following factors. Whether your trip falls during peak season, or you’re planning on making a number of pit-stops along the way, these factors ultimately determine the overall coach bus rental cost.
Group Size
When renting a coach bus, it is crucial to get an accurate headcount of your group as early as possible. Coach bus rentals can comfortably seat up to 55 passengers along with their personal belongings, making them ideal for bigger groups of people. Put simply, filling up the coach bus rental to capacity is the best way to lower the overall coach bus rental cost, reducing the cost-per-person on the charter bus rental.
Indeed, different bus types are better suited for different trip types and group sizes. For example, a minibus rental can emerge as a convenient, cost-effective option for your group if you’re only expecting 21 passengers. School bus rentals, by contrast, can similarly accommodate larger groups, however, are best suited over shorter distances. As such, consider your group size before renting a coach bus.
Distance Travelled
The next consideration you need to make is the distance to be travelled. Is your group heading out of town for a corporate retreat, travelling across the border for a case competition, or simply needs a reliable ride from point A to B? Coach bus rentals are particularly well-suited for journeys covering longer distances, given their spacious interiors, comfortable seating, and ample amenities.
Before renting a coach bus, we recommend inputting your trip into our online booking system or Google Maps, providing you with an accurate overview of the distance that needs to be travelled. In short, the further you intend on travelling, the higher the overall coach bus rental cost will be.
Time of Year
Time of year is yet another critical factor when renting a coach bus. During peak season, including summer or holidays, demand for coach bus rentals tends to surge due to events such as weddings, vacations, and school trips. As a result, the limited local availability of coach bus rentals during peak seasons can lead to higher coach bus rental prices.
Bus.com, however, has forged meaningful relationships with over 3,300 trusted local bus suppliers across North America, connecting trip organizers of all sizes with competitively-priced coach bus rentals. Rent a coach bus for your next trip!
Fuel Prices
Coach bus rental prices can slightly change due to fluctuations in fuel prices. However, this factor only particularly applies if there are major spikes or dips as fuel prices constantly change on a day-to-day basis. In any case, it is nonetheless important to monitor fuel prices as your departure date gets closer. Also, remember that buses have the lowest per-capita fuel consumption, so you will always be paying lower than all other transport options!
One of Bus.com’s award-winning booking specialists can also help streamline your itinerary before you hit the road, ensuring no surplus fuel is burned!
Driving and On-Duty Time
Did you know that driving time and on-duty time is ultimately what has the most significant impact on coach bus rental prices? Put simply, on-duty time refers to the total time a driver is working but isn’t necessarily driving, including pit-stops, bathroom and lunch breaks, and more.
Driving time, by contrast, as its name suggests, refers to the time spent on the road. Coach bus rentals are designed to limit the need for pit-stops, featuring an onboard restroom and a number of modern luxuries.
Desired Amenities
Amenities also play a role in determining the overall coach bus rental cost. Coach bus rentals can be outfitted with a variety of onboard technology, including, hi-speed WIFI, power outlets, DVD and audiovisual equipment, to name a few. Keep in mind, however, that equipping your coach bus rental with additional amenities will ultimately not significantly drive up the coach bus rental price.
In fact, these amenities will streamline your coach bus rental experience, giving your group the ability to remain connected while on route to your destination – particularly if it’s a longer trek!
Country-specific Regulations
If your group is planning a longer trip, it’s important to be aware of the different regulations surrounding bus travel that exist to protect drivers. After all, drivers need to be well-rested while on the road. Here are the country-specific regulations in Canada and the United States:
Canada
These regulations have been established and enforced by the Motor Coach Canada Association.
- A driver can drive a maximum of 13 hours per day.
- On-duty time must not exceed 14 hours per day.
- Off-duty time must reach a minimum of 10 hours in a 24-hour period.
United States
These regulations have been established and enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- A driver can drive a maximum of 10 hours per day.
- On-duty time must not exceed 15 hours per day.
- Off-duty time must reach a minimum of eight consecutive hours.
Ways to Save Money on a Coach Bus Rental
Be sure to follow Bus.com expert tips below before renting a coach bus. From streamlining your itinerary to shopping around and travelling during the off-season, here are six ways you can save money on your coach bus rental.
Secure your coach bus rental as early as possible
When renting a coach bus rental, it is essential to plan and book well in advance, typically between six and nine months before your departure date. Simply put, the earlier you rent a coach bus, the better coach bus rental price you will receive.
This is particularly important if you are travelling during peak season, which tends to be in the Spring with a number of corporate events, weddings, field trips, and conferences taking place. Bus.com also offers a flexible Book Now, Pay Later policy, allowing you to defer the full payment of your coach bus rental up until 21 days before your departure date.
Fill up the coach bus rental to capacity
One effective way to save money when renting a coach bus is to maximize its capacity. Filling the coach bus rental to its seating limit (55 passengers) reduces the cost per passenger, making it a more budget-friendly option. If you don’t expect to fill the entire coach bus rental, you can always consider alternatives such as the mini coach bus rental or minibus rental, seating 31 and 21 passengers respectively.
In fact, mini coach bus rentals give you the ability to enjoy many of the same amenities as a fully-sized coach bus, albeit in a more compact package,
Limit stops
As shown above, driving and the driver’s on-duty time have the most significant impact on coach bus rental prices. As such, limiting stops and streamlining your itinerary as much as possible is the best way to keep coach bus rental costs low. Be sure to prioritize essential stops, plan routes carefully, and communicate your itinerary clearly with fellow passengers to avoid delays.
Pro tip: Factor in an additional 15 minutes on every stop you intend to make as boarding a coach bus rental takes longer than you think. This will ensure there are no unwelcome surprises at the end of your trip by accounting for detours, traffic, and stragglers.
Travel during offseason
Traveling during the offseason can lead to significant coach bus rental savings. In short, the best time to travel is when others aren’t. Off-season for coach bus rentals is typically in the middle of winter or summer, where local availability is at an all-time high.
Before taking off, check your destination’s social calendar and see if there are any major events planned for when you are headed there. Events such as festivals, popular conferences, sports games, or concerts can all impact local availability, resulting in higher coach bus rental prices.
Shop Around
Before renting a coach bus rental, it is important to shop around and compare various coach bus rental quotes. Luckily, Bus.com takes care of much of the work for you and works directly with over 3,300 trusted, local bus suppliers. The end result is affordably-priced coach bus rentals at your disposal across North America.
Bus.com also runs a price-matching program. If you’ve found a coach bus rental price at a more competitive rate, let us know and we will do our best to match it.
Don’t worry about amenities
Amenities ultimately do not have a significant impact on the final coach bus rental cost. As such, feel free to customize your coach bus rental with your favourite selection of modern comforts, including hi-speed WIFI and power outlets, ensuring your group’s productivity and comfort on the road.
Don’t believe us? Use our convenient online booking tool to get a quick estimate on your coach bus rental, both with and without amenities.
Coach Bus Rental Models
Bus.com offers four different types of coach bus rentals, with each one coming with its own unique features and amenities. Ultimately, this vehicle is designed to safely transport larger groups of people over long distances. Here is a little more information on each coach bus rental available.
Prevost H3-45
The Prevost H3-45 is among the most popular coach bus rentals available on the market, seating up to 56 passengers at a time. Featuring reclining seats, air conditioning, an onboard restroom, hi-speed WIFI, and power outlets, this coach bus rental has everything you need for a seamless journey.
The Prevost H3-45 is perfectly suited for larger groups of people with personal belongings, equipment, and anything else you might want to bring with you, coming equipped with a dedicated, undercarriage storage. Best of all, like all coach bus rentals, a fully-vetted and experienced driver will be at the wheel, getting you to your destination safely and reliably.
Van Hool
The Van Hool coach bus rental is equally as comfortable as its counterparts, providing a reliable method of transportation for up to 55 passengers at a time. This charter bus rental comes with a number of the same amenities as traditional coach bus rentals, including, reclining seats, significant storage space, an onboard bathroom, and a designed and experienced driver. Rent a coach bus for your next long-distance trip!
MCI J4500
The MCI J4500 is yet another coach bus rental commonly found in the United States and Canada. In fact, it is the best-selling MCI model. Accommodating up to 54 passengers at a time, this coach bus rental is best suited for long-distance hauls, including out-of-town field trips, campus visits, tailgating parties, as well as corporate events such as conferences and trade shows.
Be sure to get in touch with our customer care team to equip your coach bus rental with your preferred selection of amenities before hitting the road. Renting a coach bus has never been easier thanks to Bus.com’s flexible, on-demand transportation model!
Prevost H3-41
The Prevost H3-41 has established itself as an industry leader in the motor coach world and has been around for nearly three decades. Seating up to 56 passengers at a time, this coach bus rental offers traveller a compact coach bus rental option! In fact, the Prevost H3-41 is noticeably shorter than average coach bus rentals at 41 feet long, providing an ideal charter bus rental to navigate through traffic, congestion, and busier urban environments with the minimum of fuss.
Rent a coach bus near me
Now that you are aware of the different factors impacting coach bus rental prices, the next step is renting a coach bus. With Bus.com by your side, it’s as simple as entering your trip details into our online booking system and receiving a detailed coach bus rental price in less than two minutes. Coach bus rental quotes are typically valid for up to three days giving you ample time to coordinate with the rest of your group, however, if it ever expires, you can simply request a new one.
Alternatively, you can always get in touch with our award-winning booking specialists to customize your coach bus rental. Our customer care team works around the clock 24/7, assisting you with any questions you might have about how to rent a coach bus. Working with our North-America wide network of trusted bus suppliers, we are confident we can connect with you with affordable coach bus rentals. Rent a coach bus today and eliminate the hassle of group transportation with Bus.com!
Rent a coach bus rental for your next trip
In sum, a coach bus rental represents the most effective way for large groups of people to travel over longer distances in luxury, offering a number of onboard amenities and technology. However, it is nonetheless important to consider all potential factors that can impact coach bus rental prices.
From renting your coach bus as early as possible to filling it up to capacity, there are a number of ways to save money when booking a coach bus. Simply be aware of these factors, plan ahead, and secure your coach bus rental at the earliest convenience.
We hope we answered all of your questions about coach bus rentals, including coach bus rental prices, the different coach bus rental models available, as well as how to rent a coach bus, wherever you may be. In case we didn’t, be sure to get in touch with our award-winning customer support team and we’d be happy to assist with your booking!
