Charter Bus Rental Prices: Guide to Calculating Cost

Make and Model

Small buses cost less to run and maintain than larger bus models, which will be reflected in your quote. If you don’t need all of the seats or storage space offered on a full-sized, 56-passenger charter bus, opting for a smaller model might save your group a little bit of money.

Distance and Duration

How far you’re traveling and how long you’ll need your bus will determine how your trip is priced. For example, one-day trips such as field trips and weddings are often priced per hour, while multi-day trips such as weekend retreats and sports tournaments are often priced per day or per mile. Your price will be calculated based on whether your trip will cover a long distance in a short amount of time or a short distance over a long period of time.

When you call to book, be sure to have all of your itinerary details finalized so that we can provide you with an accurate quote based on how far you plan to travel. We can always edit your reservation once you’ve booked, but adding stops to your trip will result in an extra charge.

Season

Peak travel months for charter bus companies are often April, May, and June, due to an increase in graduations, proms, end-of-year school trips, and family vacations. If your trip takes place in one of these three months, your price will be higher than it would be at other times of the year. Meanwhile, the months of January, February, and July are often less busy, as winter weather and the end of summer usually keep groups indoors. You’re more likely to get a better deal on a charter bus during those times.

Additionally, weekend trips are more expensive than weekday trips, due to a greater demand for motorcoaches.

Location

Most major cities have plenty of bus companies and bus depots that can dispatch buses relatively quickly and keep up with a high demand. But some cities (often ones that aren’t near a metropolitan area) either don’t have many roads that can accommodate charter buses, or they simply don’t have a very high demand for charter bus trips.

If your trip is scheduled to begin and end in a city that already has plenty of available buses, your quote won’t be affected. But older cities like Boston don’t have as many roads that are conducive to charter bus travel, so there are often fewer available bus providers there. Rural cities may also have a low supply of charter buses.

If your starting city doesn’t have a high supply of buses, Shofur might need to pull a bus from another city and send the bus to you before your trip. The cost that covers any miles driven without passengers onboard is called deadhead, and that cost will be rolled into your quote.

Amenities

Many amenities come at no additional cost. These include WiFi, reclining seats, and air conditioning. But if you’d like to secure additional amenities on your bus, an extra charge may be necessary. Talk to your reservation specialist about the cost of adding onboard restrooms, a PA system, televisions with DVD players, extra storage space, and more.

Factors Not Included in Your Quote

There are a few additional things to consider when you’re building your trip budget. All of the factors listed above will be rolled into your charter bus quote, but don’t forget to account for extra expenses that might arise, such as:

• Tolls, which may or may not come up, depending on your route.
• Bus parking fees, which will vary from city to city.
• Room and board for your driver, which you must provide if your trip lasts more than one day.
• Driver tip, which is strongly recommended. Most groups tip their driver 5-10% of the total rental cost once their trip has been completed.