Quick Guide to Choosing a Bus Type

Whether you are coordinating on a city-wide tour, organizing a corporate trip for your staff, or simply looking to rent a bus for your sports team, there are a number of considerations to make. 

Selecting the perfect charter bus rental for your group is ultimately dependent on a variety of factors, including group size, distance travelled, desired amenities, and trip type

From our fully-sized coach bus rentals and compact minibus rentals to our streamlined school bus rentals, Bus.com has a versatile fleet of over 40,000 charter bus rentals at its disposal – wherever you may be heading in North America. 

This Quick Guide to Choosing a Bus Type will equip you with all the information you’ll need to book the perfect charter bus rental for your group, taking into account trip length, group size, and your unique transportation needs. Of course, the easiest way to choose the right bus for your group is to simply contact our experts! 🙂

Charter Bus Rental Types

Bus.com currently offers five different bus types, including our coach bus rentals, minibus rentals, school bus rentals, sprinter van rentals, as well as, mini coach bus rentals. Keep reading for more information on each charter bus rental, including how to rent a bus with Bus.com. 

Coach Bus Rentals

Our coach bus rentals are undoubtedly the most luxurious of charter bus rentals available, transporting up to 55 passengers at a time with the minimum of fuss. Coach bus rentals are used for trips over longer distances, typically over three hours. 

Featuring comfortable seating, an onboard restroom, vehicle-wide air conditioning, and a dedicated undercarriage storage for all your personal belongings, coach bus rentals epitomize modern luxury and comfort on the road. Our coach bus rentals can even be customized with hi-speed WIFI, ensuring you remain connected en route to your destination. Rent a bus for your next big trip! 

Minibus Rentals

Purpose-built for economy and efficiency, minibus rentals comfortably accommodate up to 21 passengers at a time. This charter bus rental is ideal for transporting smaller groups of people between and within communities, offering an affordable method of transportation over shorter distances. 

In fact, minibus rentals are particularly ideal for recurring shuttle services given their compact size and affordability. Whether you are planning an employee shuttle service, or simply need a reliable ride between conference venues for your VIP guests, minibus rentals accommodate in style. Get in touch with our award-winning specialists and rent a bus today! 

School Bus Rentals

School bus rentals provide yet another cost-effective and reliable charter bus rental for larger groups of people travelling over shorter distances. While traditionally associated with K-12 classrooms and field trips, school bus rentals serve a number of additional purposes. 

Notably, the iconic yellow school bus can be used to reliably transport your sports team front point A to point B, or even for a nearby case competition. Comfortably seating up to 47 passengers at a time, school bus rentals are a budget-friendly option for trip organizers in the market for a reliable charter bus rental. 

Sprinter Van Rentals

Groups of all sizes turn to convenient sprinter van rentals due to their maneuverability, and fuel savings. Passenger van rentals effectively transport between eight and 15 passengers at a time over shorter distances, and come equipped with a fully-vetted and experienced driver. Sprinter van rentals are particularly ideal when navigating through busier urban environments thanks to their smaller size, and customizability. 

Sprinter van rentals typically come equipped with a standard set of amenities comparable to that of a standard van, including a spacious trunk, reclining seats, a USB outlet, and air conditioning. Our passenger van rentals, however, can also be outfitted with hi-speed WIFI and power outlets, ensuring your group’s productivity on the road.

Mini Coach Bus Rentals

Our Mini Coach Bus rentals offer travellers the perfect in-between a fully-sized coach bus rental and a compact minibus rental. This charter bus rental is equally suited for transporting passengers over both shorter- and longer-distances, accommodating up to 31 guests at a time. 

Purpose-built for comfort, travellers can enjoy many of the same comforts and luxuries of our coach bus rental, albeit in a more compact package. In fact, the only amenity unique to the coach bus rental is the onboard restroom! Whether you are heading to an out-of-town corporate retreat, a student ski trip, or professionally organizing a wedding, our versatile mini coach bus rentals have you covered.

Factors to Consider When Picking a Charter Bus Rental

There are a number of considerations to make when selecting the perfect charter bus rental for your trip. From group size and distance travelled to trip type, here are factors that might impact your charter bus rental selection. When should you book a minibus?

Group Size

Getting an accurate headcount of your group is the first step before booking your charter bus rental, ultimately reducing the cost-per-person. Put simply, different bus types are best suited for different group sizes. For instance, our coach bus rentals accommodate up to 55 passengers while our minibus rentals comfortably seat up to 21 guests.

Filling up the charter bus rental to capacity is typically recommended, streamlining the overall cost of your trip. Be sure to input your trip parameters into our easy-to-use online booking system once your group size is confirmed and generate a detailed quote in less than two minutes. Rent a bus and eliminate the hassle of group transportation! 

Distance Travelled

The length of your trip is a fundamental factor when selecting the perfect charter bus rental for your group. Our versatile fleet of charter bus rentals are ultimately tailored to specific trip types.

For example, if you’re embarking on a short, local trip, our minibus rentals, school bus rentals, and sprinter van rentals have you covered. Distance travelled, however, should always be considered along with group size, helping you quickly determine the ideal charter bus rental for your trip.

Here is a brief overview of each charter bus rental, and the distances they are best suited for.

  • Coach Bus Rentals: Larger groups of longer distances
  • Minibus Rentals: Smaller groups over shorter distances 
  • Mini Coach Bus Rentals: Mid-sized groups for shorter distance hops and longer distances
  • School Bus Rentals: Ideal for larger groups over shorter distances 
  • Sprinter Van Rentals: Best suited for smaller groups over shorter distances

Trip Type

The nature of your trip also plays a pivotal role in determining the ideal charter bus rental for your group. Bus.com understands that not all trips are created equally, and different trip types have unique transportation requirements. For instance, if you’re planning a school field trip, safety and supervision are paramount, with our school bus rentals emerging as the ultimate option. 

Coach bus rentals, by contrast, are ideal for corporate travel, including conferences and trade shows, providing your staff and out-of-town guests with superior comfort and luxury while on the road. With Bus.com by your side, you have the ability to customize your charter bus rental with onboard technology and amenities, resulting in a seamless experience.

Desired Amenities

Did you know that customizing your charter bus rental with a slew of amenities does not significantly impact the final price of your bus rental? In fact, the driver’s on-duty time, including time spent on the road and in-between pit stops, will ultimately have the greatest impact on charter bus rental prices. 

Before choosing your bus type, consider the different amenities offered by Bus.com. Common amenities include but are not limited to, hi-speed WIFI, air conditioning, power outlets, onboard restrooms, undercarriage storage, and audio systems. Consult our infographic above for specific amenities offered on particular charter bus rentals or contact our award-winning booking specialists for additional support!

 

Picking the right-sized charter bus rental for your group

Selecting the perfect charter bus rental for your group ultimately begins with understanding the different bus types available, including the trips they are best suited for along with their amenities. Next, it’s important to consider various factors, including group size, trip type, distance travelled, and optional comforts. 

From our fully-sized coach bus rentals to our affordable school bus rentals and minibus rentals, Bus.com connects groups of all sizes with our versatile fleet of right-sized charter bus rentals for all their transportation needs. You can even secure your charter bus rental at today’s price and defer the full payment of it up until 21 days before your departure date with our flexible Book Now, Pay Later policy

***We hope we answered all of your questions about choosing the perfect bus type, but in case we didn’t, our award-winning booking specialists are at your disposal 24/7. Simply get in touch and rent a bus with Bus.com today!

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