Compare School Bus Insurance Rates [2023]
School busses require more than just basic car coverage. Talk with a school district superintendent, state regulator, or car insurance company to get specific requirements on insurance for a bus.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- State regulators and school districts have specific requirements for school bus services
- if you want to convert a school bus into a recreational vehicle, it’s best to talk with an insurance company first
- The insurance company may require you to have certain onboard facilities and might want to appraise the vehicle
You must meet certain school bus auto insurance requirements if you intend to provide services to a school district and transport kids to and from their place of learning. Because of their size and classification, these vehicles require more than just basic car insurance coverage. Read on to learn more.
Even if you purchase a school bus intending to convert it into a recreational vehicle, you’ll still need to know about specific insurance requirements for a school bus.
What kind of insurance do you need on a school bus?
To get insurance for a bus, you will need to have a commercial policy in place if you intend to provide transportation services to a school district.
You must also comply with any policies laid down by the state and the school district. These entities may have minimum school bus insurance requirements to protect the children and any other passengers on board.
What about school bus conversion insurance?
As the typical school bus is known for its size and reliability, many people decide to convert one for recreational purposes. It is possible to buy school bus conversion insurance, but you may need to provide some precise details to the company before you can get bus insurance quotes.
For example, you may need to prove that the vehicle has certain facilities onboard to qualify as a converted vehicle. These may include a fridge, bathroom facility, cooking appliance, and a drinkable water supply.
Your car insurance company may also be interested in knowing who performed the conversion. If you outsource it to a professional, you may be able to get more affordable rates. The insurance company may believe that this would involve a higher standard of work and that you would be less likely to file a claim.
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How much is insurance for a school bus?
Policy details and costs vary widely. Therefore, you need to get in touch with the relevant body in your state and find more specific information about school bus insurance costs and requirements in your area.
For example, Florida insists that you carry single limit liability insurance for a bus to protect the pupils on board. You need to set this policy at $5,000 multiplied by the vehicle’s seating capacity or $100,000, whichever is greater.
Check with your state’s DMV and local school district to determine what type of policy you need. Then, you can shop around for appropriate coverage from local insurers. We recommend comparing car insurance quotes from at least three companies near you to get the most affordable bus insurance rates.
What are the auto insurance requirements for school buses?
If you buy a school bus and intend to offer transportation services to your school district, you need to talk with them and understand the state’s specific requirements.
On the other hand, if you intend to convert it into a personal vehicle or RV, you may need to add certain features before you can qualify for coverage. You must get specific car insurance quotes based on your conversion plans and decide who will perform the conversion work.
It’s best to talk with insurance companies before you begin any conversion work to know exactly what they are looking for and make any changes to your plans if necessary. You may decide to outsource the work to a professional if it is easier to get coverage, as many companies will want to appraise the vehicle before they agree to issue a policy.
When you talk with your insurance company, ask about insuring a commercial vehicle for personal use. You need to start with the basic liability coverage as specified by your state, but you may also want to consider comprehensive car insurance and collision car insurance coverage to protect its value. It’s also worth considering uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
In either case, contact several insurance companies to compare your options and requirements before you buy a school bus.
Insurance for a Bus – What You Need to Know
Commercial school bus insurance requirements are regulated by state insurance laws and the local school district. Check with your DMV and district superintendent to determine what kind of coverage you’ll need as a school bus driver.
However, school bus conversion insurance policies depend on how you intend to use the vehicle for personal use. Most car insurance companies will want to appraise your converted bus before writing a policy. So, shop around with multiple insurers to see which offers the kind of policy you want at the best possible price on insurance for a bus.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.