Bus types
Type A school buses
A small school bus built on a cutaway van chassis, seating roughly 14 to 30 students, often specified with a wheelchair lift.
- Typical capacity
- 14 to 30 passengers
- Who buys them
- Special-needs routes, small districts, private schools
- Licence
- Frequently ordered in a under-16-occupant configuration specifically to stay non-CDL. Verify the occupant count on the actual unit.
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Buying a Used School Bus
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What is inside the guideLooking for a type a school bus?
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Type A school buses: common questions
What is a type a school bus?
A small school bus built on a cutaway van chassis, seating roughly 14 to 30 students, often specified with a wheelchair lift.
How many passengers does a type a school bus seat?
Type A school buses typically seat 14 to 30 passengers. Exact capacity depends on the seating configuration and, where wheelchair positions are specified, on how many seats are given up to securement stations.
Do you need a CDL to drive a type a school bus?
Frequently ordered in a under-16-occupant configuration specifically to stay non-CDL. Verify the occupant count on the actual unit. A commercial driver's licence with a passenger endorsement is generally required at 16 or more occupants including the driver, or above 26,001 lb GVWR, but state rules vary and the occupant count on the specific unit is what decides it. Always verify against the unit, not the category.
Who buys type a school buses?
Special-needs routes, small districts, private schools.
How do I find a type a school bus for sale?
Search type a school buses listed by dealers across the U.S., then make a request about the bus you want. Your enquiry goes only to the dealer selling that bus, and the dealer follows up. It is free to search and send a request.
Buyers often cross-shop
- School bus47 to 90 passengersDistrict home-to-school routes, athletics, charter schools
- Shuttle bus12 to 38 passengersHotels, airport parking, campuses, senior living, church
- Wheelchair-accessible bus8 to 24 passengers plus 2 to 4 wheelchair positionsParatransit, senior living, medical transport, special-needs routes