For churches
The church bus proposal your trustees will approve
Trustees approve a bus when the proposal answers their questions before they ask them. Our free tool writes that proposal for you: the need, the bus, the insurer's stance on vans, the driver plan, a five-year cost and a motion ready to vote on.
The seven questions trustees ask
- 1
Why do we need it?
Who rides, where, and how often. Name the ministries that use it and the trips you turn down today.
- 2
Why not keep the van?
Church Mutual recommends organizations not use 15-passenger vans, and tells groups that keep one to carry no more than 10 people. Ask your own insurer what it says, in writing.
- 3
Who will drive it?
Whether the bus needs a CDL, which members will drive, and how the insurer approves them. A bus that seats 14 plus the driver stays under the federal CDL line.
- 4
What will it cost over five years?
Purchase price plus fuel, insurance and maintenance, using your own quotes. Trustees approve the total, not just the sticker.
- 5
How will we pay for it?
From the budget, a designated gift or a capital campaign. Say which, and whether the fund already holds the money.
- 6
How do we know it is a good bus?
A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic, the maintenance records, and the insurer's approval of that exact vehicle.
- 7
What exactly are we voting on?
A motion with a not-to-exceed amount that names who may sign, so the board approves a ceiling once instead of meeting again over a few hundred dollars.
Tools that fill in the answers
- Replacing your 15-passenger van for the insurer question.
- The CDL bus checker for the driver question.
- Used bus prices by model year for the cost question.
Found the bus already?
Every listing on CommercialBuses has a "Build a board proposal" button that fills in the bus for you.
Write the proposalCommon questions
Who approves a church bus purchase?
It depends on your bylaws. In many churches the board or trustees recommend the purchase and approve it within their spending authority, and a larger purchase goes to a members' vote at a business meeting. Check your bylaws for the dollar limit that triggers a congregational vote.
What should a church bus proposal include?
The need, the specific bus, why it replaces what you have, the driver and license plan, a five-year cost, how it will be paid for, an inspection plan, and a motion with a not-to-exceed amount. The free tool on this page writes each section.
Should we buy a used church bus?
Most churches do, because a used bus costs far less than new. See current asking prices by model year on our used bus price page, and budget for a pre-purchase inspection.