How do I inspect a used bus before buying it?

Get the paperwork first: maintenance records, the last annual inspection report, a recall check and your insurer's approval. Then look underneath for rust and leaks, check the inside, drive it until the engine is fully warm, and have an independent bus or heavy-truck mechanic inspect it before you agree a price.

Do I need a mechanic if the bus looks fine?

Yes. Brakes, steering, suspension and the frame are where expensive problems hide, and a mechanic can check them on a lift against the federal minimum inspection standards. Get the findings in writing so you can negotiate on them.

What does the federal annual inspection cover?

Commercial vehicles in interstate service must be inspected at least once a year (49 CFR 396.17) to the minimum standards in Appendix A to Part 396, which include brakes, exhaust, fuel system, steering, suspension, frame, tires, and wheels and rims. The inspector writes a report, and the carrier keeps it for 14 months.

Should I buy a bus I cannot inspect in person?

Only if you can send a mechanic or accept the risk. Auction buses often sell as-is without a test drive. If you cannot see it, budget for towing and repairs, and get the inspection report and records before you bid.

Used bus inspection checklist: what to check before you buy

Before you go: the paperwork

Ask for the maintenance records, and compare the mileage in them with the odometer.
Ask for the last annual inspection report. A carrier must keep it for 14 months, and it lists the parts inspected and any that failed (49 CFR 396.21).
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask whether open recalls were fixed.
Confirm the title is clean and in the seller's name.
Send the VIN to your insurer and get written approval of this exact bus before you pay.

Walk around it and look underneath

Frame rails, the floor from below, the steps and the wheel wells: surface rust is normal, rot through metal is not. Buses from road-salt states usually have more.
Look for crash repair: paint that does not match, uneven panel gaps, or welds on the frame.
Look for fresh fluid under the engine, transmission and axles.
Check the exhaust for holes, loose joints and soot marks, and the fuel tank and lines for leaks.
Look for broken or sagging springs, and for leaks or cracks on air suspension bags.
Tires: tread depth, cracks in the sidewalls, and the same size on each axle. The last four digits of the DOT code are the week and year the tire was made.
Wheels: cracks, bent rims and missing or loose lug nuts.

Inside the bus

Press on the floor for soft spots, and look at the ceiling panels and window frames for water stains.
Seats and seat belts are bolted tight and undamaged.
Every emergency exit opens, and any exit alarm sounds.
All lights work: headlights, brake, turn, marker, hazard and interior.
Wipers, washers, mirrors, horn, heater, defroster and air conditioning all work.

Start it and drive it

Start it cold if you can, and watch for hard starting and heavy smoke.
Every warning light on the dash comes on at start, then goes out.
Drive long enough for the engine to reach full temperature, and watch the gauges stay steady.
It shifts through every gear without slipping, flaring or hard shifts.
It stops straight without pulling, and the brakes do not grind or fade.
The steering does not wander or have much play, and nothing clunks over bumps.
After the drive, look underneath again for new leaks.

Wheelchair lift or ramp

If the bus has one.

Run the lift through a full cycle several times: deploy, lower, raise and stow.
Try the emergency method of lowering and stowing it without power. Federal rules require lifts to have one (49 CFR 38.23(b)(3)).
Check that the wheelchair securement straps and occupant belts are all there and work.

Then have a mechanic inspect it

Book an independent bus or heavy-truck mechanic, not one chosen by the seller.
Ask them to check it against the federal minimum inspection standards (49 CFR Part 396, Appendix A), which cover brakes, exhaust, fuel system, steering, suspension, frame, tires, and wheels and rims.
Get their findings in writing, with a price for each repair, before you agree a final price.

What to check on a used bus before you buy it