SCHOOL & SHUTTLE BUSES
School bus and shuttle bus financing and leasing
A school bus is bought on the school calendar, not the bank's. The route contract starts in August, the bus has to be on the lot in July, and the payment has to fit a budget set the previous spring. Financing a bus through a lessor that funds fleets for a living gets the vehicle delivered on time and the payment fixed for the term of the contract.
What we finance
New or used, from any vendor, dealer or auction. Named manufacturers are examples of what this covers, not a limit — if what you need is not on this list, ask.
- Type C conventional school buses — Blue Bird Vision, Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2, IC Bus CE Series
- Type D transit-style buses — Blue Bird All American, Thomas HDX, IC Bus RE
- Type A minibuses on Ford E-Series, Chevrolet and Ford Transit chassis
- Electric school buses — Blue Bird Vision Electric, Thomas Jouley, IC Bus Electric CE, Lion
- Propane and gasoline school buses for lower-cost fleets
- Wheelchair-lift and special-needs buses with securement systems
- Activity and multifunction school activity buses
- Shuttle buses and cutaways for churches, camps and colleges
- Used school buses from dealers and district surplus sales
- Cameras, stop-arm systems, GPS telematics and student tracking
- Depot charging equipment for electric bus fleets
- Fleet replacements: two buses or twenty on one agreement
Why lease it
01
Fixed payment for the length of the route contract
A transportation contractor's revenue is set for the term of the contract. A lease with the same term and a fixed payment matches the cost of the bus to the income it earns, with no rate reset and no balloon in the middle of the school year.
02
Replace the fleet a few buses a year
Buses are retired on age and mileage, and a fleet replaced all at once ages all at once. Leasing on a rolling schedule lets you bring in a few new buses each summer, return the ones that have run their term and keep the average age of the fleet down.
03
Electric buses without the capital hit
An electric school bus costs a multiple of a diesel one before grants and utility programmes. Financing the balance after the incentive, and the depot chargers with it, lets a contractor or a private school run electric routes without tying up the year's cash.
FREE QUOTE
Get a custom quote in minutes
Tell us what equipment you need — from any list above, or something that is not on one. An ACG specialist follows up, typically within 24 hours, with options built around your business.
Business equipment financing. $10,000 minimum. We do not finance personal or household purchases.
- — NO OBLIGATION, NO HARD CREDIT PULL
- — NEW OR USED, ANY VENDOR
- — OR CALL (949) 822-3017
Three steps to your equipment
01
Request a quote
Use the form above or call (949) 822-3017. No obligation and no hard credit pull to get a number.
02
Secure approval and sign
Most decisions come back the same day. Documents are signed online.
03
Order your equipment
We deal with the vendor directly — payment, inspection and delivery — so you can keep running the business.
Questions bus operators ask before financing a school bus
Can I finance a school bus for a private school or a bus contractor?
Yes. School bus financing from American Capital Group covers new and used Type A, C and D school buses, electric school buses, special-needs buses and shuttle buses for private schools, charter schools, transportation contractors, churches, camps and colleges. Most single-bus purchases are approved on an application alone, with no financial statements up to $150,000, and fleet orders are quoted on a short financial package.
How much does it cost to lease a school bus?
The payment depends on the bus, the term and the end of term option you choose. A used Type A minibus on a three year lease is a very different agreement from a new electric Type C on seven years, so send the dealer's quote through the form on this page and we return real numbers, usually the same business day.
Can I finance a used school bus?
Yes. Used school buses from a dealer, a district surplus auction or another operator qualify, subject to age and mileage. A well maintained conventional bus with years of service left is often the right buy for a church, a camp or a contractor adding one route. We pay the seller directly once the bus is inspected and the agreement is signed.
Can a new bus contractor get financing before the first route contract pays?
Yes. A new transportation contractor with a signed route contract can finance the buses against the owner's credit and the contract, and we can time the first payment to the start of the school year when the buses are delivered over the summer. We fund start-up transportation businesses regularly.
Know what you need?
An application takes a few minutes and most decisions come back the same day. If you would rather see a payment first, the calculator gives you a range without asking for anything.