Does anyone know how much it costs to insure a small bus, on average?

"Rainbow" (rainbeaux) 12/23/2018 at 11:01 • Filed to: None

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I’m looking into my whole junk removal idea some more, and I think the best option for a vehicle is a daycare bus with a wheelchair lift for the heavier items. ~$5000 for a spacious van with a large rear door is easily the second-best bang for your buck if you want space, only being beaten by a full-size bus. ( Which is too big for comfort, for me)

But anyway, I can’t find any estimates for the average insurance cost of one. I’m guessing it’s higher than a normal car, of course, but how much higher?

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 11:13

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With an added bonus of not needing a CDL or anything as they are built on van frames, we have a couple at school for activity buses as any staff can drive them if they are on the schools insurance.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 11:20

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Makes me wonder why carpet companies dont do this more often. Can’t believe how many E serie s I see driving around like this and it’s maddening.

Yeah I can’t find a picture but you know the image. White E series with 4 rolls hanging out the back with the doors tethered closed.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 11:25

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Call/email your current insurance agent.

nermal > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 12:12

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Depends on what kinda junk you plan on removing . The problem I see with this is that the junk will be riding in the “passenger” compartment. Anything really stanky is gonna be an issue.

Wouldn’t you be better with a dump truck?

For insurance, since it’s being used for business purposes it will probably be more expensive. 

Monkey B > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 12:16

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thing is you will need commercial insurance. F igure that will, at minimum, double the rate.

Rainbow > nermal 12/23/2018 at 12:33

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I’m not going to pick up any regular trash.

And yeah, I know it’ll need to be commercial insurance. I had that on my Soul for a while when I was a courier, and it wasn’t too terrible of an increase.

A dump truck would be ideal, but waaaay more expensive.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 12:33

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Why not just a trailer with a ramp, towed by a truck or van?

Rainbow > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 12/23/2018 at 12:39

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I’m not comfortable backing up a trailer, honestly. I’m sure I could learn fine, but still.

I also think a pink bus would be a cool image. It’s gonna be pink whatever it is, but a pink school bus specifically will be more memorable than just a pink truck with a trailer.

wafflesnfalafel > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 12:42

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Make sure you are clear with your agent that you are going to use it for a contracting type business rather than to carry people - the usage will almost certainly be the biggest factor in pricing. Some carriers even have programs for these junk removal type businesses. In my area I would expect pricing for a single bus/van of that weight in a junk removal type operation (assuming nothing else unusual, accidents, activity, terrible credit, etc) to run $2500-$3500 annually for an auto liability policy at $1mil limit. Other less urban areas may be cheaper. Progressive insurance frequently also offers much lower liability limit policies, (which I wouldn’t normally recommend...) but could get you on the road for less money

Rainbow > Monkey B 12/23/2018 at 12:44

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Very true, but still not too big of a deal. Considering my franchise made $ 180k ( in 2003 dollars) in its first year with two trucks, I think it’s not unreasonable to assume I can do at least $ 30k. The only key difference is the company itself already existed for them, so they had the advantage of “ oh yeah, I’ve heard that name before” for some people. There’s a lot more competition now, too, but there’s also a lot more business overall.

Monkey B > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 12:56

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marketing, it’s what franchises can offer and it’s why they are hard t o compete with. I compete largely with franchises, and my business stemmed from one. I do wholesale though, so marketing isn’t a concern of mine. You’ll rely on building a name from scratch, and you may be unsettled by the cost of it.

Not trying to discourage you either, just remind you it’s a little more complicated than the job itself, always is, just make sure you know all of it going in. Doing what you do you are going to need a liability insurance policy too...typically the minimum coverage for that is a million dollar policy....but don’t ever use it.

Merfthemadmauler > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 13:40

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Wheel chair lifts don’t have a lot of capacity. I was working a remodel years ago and we burned up the mother on a stairway lift hauling materials. Big oops.

Rainbow > Merfthemadmauler 12/23/2018 at 13:46

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I’m sure they don’t, but if it’s more than ~ 300lbs or so, I’ll either dismantle it or refuse to take it for safety concerns.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 14:09

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The trick on registering and insuring these is to do so as an RV. Once titled as an RV, they’re cheap to register and insure. In most states the requirements to convert one into an RV are pretty minimal, usually along the lines of a minimal place to sleep and cook. The RV registration also gets around commercial vehicle inspection (among other regulations) as well as bypasses and CDL requirements that might apply. It may be worth looking what it would take to minimally convert one for the purposes of titling and insurance.  Nothing says you couldn’t unbolt a small cabinet and bed setup later on.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 14:18

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This is probably the way to go. The fault in my RV suggestion is that may not work for business purposes. I once considered setting up a hotshot business. One of the things I learned is that commercial liability insurance is seriously expensive if you’re under 25 (this would be why virtually no trucking company will hire a driver under 25).

A truck and trailer would probably be a whole lot cheaper. The truck has the benefit of being able to be unhooked and used as a regular vehicle when not working.  Learning how to back a trailer well isn’t a hard skill to master.  It just takes some practice.  A few hours spent on a Sunday morning or two in an empty Costco parking lot will have you parallel parking with trailers in no time.

Merfthemadmauler > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 14:50

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Good. I was just making sure you knew the limitations of the lifts before you make a purchase.

Longtime Lurker > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 15:49

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It’s only considered a bus if you leave the seats in. Depending on your local laws bellow a certain number of seats it would be considered a passenger van, and if you took all of them out exc ept the driver seat it would be a cargo van. Insurance would then cost the same any other cargo van it was based on (E350, Express)

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Rainbow 12/23/2018 at 16:48

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Varies wildly by area and insurer, some will refuse to insure them due to lack of seat belts, etcetera. Since it’s being used for business, DO NOT USE THE RV CHEAT. They will fucking own you lock stock and barrel for insurance fraud the millisecond you think of making a claim.

Also check the wheelchair lift out before you buy the bus. There’s a range of them. I was considering a bus for a tow-and-camp rig for a bit so I did my homework. Some of them are only for manual wheelchairs, maybe 300lbs limit. And then there’s the big beefy bastards intended for the motorized wheelchairs and the like, some of which can handle 1200lbs !

The easiest ‘high capacity’ lift to find is going to be the Ricon Series S full hydraulic or Braun Century 2 , both of which can handle 800lbs.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Rainbow 12/24/2018 at 08:15

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That’s a fair point, and honestly kudos to you for not just assuming you can do it like everybody who has ever rented a Uhaul trailer.

Pink bus is a good idea, definitely an image and something people will notice moving around town.  Check the weight rating on the ramps, I assume they’re good for 500+ lbs...I used to drive those buses and you’d have a person in a wheelchair, plus maybe a handler riding it up. They also work manually if the motor fails.