At first glance, buying a Bus may seem like buying a car. Decide the make and model, choose a colour and you are all set, but there are many other important aspects like Passenger Capacity, Fuel Type, Safety Features etc. which need to be decided before finalizing the right Bus. This guide will help decide the best Bus suitable for your requirements.
The Bus size is the most important aspect for buying a Bus, from van-style transports that comfortably seat single-digit numbers to full size buses that move as many as 60, Size of the Bus directly affects the movement on the road and parking space, it’s important to choose a model with a capacity that fits your requirements as closely as possible.
When it comes to fuel type today we have options to choose from Diesel engines and other alternate engines like CNG, Electric and Hybrids. A Diesel engine remain popular even today due to the ease of availability of fuel, though the diesel engine gets you better mileage and cost effective, they do cause pollution more than other alternatives. CNG provides a slightly cleaner alternative, at the cost of fuel economy. Electric Buses are next generation technology and becoming popular these days.
It is important to strike a balance between top-notch safety and Comfort features and budget-friendly options. There are a whole host of new options to consider, including better seats, leg room, seat belts, wheelchair restraints, electronic sensors, and cameras.
Due to improvements in automobile industry, manufacturers now, offer a variety of Bus specific to user requirements. Below are some the popular types of Bus available in market.
A bus that takes people to their offices, school or any other city travel.
A bus that is used for driving long distances with as much comfort as possible and more room. It has fewer doors than a city bus.
A bus that is smaller than normal buses. It can carry about 8 to 25 people
A bus that is nearer the ground than other buses, so you can get in and out more easily. This type is often used in cities. The floor may get lower when the bus stops and higher when it moves.
Whether buying a new Bus or a used Bus, both have their own advantages and disadvantages. So, it completely depends on individual’s choice and preferences to opt for new or used Bus. Here are a few points to consider before coming onto one decision:
Buyer gets more choices to choose from in case of new Bus rather than being limited to what is available in case of used Bus.
New latest Bus are loaded with exciting new features and engineering improvements. However, used Bus offer limited features and specs.
Cost is very important deciding factor. The similar model of a new and a used Bus can differ drastically in pricing. New Bus is much more expensive than a used version with same features.
Depreciation rate is much faster in new Bus verses old Bus. New Bus have been known to depreciate their value by half in the first 2-3 years. If you buy a used Bus, its rate of depreciation is lesser because there’s no initial depreciation.
Resale value of a used Bus is higher than the new Bus, as there's less difference between buying price and selling price.
If you are planning to finance the Bus, then financing rate could be better in new ones verses the used one.
When you purchase a new Bus, you know exactly what you are buying and what you will get. There’s no uncertainty about the features and you need not dig out the history of the Bus. However, when you shop a used Bus you must assure all the documents are complete and original, learn about accidental history (if any), find papers of insurance or finance, check service history or any major damage, and more information.
Buying insurance for a brand-new Bus is more expensive. Companies offer better insurance rates for a used Bus.
A buyer generally gets confused with the various terminologies with respect to the price of the new Bus. These terms are applicable to the new Bus only. There are two types of prices one must know that are explained as follows
This is the price at which a dealer sells the new Bus to the retail customer. This price includes cost of transportation, dealer margin and more. Ex-showroom price may differ from state to state but it remains same for a state.
This is the actual price payable by the retail customer to the authorized dealer. It is even called as Invoice Value of the Bus. This price further includes some charges like accessories costs, State Registration Charges, Insurance charges, Delivery charges (Logistic Charges), Life Time Road Tax, and any additional warranty coverage. On-Road price is the final price a buyer pays, and it may vary from dealer to dealer within the same state.
If you are looking forward to buying a new or used bus there are multiple ways to choose from. Both online and offline there are different vendors who can help you get your suitable Bus. Here we go with them
You can go to India's first marketplace Droom.in, to get your dream vehicle. Get enormous listings of used and new Bus. Droom is the first online transactional platform providing sellers and buyers with a plenty of other benefits.
Contact a dealer online or visit him personally to buy a used Bus.
You can find an individual seller and contact him to crack the used Bus deal.
Visit an authorized dealer to buy a new Bus. Different makers have their own dedicated dealers that offer wide selection of latest Bus.
Before choosing a Bus make sure to keep in mind the below mentioned points especially when it’s about a used Bus.
The seller's credibility should be well-established. If required ask for professional references from the seller.
Get reviews of a dealer from previous customers or try finding them online if possible. This will help knowing the trustworthiness of the dealer in long run.
All original documents like RC, insurance papers, service records and more must be available for viewing and verification.
You can opt for an inspection to get a professional diagnostic report mentioning about health and condition of the Bus. Inspection done by an expert will offer an unbiased review about the Bus.
Apart from above documents, you might require furbishing some additional documents on case-to-case basis.