Church communities do a lot more than worship together. They bring people together for both religious and fun activities, not to mention missionary and humanitarian work throughout their community.
However, the larger and more active your church community is, the more likely you are to need a church bus or shuttle to transport your congregation.
Not sure if your congregation needs a bus? Consider these reasons a bus might be useful for your church group.
- Bringing your church together
There are many people out there who would like to join your congregation for weekly worship and church events but lack the proper transportation or ability to make the trip. With a church bus, you can be sure members of your congregation won’t be left out.
- Church travel
Whether you have a youth group traveling to church camp and other activities or you are planning a trip for your whole church group, a bus can be a simple way to make sure everybody gets to come along. Many groups rent buses for their yearly activities, but owning a used bus can save you a significant amount in the long run and allow your church group to do even more.
- Being a part of the community
If your church is active in the community, chances are you need to transport large groups of people and supplies to many places. From taking part in local youth outreach to food drives for the underprivileged, a church bus will solve all your transportation needs and help build awareness for your group.
Whether your group is part of a megachurch or a small local congregation, reliable transportation can help your church community stay engaged and active in the community.
What to Look for When Purchasing a Bus
If you are looking for a pre-owned bus, the search can become overwhelming as you navigate various sellers. There are several things to consider when selecting a bus to use for personal or business needs.
If you are unsure where to begin, here are the items you need to check:
Size
One of the two biggest factors in finding the right bus for you is the size of the vehicle. You should have a good idea how many people you plan to transport or how much space you need before you do any shopping. Make sure the vehicle will be able to hold all the passengers you need without being unnecessarily large for your purposes.
Engine Size and Reliability
Once you know how many people or how much weight you will have onboard, it is time to find the engine that will get you where you are going. A bus dealer can help ensure that you get an engine that will stand the test of time, but it is important to check for performance, safety, and fuel economy records, as well as reviews.
Safety
Depending on what you plan to use the bus for, you may want to take extra safety precautions, such as seatbelts or wheelchair lifts. Be mindful of additions that you add that can impact the bus’s overall safety, like reclining seats, for example.
Electronics
If you are purchasing a used bus for sale, make sure to test all electrical equipment to guarantee everything is working right before making a purchase. It is also important to consider any modifications you want to be included.
Engine Diagnostics
Anytime you are considering purchasing a used vehicle of any kind, it is a good practice to ask for maintenance records for the vehicle and to have it inspected by an independent mechanic, so you can be aware of any potential issues that may arise. You should also be aware of if your bus takes gas or diesel fuel and how that will impact your overall costs.
Understanding Your Financing Options
Buying a bus isn’t always possible in a world with ever-tightening budgets. With deep cuts being made in budgets, many are turning to other financing alternatives for ensuring their transportation needs are met.
Thankfully, affordable lease, lease-purchase, and financing programs are available so you don’t have to settle for a bus or coach that doesn’t actually meet your needs. The key is knowing what works best for you.
Leasing allows customers to make pre-agreed upon rental payments over a predetermined amount of time. Once that time is up, the customer returns the bus to the dealer and has the option to begin a new lease or walk away to explore other options.
If you plan on using a bus long-term, a lease-purchase option may be more suited to your needs. A lease-purchase program, also known as installment purchase, allows customers to enter into a pre-negotiated rate, term, and payment amount. At the end of this payment period, the customer then owns the bus.
The best part of financing a bus or coach is that you can help negotiate the terms of the agreement to fit what you need. While the norm for leasing or lease-purchasing is 5 years, you can opt to lease for anywhere from 3 to 10 years.
Payment options and financing structures can be similarly flexible. Depending on your needs, you may be able to customize your agreement to include no down payment, delayed first payment, skip payments during specific times of the year, escrow funding, or balloon payments.
This information is courtesy of American Bus Sales, which specializes in selling renovated and customized buses and shuttles and buying quality used buses for sale across the country, www.americanbussales.net.
