Buying a Used Shuttle Bus in New York, Delivered Anywhere
If you're looking for a used shuttle bus for sale in New York, you can see, drive and pick up a reconditioned bus at our location in Huntington on Long Island. If you're out of state, you don't need to come here at all: we deliver anywhere in the U.S. and walk you through the bus on FaceTime first. Here's what New York buyers and out-of-state buyers each need to know.
A New York Dealer Doesn't Mean a Salt-Belt Bus
Long Island is home base, but it isn't where most of our buses come from. Road salt is hard on frames, steps and body mounts, so we source rust-free buses from around the country and bring them here for reconditioning. You get a dealer you can visit in person without inheriting a rusty underside. We explain the thinking in Rust-Free Shuttle Buses: Why We Source Nationwide.
A visit also lets you compare sizes side by side. On a given day you might see a small wheelchair bus with four positions, a 13-passenger cutaway and a 28-passenger F-550. Standing inside each one is the fastest way to settle what size your riders need.
If the Bus Will Run in New York: Rules to Know
Start with the driver's license. Under federal rules (49 CFR 383.5), a commercial driver's license is required for a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more people, including the driver, or one with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more. Only designated seats count toward the 16, not standing room. A 13-passenger E-350 carries 14 with the driver, so it stays under the line. A 28-passenger bus does not, so plan on a driver with a CDL and a passenger endorsement.
If you'll carry passengers for pay, or run certain programs, New York adds its own layer:
- Operating authority. Carriers transporting passengers for compensation in New York generally need Operating Authority from NYSDOT. Some for-hire carriers are exempt.
- NYSDOT bus inspections. Vehicles that carriers register to transport passengers must pass a NYSDOT inspection before the DMV will register them, and must be re-inspected at least every six months.
- Article 19-A. This part of the Vehicle and Traffic Law sets standards for drivers of vehicles carrying passengers for hire. It also reaches carriers using vehicles with 11 or more seats to take people under 21, or people with disabilities, to school, day care or religious instruction.
Which rules apply depends on what you do with the bus. Check with NYSDOT and the New York DMV before your first run. We're glad to share what we know, but they have the final word.
Buying From Out of State: Tax, Paperwork and Delivery
Most of our buyers aren't from New York, and that works fine. New York's sales tax rules for motor vehicles turn on where the buyer lives. Sales to qualifying nonresident buyers are exempt from New York state and local sales tax when the buyer gives the dealer Form DTF-820 at the time of sale. To qualify, you can't have a permanent home in New York, employment or a business in New York where the bus will be used, or a New York registration for it, including a temporary one. Your home state may collect its own tax when you register the bus, so check with your DMV.
Then there's getting the bus to you. We deliver anywhere in the U.S. (see how in Delivery - Whatever It Takes). Before you commit, we'll do a live FaceTime walkaround so you can see the engine, interior, lift and underside in real time and ask questions as we go. Financing is available too.
A Quick Checklist for Any Used Bus
Wherever you buy, the same basics apply:
- Underside first. Look at the frame, steps and body mounts, not just the paint.
- Lift and securement. Run the wheelchair lift through a full cycle and check every strap and retractor.
- Title and history. A clear title, ideally one owner, and no accident history.
- Miles with records. A fleet-maintained bus with records can beat a low-mile bus that sat.
- An independent inspection. We encourage it; here's why we say yes to inspections.
Used Shuttle Buses for Sale in New York Right Now
These three buses are at our Huntington, NY location, and each can be delivered anywhere in the U.S.
2017 Ford E-350 Non-CDL 4/4 Wheelchair Shuttle ($39,990)
This Starcraft-built E-350 is set up for wheelchair transport first: 4 passenger seats plus 4 wheelchair positions, a BraunAbility lift that has been fully serviced and certified, and Q'Straint securement. It has a gas V8 with an automatic transmission, 61,423 miles and a clear, one-owner title, and it is New York State inspected and certified. Dual front and rear A/C with a rear heater, transit-grade flooring and a roof escape hatch round it out. It's a strong fit for NEMT and day programs where most riders use a chair. Price: $39,990. See this wheelchair bus
2018 Ford E-350 Diamond Coach Non-CDL 13/2 Wheelchair Shuttle ($55,990)
This Diamond Coach composite-body E-350 seats 13 passengers plus the driver and adds a commercial lift with two wheelchair positions. Perimeter-style seating with seatbelts and overhead grab rails leaves a wide center aisle for quick boarding. It runs the 6.8L Triton V10 gas engine, shows 42,759 actual miles and has front and rear climate control and privacy glass. A matching twin is also available if you need two. Price: $55,990. See this shuttle bus
2018 Ford F-550 Glaval, 28 Passengers and 2 Wheelchair Positions ($65,990)
For bigger groups, this Glaval-bodied F-550 carries up to 28 passengers and has a commercial ADA wheelchair lift with two wheelchair positions. It runs the Ford 6.8L Triton V10 gas engine and shows 102,000 miles. It's getting its finishing touches in our reconditioning shop now. At this size it needs a CDL driver, so it suits churches, senior communities and shuttle operators that already have one. Price: $65,990. See this F-550 bus
Inventory moves quickly. See everything available on our current listings page, or shop by size: 12 passenger | 14 passenger | 24 passenger | wheelchair buses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a bus from you if I don't live in New York? Yes. We deliver anywhere in the U.S., and we'll set up a FaceTime walkaround first. Qualifying nonresident buyers who give us Form DTF-820 at the time of sale don't pay New York sales tax.
Do I need a CDL to drive these buses? Under federal rules, you need a CDL when a bus is designed to carry 16 or more people including the driver, or weighs 26,001 pounds GVWR or more. The 4/4 and 13/2 E-350s above stay under that line; the 28-passenger F-550 does not. Your state can add its own rules.
Can I see a bus in person? Absolutely. We're at 190 E Main St, Huntington, NY 11743, Monday through Friday, 9 to 5. Call or text ahead and we'll have the bus ready for you.
Ready to Find Your Bus?
Whether you're across town on Long Island or across the country, we'll help you choose the right reconditioned shuttle bus and get it to your door. Call or text (516) 852-2748, or send us a message any time; we answer online inquiries 24/7. Nationwide delivery and FaceTime walkarounds are always available.
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