New: A Free State-by-State Guide for Shuttle Bus Buyers (CDL, Road Salt, Wheelchair Rules & More)
Buying a bus is the easy part. Figuring out what your state requires is where buyers get stuck. Do my drivers need a CDL? Does my state inspect wheelchair lifts? Will a bus from up north be rusted underneath? Is my church exempt from sales tax?
We've been answering those questions by phone for years, so we built them into one free, interactive map: our State Buyer's Guide. Tap your state and you'll see:
- CDL rules: the federal 16-person line, plus the 17 states that add their own rules (New York, California, Texas and more).
- Road salt & rust risk: every state rated from Minimal to Severe, with the deicers it uses. It's why we buy our buses from outside the Salt Belt.
- Wheelchair bus rules: lift, securement and inspection requirements in states like New York, New Jersey and Florida.
- Insurance & registration: state bus inspections, for-hire permits and higher liability minimums.
- Sales tax & inspections: including church and nonprofit exemptions.
- Grants & NEMT: where to apply for Section 5310 senior and disability bus funding, and who runs Medicaid transportation in your state.
How to Use the Map
Use the buttons above the map to color it by CDL rules, road-salt rust risk, wheelchair bus rules or insurance and registration rules. Tap any state, or pick it from the list, to see everything for that state in one place. Every state is also listed below the map.
Every entry links to the official source, and you should always confirm with your state before you buy. If you have questions about a bus for your state, call or text Manny at (516) 852-2748.