Frequently Asked Questions

At First Charter, we offer a wide selection of industry-leading vehicles to meet your private transportation needs. You can choose from our full-size Type C yellow school buses, Type A mini and Type B small school buses, Type D transit school buses, and passenger and sprinter vans. Visit our school bus fleet page to explore available options or contact us to find the best bus transportation rental for your event.

Yes, decorating the bus for your private transportation rental is permitted! However, it is essential that all decorations are placed in a manner that does not obstruct the driver’s line of sight or interfere with safe vehicle operation. For detailed guidance on what is considered acceptable when decorating the bus, please connect with our team leading up to the event day.

Yes! Many, but not all, of our school buses are equipped with A/C. If you need air conditioning charter buses during your private transportation event, let us know during booking and we’ll confirm at the time of reservation confirmation.

Yes! Our chartered school buses are equipped with heating systems to ensure passenger comfort in colder climates and during winter months.

Yes, music may be played on the bus! However, it is essential that all passengers remain seated while the bus is in motion. Additionally, the volume must be kept at a reasonable level to ensure the driver can clearly hear external sounds such as sirens or traffic signals. Safety remains our highest priority at all times.

While most school bus rentals don’t have a designated luggage bay, limited storage may be available in some markets. Often, groups simply keep items beside them on the seats. Contact our team to discuss your bus transportation rental needs, and we’ll find the best vehicle fit for your private outing.

Yes, in most cases. Talk with our charter customer support team about this in advance to ensure that we allow food and beverages on your private bus while we’re transporting your group.

Yes! Bus wraps are a great way to show off your brand and share your message with a wide audience. Wraps range in coverage from full vehicle, to partial vehicle, to decals. Learn more about our wrapping your next school bus rental.

While the classic yellow school bus is what most people associate with our fleet, some locations may have white activity buses that can be utilized for smaller events such as team sports or field trips. Let us know at the time of your booking what your fleet needs are and we’ll work with you on a transportation solution.

Our dedicated team will work with you on a custom payment plan for your private transportation outing. Our average hourly rate starts at $85 USD or $100 CAD and is based on vehicle type, event size, location and timing. The average yellow school bus rental is up to 50% cheaper than renting a coach bus.​ Take a look at how we price our charter bus trips.

No deposit is required to reserve your First Charter school bus rental. We make charter bus rentals easy and commitment-free when planning your event.

Tips are not included in the fare and are never expected, but our drivers do appreciate them. Many groups choose to tip 10–20% for excellent service. You may tip your driver directly on the day of your charter bus rental.

Yes, fuel is included in your bus rental cost. The only potential additional charges are for parking or tolls, which are not included in your quote. Click here to learn more about how much it costs to rent a school bus.

At First Charter, we offer flexible vehicle types, including accessibility options. Our full-size, standard (Type C school bus) yellow school buses can accommodate up to approximately 48 adults per bus or approximately 72 children per bus. We also offer charter bus rentals with minibuses (Type A mini and Type B small school buses), transit bus (Type D school bus), and passenger and sprinter vans. Bus sizes vary by location. Visit our school bus vehicle types page to explore available options.

Yes! Regardless of your group size, multi-day or multi-venue event, First Charter is here to help you with your school bus rental needs. We have over 45,000 flexible vehicle types in 400 locations across 41 U.S. states and 8 Canadian Provinces. So, whether you’re with a group of friends for a night out or you need to shuttle over a thousand passengers to a large event, we’ll safely shuttle your party between locations, keeping your event on schedule and affordable. Visit our school bus vehicle types page to explore available options.

Absolutely! From renting a couple school buses to a fleet of charter buses for large event shuttles, we specialize in all types of event sizes and can definitely accommodate multiple buses for your private transportation event. First Charter is your trusted partner for group transportation services, so let us know what you need and we’ll make it happen.

Getting a quote is easy! Simply fill out our bus charter quote form or give us a call. Our expert team will help assess your needs and provide an instant, no obligation estimate. Once you’re booked with us, enjoy a stress-free and safe transportation experience.

To ensure availability, we recommend booking your rental bus as early as possible. There’s flexibility – no payment is due until 5 days before your event, giving you time to finalize details. Whether you’re organizing charter buses for school trips or need to rent a bus for your next private social outing, early booking is the best way to lock in your date.

No deposit is required to reserve your First Charter school bus rental. We make charter bus rentals easy and commitment-free while you plan your event. Learn more about how much it costs to rent a school bus.

To ensure smooth and safe private group transportation services, please provide all planned stops when you book. We understand things come up and we’ll do our best to accommodate last-minute changes.

Yes, in select markets. Our First View bus tracking mobile app can be utilized by your campers’ parents to track the status of the bus. The mobile app is free for parents to download and is available in the App Store and Google Play. As a camp organizer, you will also have full visibility into all camp bus routes in our dashboard desktop version. If this is something your camp would be interested in learning more about, be sure to discuss this add-on benefit with our dedicated charter team at the time of booking.

On average, we provide over 1,000 large event shuttles for marathons/races, tournaments, college game days, pro sporting events, air shows, celebrations, music festivals, conventions and conferences. Don’t see your type of large event listed? No worries, still reach out to our team! We pride ourselves on being a custom charter bus rental that aligns with your private transportation needs and will partner with you to safely move hundreds or 1,000+ attendee events. ​ ​

Yes, First Charter is a preferred wedding transportation vendor for thousands of couples across the U.S. and Canada. On average, we manage the private wedding transportation for more than 5,500 weddings and special events each year, safely shuttling event attendees or wedding parties between multiple venues, to and from the hotels, or across multi-day events. Reach out and receive a free, no obligation quote for your wedding. We are always honored to be part of a couple’s big day!

First Charter offers a range of custom employee shuttle solutions for companies. Whether it’s last mile connections, park & ride commutes or intra-campus shuttles, we’ll have your team arriving safely and reliably each work day.

First Charter provides custom camp transportation solutions to more than 2,000 camps across the U.S. and Canada annually. With our highly-trained, kid-friendly drivers, highest per-trip insurance coverage in the industry, and our commitment to safety, we provide campers with an exceptional experience and a safe, reliable charter bus to and from camp.

Leasing a bus with First Charter is renting only the bus for your groups needs. With leased vehicles, your group provides the licensed CDL drivers and insurance to transport your group. First Charter will not provide our own drivers for your leased vehicles. Leasing a bus is only available in select U.S. markets.

Bus leasing with First Charter is offered in the U.S. only. At this time, leasing a bus and providing your own licensed CDL drivers is not offered in our Canadian markets. Take a look at our locations directory to learn more about where we operate.

Because of our size and resources, we can accommodate all event sizes. With over 35,000 flexible vehicle types spanning 400 locations in 41 U.S. states, First Student is the largest and most trusted yellow school bus company in the U.S. Our full-size, standard Type C yellow school buses can accommodate up to 72 children or 48 adults per bus.​ Bus sizes vary by location. Bus leasing is available in U.S. markets only.

Our charter team will work with you on a custom leased solution that works for you and your group. Our standard bus leasing terms usually are a minimum of a month-long leasing agreement. The price will be based on vehicle type, estimated mileage, location and timing. ​Bus leasing is available in U.S. markets only.

Booking a bus lease for your group is simple and instant at First Charter. Get started today by submitting a free, no-obligation quote and our dedicated charter team will immediately get to work to help create a custom leased solution for you. Bus leasing is available in U.S. markets only.

The safety of your guests is our foremost priority. All First Charter drivers undergo thorough pre-employment screening. In the U.S., this includes a motor vehicle background check and DOT drug testing. In Canada, drivers complete a criminal and vulnerable sector check. Once hired, U.S. drivers receive annual random DOT drug tests, and Canadian drivers undergo regular vulnerable sector screenings. All drivers complete up to 47 hours of safety training, including the Smith System of Advanced Driving Techniques.

Yes, First Charter has ADA accessible bus options for individuals with mobility needs. Let us know during booking and we’ll ensure an appropriate vehicle is assigned for your private school bus rental.

We go above and beyond industry standards with $10 million USD/CAD in liability coverage for every trip – double the minimum required by the USDOT ($5M USD) and more than triple Transport Canada’s standard ($3M CAD). Most companies only meet the minimum – we exceed it.

Yes, your chartered school bus can be equipped with seatbelts. Please note that not all vehicles are equipped with seatbelts (vehicles vary by market), but this can be requested and will be confirmed at the time of reservation confirmation.

Designed with student safety in mind, First Charter yellow school buses undergo rigorous inspections, preventative maintenance schedules and feature reinforced structures, flashing lights, and high-visibility coloring. All First Charter drivers undergo thorough pre-employment screening, continued screenings after employment and receive up to 47 hours of safety training. 

We want your private transportation to be seamless. Leading up to the event day, we provide detailed arrival and departure timelines. If something unexpected happens the day of your event, we provide all customers with a point of contact phone number that is available to support you. If you’re planning a large event, we’ll provide on-site coordinators to ensure your event goes smoothly.

Life happens – we get it! With our standard cancellation policy, you can cancel up to 5 days prior to your scheduled private charter without any fees. It’s part of our commitment to offering our customers flexible, stress-free bus rental services.

We understand delays happen. That’s why we suggest padding your reservation time to allow for unexpected overruns. Our team will work with you to adjust your bus charter as needed – your event’s success is our priority.

Choosing a yellow school bus rental – whether it’s for a school event, a private outing, large event, or a special celebration – allows you to enjoy a practical, safe, and cost-effective transportation solution without compromising on quality.

• School buses are at a more attractive price point compared to coach buses.
• Designed with student safety in mind, our yellow school buses undergo rigorous inspections, preventative maintenance schedules and feature reinforced structures, flashing lights, and high-visibility coloring.
• School bus rentals are ideal for short-distance or multi-stop trips.
• Chartering our school buses come in various sizes, accommodating groups of all sizes.