A school bus is a large vehicle designed to transport students to and from school or other educational activities. It comes with a yellow exterior for visibility and safety, along with safety features such as stop signs, flashing lights, and high-backed seats.
Apart from transporting students to and from school, school buses can be used for personal activities such as turning in an RV or motorhome.
Therefore, after buying a school bus for personal use, how do you register it? How do you register a school bus for personal use?
How to Register a School Bus For Personal Use
To register a school bus for personal use, you need to visit your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or its equivalent agency and submit the necessary documents required for the registration to be complete.
Here’s a general procedure on how to register a school bus for personal use:
1. Prepare Necessary Documents
Before visiting the DMV, gather all the required documents. These may include:
- The title of the school bus is signed over to you as the new owner.
- Proof of purchase if you bought the bus from someone else.
- Identification documents such as a driver’s license.
- Any inspection certificates or compliance documents required in your area.
Proof of insurance.
For example, if you are in Texas and want to register a school bus for personal use; maybe as a motorhome, you must visit the DMV with the documents mentioned below:
- Driver’s license
- Title from the sale
- Bill of Sale such as the invoice showing how much you paid & the tax you paid
- Vehicle Inspection Report (VIR) from the inspection location you went to
- Certified Weight Certificate
- Proof of liability insurance
- Form 130 U – Texas Application For Title
- Form VTR-61 Rebuilt Vehicle Statement
You also need to take pictures of the bus. You can email the pictures to the tax office from the email address provided by them. Meanwhile, while taking pictures of the bus, be sure to snap:
- From the driver compartment facing the rear
- From the rear, facing the driver compartment
- Each corner faces the vehicle. You can make it 4 pics
- The bus showing the “School Bus” wording is removed/covered/painted over
- Stop sign and/or crossing arm removed
- All amber lights on the front top
- All Red lights on the back
By the time you start taking the picture, it’s already obvious that you must have removed the bus seats and installed the necessary things needed to convert the bus to a motorhome because you may need to do that to be able to obtain insurance for the bus.
It all depends on what personal thing you want to use the bus for. Don’t worry, we will get to that later in this article.
2. Visit the DMV
Once all these documents are ready, you can go to the DMV office. It’s a good idea to check their website beforehand to see if there are other requirements or forms you need to bring with you.
At the DMV, you’ll need to fill out registration forms for the school bus. These forms require information about you as the owner, details about the vehicle (such as make, model, VIN, and any modifications), and sometimes information about your insurance policy.
Present all your documents to the DMV clerk. They will review them to ensure everything is in order. You’ll likely need to pay registration fees, which may vary depending on your location and the weight or class of the vehicle.
Acceptable forms of payment also vary but include cash, check, or credit/debit card.
3. Receive Registration Documents
Once all paperwork is processed and fees are paid, the DMV will issue you registration documents which may include a registration certificate, license plates, and registration stickers.
For example, suppose you are in Texas and are done processing the registration of a school bus for personal use. In that case, you may receive your registration windshield sticker and license plates immediately, over the counter.
However, if you did not get a custom license plate over the counter, it will be ordered and sent to your mail. The physical title will be processed and sent to your mail within 2 – 3 weeks.
You will also receive the “Title Application Receipt” which you are expected to carry with you all the time alongside your proof of insurance & invoice/bill of sale especially if you’re traveling to another country before the title arrives.
Once you receive the license plates, affix them to the school bus as instructed by the DMV. Make sure they are clearly visible and securely attached.
This is how you can successfully register a school bus for personal use. However, while the registration process is still going on, endeavor to always follow all instructions given by the DMV and ensure that your school bus meets all safety and compliance standards for personal use in your area.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to ask DMV staff for assistance.
Things You Must Do Before Registering a School Bus for Personal Use
Before proceeding to register a school bus for personal use, here are things you must do to aid the registration process:
Buy The School Bus
Some people will tell you to first start with getting insurance for the bus before buying the bus in case you’re not able to finalize having it for personal use, then you have not purchased it.
But you need to purchase the school bus because the seller may not allow you to use his bus which you’ve not paid for insurance.
Moreover, buying a school bus for personal use can be an exciting endeavor, because it offers you the opportunity to create a customized living space, travel vehicle, or mobile business.
You can determine how you intend to use the school bus. Are you converting it into a camper, RV, tiny home, mobile office, or another purpose? What’s your definition of personal use?
Decommission the School Bus
After purchasing the school bus, your next action would be to decommission the bus.
Decommissioning a school bus for personal use involves removing some features and components to prepare the bus for conversion and personalization.
You can start by removing some things that were originally in the bus that are not supposed to be there for personal use. Things like:
- School Signage and Paint: Remove any signage, decals, or paint that identifies the bus as a school bus. This includes removing the words “School Bus,” the school district name or logo, and any other markings that indicate its previous use.
- Stop Sign and Flashing Lights: Take out the stop sign that extends when the bus stops to pick up or drop off students. Remove any flashing red lights or warning signals on the exterior of the bus.
- Emergency Exit Doors and Windows: If you plan to alter the layout of the interior, consider removing emergency exit doors or windows that may obstruct your desired floor plan. You must ensure to comply with safety regulations regarding the number and placement of emergency exits.
- Interior Seats: School buses have bench-style seating designed to accommodate students. You can remove these seats to create space for your desired layout. You can do this by unbolting or cutting the seat frames and removing them from the bus.
- Seat Belts: Some school buses may be equipped with seat belts. Decide whether you want to keep or remove them based on your conversion plans. If removing, ensure you safely uninstall them from the bus structure.
- Rubber Flooring or Carpets: Many school buses have rubber flooring designed for easy cleaning. If you prefer a different flooring material for your conversion, remove the existing rubber flooring. If the bus has carpets, consider removing them as well.
- Safety Equipment: Remove any safety equipment specific to school buses, such as child safety restraints, crossing arms, or security cameras, unless you plan to repurpose them for personal use.
- Stairwell Handrails: School buses often have handrails near the entrance and stairwell for student safety. Determine if these are necessary for your conversion. If not, remove them to create more space or a different aesthetic.
Obtain Insurance for the School Bus
The next thing to do is to get insurance for the school bus. You can start by researching insurance providers that offer coverage for converted school buses or recreational vehicles. Look for companies that specialize in RV insurance or have experience insuring unique vehicles.
There are some documents the insurance company will demand from you, therefore, before contacting the insurance provider, gather all the necessary information/documents about your school bus such as the make, model, year, VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), mileage, and any modifications or conversions you’ve made to the bus.
For example, if you use National General Insurance, you will be asked to provide them with:
- Bus VIN
- Make
- Model
- Year
- Length
- Address where the motorhome will be “Garaged” (you can use your residential address)
Once you provide them with these details, they will start processing the insurance. You may be asked to provide more information in the course of the process. So always be on alert in case it gets to the extent.
For example, you may be asked to provide photos of the decommissioned school bus. Since you’ve already decommissioned the bus, you can just snap the numbers of the photo recommended by the insurance company, get different angles of the bus, and send them either physically or through the email provided by them.
You should also get a quote for pre-conversion Skoolie motorhome insurance. Depending on the type of insurance you’re getting, you will get a quote.
For example, if you are going for liability only for recreational use. It’s important to tell them that you want to travel temporarily to your Skoolie and not live full-time. Except maybe you plan to live full-time on the bus.
By the time the policy is sent to the underwriter by the insurance company, it is approved. Your insurance should be ready.
Get AAA RV Roadside Assistance
This is optional but you should get AAA RV Roadside Assistance in case the bus stops in the middle of nowhere.
Towing large vehicles like school buses is quite expensive and most towing companies charge $150/hour for the towing and the money starts counting immediately when they leave their shop until their tow truck returns back to their shop.
If you plan to travel frequently or use your school bus as a primary residence, AAA RV Roadside Assistance can be beneficial because it provides services tailored to RVs, such as towing, tire changes, battery jump-starts, fuel delivery, and locksmith services, which can be valuable if you encounter issues while on the road.
AAA Plus RV Roadside Assistance Policy Covers:
- Flat tire service
- Notary service
- Battery service
- 4 service calls, tows up to 100 miles each
- Free emergency fuel and delivery
- Vehicle locksmith up to $100
- Vehicle lockout service
- Discounts at over 100,000 locations
- Identity theft protection, etc.
Moreover, having roadside assistance coverage can offer peace of mind, knowing that help is just a phone call away in case of emergencies or mechanical breakdowns which is important if you’re traveling in remote or unfamiliar areas where access to assistance may be limited.
Be that as it may, school buses are built to rigorous safety standards, but they may have wear and tear or damage depending on their age and usage history.
Therefore, before proceeding with insurance and registration, a thorough inspection of the bus is necessary to ensure it meets safety requirements. This inspection might involve checking the engine, brakes, tires, lights, and any other components important to safe operation.
Conclusion
How to register a school bus for personal use may seem like an easy process but it’s a lengthy process. You will need to visit the DMV of your state submit the necessary documents needed to process the registration, and wait for the registration to be completed before driving the bus.
You should also finish up the necessary things needed on the bus for personal use before its registration. Things like buying the bus, decommissioning the bus for personal use, and obtaining insurance for the bus. Once all these are completed, the school bus will be ready for your personal use.
