Is it a Bus or a van?

[Mbinmo]

I have found one of the multifunction activities buses for sale at a decent price with 68,000 miles on it. It has no traffic control devices installed on it. It is already painted white it rated at 14 passegers. Is this a bus or a van? I know I can drive 15 passengers or less with just my regular drivers license. What about plates and insurance?

[cadillackid]

every state is different... for instance in ohio they go on fitted seating capacity.. miuchigan goes on Built-capacity. huge difference in registration type. if the tag on your bus interior says capacity "18" in michigan means it classifies as a bus even you have only 1 seat...



your state rules are what you need to go on.. as well as rules of converting to RV differ as well if you are planning to convert it..
-Christopher

[Doktari]

They mess up sometimes when they change the title. I asked for mine to be titled as a RV and it came titled as a bus. The shuttle bus I bought a few days ago is a church bus and came titled as a Motorhome. It pays to do some research and be sure they are doing what you request.

[peteg59]

You should be able to register it as a van.
Does title say G3500 anywhere?
I've got a similar older G30 that had bus on title for body type, but I asked my town clerk to go with van and she did.

Insured as a G30 van, (non commercial), as well.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Doktari

They mess up sometimes when they change the title. I asked for mine to be titled as a RV and it came titled as a bus. The shuttle bus I bought a few days ago is a church bus and came titled as a Motorhome. It pays to do some research and be sure they are doing what you request.

I got some interesting info while insuring my "MotorHome" . I asked the difference between a MH and an RV. I was told the RV category consisted of 2&3 wheeled motorcycles, ATV's , travel trailers, etc. If it is contained and self motorized, it becomes a motor home.

[Frochevy]

My "bus" is similar to yours. It is a 2007 Chevy express 3500. It's a Collins built on a van chassis. When I had it titled in my name I did it as an RV in Kansas. Like others have said, every state is different. Good luck!

[Mbinmo]

Thank everyone for your responses. I got an official answer from the State of Missouri this morning. If it is under 15 passengers it can be licensed as a private vehicle. In Missouri you have to go full RV to license one as an RV. I just wanted something a little bigger than a cargo van that I could stick a bed in the back, a table and some storage.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Mbinmo

Thank everyone for your responses. I got an official answer from the State of Missouri this morning. If it is under 15 passengers it can be licensed as a private vehicle. In Missouri you have to go full RV to license one as an RV. I just wanted something a little bigger than a cargo van that I could stick a bed in the back, a table and some storage.

The less than 16 passenger rule is standard across the country for commericla designation. Seems agents in Mo. are actually doing their job. Many can walk into DMV and say it's an RV and walk out with registration. The issue arises when you try and get RV insurance on a vehicle that is not converted.