It can be a real hassle trying to find adequate insurance for your school buses at a good price. That’s why we’re here. Fill out one form and we’ll connect you with three insurance agents who can each offer you a rate on school bus insurance. They compete and you get the best deal.
Who needs a school bus insurance policy?
Whether you represent a school board or a privately-owned school bus contractor, you will need an insurance policy that completely covers your vehicles. This isn’t just for your own sake — most states require you to completely insure your drivers, passengers, and school district. They categorize any student transport bus as a passenger transportation vehicles. This means your driver needs a commercial license and you need commercial insurance. This applies to:
- Yellow school buses for both public and private schools
- Multi-function school activity buses
- Cutaway van style buses
- Privately-owned, repurposed school buses
What your school bus policy should cover
According to multiple studies, school bus transportation is one of the safest forms of transportation in the United States. This is due to the intense regulations placed on school buses themselves and their operators. But accidents still happen. By design, student transportation buses have long blindspots and awkward turning radii. And of course there are the kids, who can be rowdy or careless. A complete school bus insurance policy protects you against a few key things.
Every state requires you to obtain commercial auto liability insurance. This protects pedestrians and other motorists when one of your drivers is at fault in an accident. It covers repairs to other vehicles in the event of a collision and it covers medical bills if someone is hurt.
You will be expected to show proof of insurance, in the form of a certificate of insurance. Different states require you to maintain a different amount of insurance. Georgia, for example, requires all school buses to have a liability limit of at least $5,000,000. Illinois, on the other hand, only requires a $25,000 limit if you meet certain criteria. Your school bus insurance agent should know the requirements in your state.
3 Things to Look For in a School Bus Insurance Agent
1. Knowledge
Since there are such intense regulations governing school bus insurance, you’d be wise to talk to an insurance agent who knows the particular regulations in your state. That means speaking to an insurance agent who specializes in school bus insurance. The guy who does your personal auto insurance probably isn’t qualified for this sort of thing. You need someone who has a personal relationship with multiple school bus insurance companies.
2. Availability
After an accident, it’s important that you can quickly reach your agent. He should be available any time your buses are on the road. If he isn’t available, he should at least have a 24 hour claim service that can assist you. There are also certain situations where you’ll have to change your insurance quickly and produce a new certificate of insurance for your clients. You need an agent who can quickly adjust your policy and fax you the documents you need whenever you need them.
3. Price
Obviously, price is going to play a big role in which policy you eventually choose. That’s why it’s important to compare several agents before committing to a policy. There are tools available to help you do this. We’re partial to our Compare Three Agents tool, which connects you with three experts at once. That way you can choose for yourself which policy works for you. Either way, it’s crucial that you get a quote from at least a few different agents. There’s no way to know you’re getting the best policy if you only speak to one person.
