Charter Bus Prices: How to Calculate Your Santa Monica Bus Rental Costs
We make it easy to understand each aspect of your Santa Monica charter bus rental cost with transparent price quotes and no hidden fees, red tape, or surprise charges after you sign. To help give an idea of what your charter bus in Santa Monica might cost before calling (424) 484-5856 for a final quote, check out our handy pricing table below:
| Bus Type | Per Hour | Per Day | Per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charter Bus | $160 – $230 | $1,620 – $2,100 | $5.75 – $7.20 |
| Minibus | $145 – $200 | $1,500 – $1,920 | $5.00 – $7.00 |
*The prices listed above are estimates. Rates will vary depending on your trip specifications.
**Daily rentals require a 5-hour minimum. Extra charges may incur for mile overages on daily rentals.
Santa Monica Charter Bus Pricing Factors
As stated above, the table provided is only a general guide for the cost of a charter bus rental, and your personalized quote will be based on a number of factors from the details of your itinerary. There’s no reason to stress though–you’ll have an experienced rental agent by your side every step of the way to break down each aspect of your Santa Monica bus rental quote.
Some of the main factors which can affect the price of a charter bus rental include:
- Time of Year: There are peak travel times, like around the summer tourist season or during major sporting events, where prices can be higher due to limited availability.
- Passenger count: Larger vehicles have a higher base rate, and the larger the passenger count, the larger the vehicle you’ll need. We recommend having a finalized passenger count ready when you call so we can match you with the right size bus rental in Santa Monica and prevent paying for more seats than you need.
- Trip Duration & Mileage: Our Santa Monica charter bus rental rates are calculated by day, mileage, or hour, depending on your trip duration. Short and local trips around will cost less than if you’re heading to destinations far from Santa Monica. If you’re traveling overnight, you will also need to provide lodging for your charter bus driver, which is not included in your quote.
- Advance Booking: Booking farther in advance will help you take advantage of more vehicle options and lower rates than if you only call a couple of weeks before your departure date.
- Other Travel Related Costs: Your quote from us includes your vehicle, the services of a professional charter bus driver, gas, and insurance. However, there are other travel costs, like parking and tolls, lodging for drivers (required on multi-day trips), and gratuity for drivers, which are not included in your quote but should still be accounted for in your overall budget. Leaving a gratuity is completely optional, but we do recommend it as a way to thank your driver for a job well done. If you would like to tip your driver, industry standard is a cash tip equal to anywhere between 5-10% of the total trip cost.
When you’re ready to book your Santa Monica charter bus rental, you’ll put down a 10%, non-refundable deposit to lock in your reservation. The remaining balance will be due 14 days prior to your trip date.
Continue reading below for some real-life examples of how we calculate the price of a Santa Monica charter bus rental for different trip types.
The Theatre Festival in Sacramento
A high school theatre troupe is planning to attend the Junior Theatre Festival in Sacramento, and need reliable, long-distance school group transportation for the entire four-day trip. The drama teacher, Mx. Lang contacts Santa Monica Charter Bus Rental and is matched with a 56-passenger charter bus at a daily rate of $1,630 for a total cost of $6,520. Mx. Lang also knows that this quote does not include the required lodging for the group’s driver and will contact their hotel in Sacramento to secure a room for the driver at a discounted rate.
Construction Crew Shuttles to Sherman Oaks
Brian, the project manager for a local construction company, needs construction transportation for workers between Santa Monica and Sherman Oaks for a two week-long job. Brian books two 20-passenger minibuses at $1,500 per day for 10 workdays, with a base cost of $15,000. After adding a 6% gratuity of $900, the final cost is $15,900, which he easily subtracts from the company’s transportation budget.
The Fan Trip to UCLA
Marcus is planning to attend the UCLA Bruins / Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball game with some fellow alumni, for 18 total passengers. To avoid having to drive in busy LA traffic or split up into multiple cars, they decide to reserve private sporting event transportation for the evening. Marcus calls and is matched with an 18-passenger minibus for six hours at $145 an hour coming to $870, plus a 5% cash tip of $45, for a total of $915, or $51 per person.
The Beachfront Wedding
Farah and Emily are planning their dream wedding at Shutters on the Beach and want to provide a shuttle for themselves, the wedding party, and their families for the entire day of festivities. They will need transportation for 22 people, including themselves, from their vacation rental in Pacific Palisades to the venue and then back again at the end of the night. They are matched with a 25-passenger minibus for the day. As their wedding takes place during peak rental season, they will pay a slightly higher rate for this rental, bringing their wedding shuttle bus rental base rate to $2,150. After a 5% cash tip of $208, their final total comes to $2,258.
Receive Your Santa Monica Charter Bus Quote Today
Give us a call anytime 24/7 at (424) 484-5856 to get started with a free, no-obligation quote on your Santa Monica charter bus rental in just minutes!