Post by JamesG on Sept 23, 2023 9:09:02 GMT
Hi all,
As a proud owner of two preserved buses, I know firsthand the joys and challenges that come with it. Having seen some inquiries on the topic, I felt it might be valuable to kick off a thread outlining the costs tied to owning such a gem. My hope is that this post can serve as a collective resource, and I encourage anyone willing to pitch in with their experiences or knowledge to help make this a go-to reference. I've been in the transport industry for 13 years however I only started doing anything related to buses a year ago, so I am hoping others will pitch in!
Storage
Cost: £150-£200 monthly per vehicle
Arguably the most prominent challenge, storage is hard to find and often doesn't come cheap. Regardless of whether your bus is in active use or sitting doing nothing, this cost ticks on. My buses find their home in an outdoor yard situated roughly 2 hours from Central London. The storage fee is subject to change, based on factors such as how many vehicles you have. To give you an idea of how inflation is affecting all aspects of life including bus preservation, I'm bracing for a 33% increase in my storage fee this January.
Insurance
Cost: Approximately £250 annually
Insurance can be a maze, with the majority of preserved bus owners tending to gravitate toward a particular provider. My double-decker's non-commercial coverage cost me £250, with my single-decker tagging along for an added £150 – without any recovery provision. Note: younger drivers, especially those under 25, may face higher premiums.
Here's a tip: Consider procuring some form of roadside recovery. Trust me, the last thing you want is a hefty bill for specialized bus recovery. (If anyone can chime in on the ballpark figures for recovery without it being covered by insurance, I'd greatly appreciate it.)
Tax
Cost: Ranges from £165-£500 annually
The simplest aspect of bus ownership – just pay it online! Here's a breakdown:
10 to 17 seats (including driver): £165/year
18 to 36 seats (including driver): £220/year
37 to 61 seats (including driver): £330/year
62 seats and over (including driver): £500/year
V149/1 (from 1 August 2023)
If your vehicle is over 40 years old you do not need to pay tax. You must apply for a vehicle tax exemption to stop paying vehicle tax. This is sometimes called putting a vehicle into the ‘historic tax class’. (source)
MOT
Cost: £80.65 annually
This pertains to the Class 5 MOT and doesn't factor in any related maintenance.
You do not need to get an MOT if:
You do not have to apply to stop getting an MOT for your vehicle each year. However, you must still keep it in a roadworthy condition. You can be fined up to £2,500 and get 3 penalty points for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition. However personally I would still get one, safety needs to come first.
Maintenance
Cost: Varies (can sometimes skyrocket!)
Maintenance can burn a hole in your pocket. My first acquisition had been dormant outdoors for three years, and it demanded a considerable £2,503.87 just to meet MOT standards. This doesn't even account for the additional £400 I shelled out to an engineer who unfortunately didn't live up to their recommendation.
If your bus is in a serviceable state, transferring it to a nearby workshop via trade plates could cost around £300. Longer hauls are priced higher. If it demands a tow the cost is significantly more.
If your bus is already on the road or is ready for MOT, it can of course be driven to the location of the MOT test.
Fuel Efficiency & Costs
Fuel consumption varies based on the make and model of the bus, as well as the conditions in which it's operated. For instance, my Volvo B7TL averages 5.3mpg in city traffic, 6-8mpg on regular roads, and peaks at 9-11mpg on motorways. I've been informed that these are relatively favorable figures for a Volvo. Additionally, while idling, the bus consumes about half a gallon every hour. My Dart gets slightly better but still working out any reliable figures. If anyone can share their own bus MPG I'll add it to the table below!
Parts & Availability
Sourcing authentic parts for vintage buses can be quite the hunt. Many owners, including myself, sometimes resort to sourcing parts from scrap buses. Regrettably, there have been instances of parts being removed without permission from other buses, especially in shared storage yards. Vigilance and ensuring the security of your stored buses is paramount.
Purpose & Use
Maintaining a balance between preservation and practicality is key. Like any piece of machinery, buses sometimes need adjustments or upgrades to stay operational and safe. For instance, the London Transport Museum's preserved 1938 Tube Stock train sports a C stock compressor on one of its carriages, an adjustment from its original design.
Environmental Considerations
Driving into urban zones, especially areas with emission controls, can come with a hefty price. In London, for instance, it costs £100 per day for buses with a Euro 5 engine, while those with Euro 4 and older engines have a staggering £300 daily fee. However, buses registered before January 1 1973, or those with a historic tax class are exempted.
Training & Licensing
While driving regulations might seem stringent, there are some allowances for enthusiasts. If you're over 21 and possess a full car license, you can operate a non-articulated bus that's over 30 years old, with the caveat that it should not be used for commercial activities or transport more than 8 passengers. (source)
In Summary
Setting aside the expenses of any potential commercial endeavors, my annual expenditure for each bus (as of January) stands at £3,250 – excluding maintenance or transit costs. This breaks down to just over £270 every month per bus. While these figures might appear steep, my intention is to provide transparency and guidance.
If there's anything else you'd like to know or if you have other insights (or corrections!) to share, please jump in! The world of preserved buses is both rewarding and intricate.
As a proud owner of two preserved buses, I know firsthand the joys and challenges that come with it. Having seen some inquiries on the topic, I felt it might be valuable to kick off a thread outlining the costs tied to owning such a gem. My hope is that this post can serve as a collective resource, and I encourage anyone willing to pitch in with their experiences or knowledge to help make this a go-to reference. I've been in the transport industry for 13 years however I only started doing anything related to buses a year ago, so I am hoping others will pitch in!
Storage
Cost: £150-£200 monthly per vehicle
Arguably the most prominent challenge, storage is hard to find and often doesn't come cheap. Regardless of whether your bus is in active use or sitting doing nothing, this cost ticks on. My buses find their home in an outdoor yard situated roughly 2 hours from Central London. The storage fee is subject to change, based on factors such as how many vehicles you have. To give you an idea of how inflation is affecting all aspects of life including bus preservation, I'm bracing for a 33% increase in my storage fee this January.
Insurance
Cost: Approximately £250 annually
Insurance can be a maze, with the majority of preserved bus owners tending to gravitate toward a particular provider. My double-decker's non-commercial coverage cost me £250, with my single-decker tagging along for an added £150 – without any recovery provision. Note: younger drivers, especially those under 25, may face higher premiums.
Here's a tip: Consider procuring some form of roadside recovery. Trust me, the last thing you want is a hefty bill for specialized bus recovery. (If anyone can chime in on the ballpark figures for recovery without it being covered by insurance, I'd greatly appreciate it.)
Tax
Cost: Ranges from £165-£500 annually
The simplest aspect of bus ownership – just pay it online! Here's a breakdown:
10 to 17 seats (including driver): £165/year
18 to 36 seats (including driver): £220/year
37 to 61 seats (including driver): £330/year
62 seats and over (including driver): £500/year
V149/1 (from 1 August 2023)
If your vehicle is over 40 years old you do not need to pay tax. You must apply for a vehicle tax exemption to stop paying vehicle tax. This is sometimes called putting a vehicle into the ‘historic tax class’. (source)
MOT
Cost: £80.65 annually
This pertains to the Class 5 MOT and doesn't factor in any related maintenance.
You do not need to get an MOT if:
- the vehicle was built or first registered more than 40 years ago
- no ‘substantial changes’ have been made to the vehicle in the last 30 years, for example replacing the chassis, body, axles or engine to change the way the vehicle works
(source)
You do not have to apply to stop getting an MOT for your vehicle each year. However, you must still keep it in a roadworthy condition. You can be fined up to £2,500 and get 3 penalty points for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition. However personally I would still get one, safety needs to come first.
Maintenance
Cost: Varies (can sometimes skyrocket!)
Maintenance can burn a hole in your pocket. My first acquisition had been dormant outdoors for three years, and it demanded a considerable £2,503.87 just to meet MOT standards. This doesn't even account for the additional £400 I shelled out to an engineer who unfortunately didn't live up to their recommendation.
If your bus is in a serviceable state, transferring it to a nearby workshop via trade plates could cost around £300. Longer hauls are priced higher. If it demands a tow the cost is significantly more.
If your bus is already on the road or is ready for MOT, it can of course be driven to the location of the MOT test.
Fuel Efficiency & Costs
Fuel consumption varies based on the make and model of the bus, as well as the conditions in which it's operated. For instance, my Volvo B7TL averages 5.3mpg in city traffic, 6-8mpg on regular roads, and peaks at 9-11mpg on motorways. I've been informed that these are relatively favorable figures for a Volvo. Additionally, while idling, the bus consumes about half a gallon every hour. My Dart gets slightly better but still working out any reliable figures. If anyone can share their own bus MPG I'll add it to the table below!
| Bus | City traffic | Regular | Motorway |
| Volvo B7TL | 5.3 | 7 | 10 |
| Dennis Dart | 8ish | 8ish | ? |
Parts & Availability
Sourcing authentic parts for vintage buses can be quite the hunt. Many owners, including myself, sometimes resort to sourcing parts from scrap buses. Regrettably, there have been instances of parts being removed without permission from other buses, especially in shared storage yards. Vigilance and ensuring the security of your stored buses is paramount.
Purpose & Use
Maintaining a balance between preservation and practicality is key. Like any piece of machinery, buses sometimes need adjustments or upgrades to stay operational and safe. For instance, the London Transport Museum's preserved 1938 Tube Stock train sports a C stock compressor on one of its carriages, an adjustment from its original design.
Environmental Considerations
Driving into urban zones, especially areas with emission controls, can come with a hefty price. In London, for instance, it costs £100 per day for buses with a Euro 5 engine, while those with Euro 4 and older engines have a staggering £300 daily fee. However, buses registered before January 1 1973, or those with a historic tax class are exempted.
Training & Licensing
While driving regulations might seem stringent, there are some allowances for enthusiasts. If you're over 21 and possess a full car license, you can operate a non-articulated bus that's over 30 years old, with the caveat that it should not be used for commercial activities or transport more than 8 passengers. (source)
In Summary
Setting aside the expenses of any potential commercial endeavors, my annual expenditure for each bus (as of January) stands at £3,250 – excluding maintenance or transit costs. This breaks down to just over £270 every month per bus. While these figures might appear steep, my intention is to provide transparency and guidance.
If there's anything else you'd like to know or if you have other insights (or corrections!) to share, please jump in! The world of preserved buses is both rewarding and intricate.
