What retired school buses sell for on GovDeals
The median retired school bus on GovDeals sold for $1,950 across 1,225 auctions that closed from June 13 to November 1, 2026. Half sold between $1,200 and $3,750. More than half were 2010 or older.
The numbers
Every bus auction on GovDeals that closed from June 13, 2026 to November 1, 2026 with a confirmed result:
| Metric | School buses |
|---|---|
| Auctions with a confirmed result | 1,237 |
| Sold | 1,225 |
| Median winning bid | $1,950 |
| Middle half sold for | $1,200 to $3,750 |
| Top 10% sold for | $9,560 or more |
| Median with the 12.5% buyer's premium | $2,194 before tax and transport |
| Median bids per sold lot | 23 |
| Median model year | 2010 |
What moves the price
The category covers full-size Blue Bird, Thomas and International buses as well as Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaways. 2010 or older buses sold for a median $1,526, 2011 to 2014 for $2,500 and 2015 to 2017 for $5,000. Newer buses are rare: 40 from 2018 on.
Buses draw less competition than trucks. 36% of sold buses got more than 30 bids, against 59% of pickups, and the median sold bus got 23.
Florida's buses sold for a median $4,200, the highest of the busy states, against $1,363 in Georgia and $1,550 in Ohio.
By model year
| Model year | Sold | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 or older | 662 | $1,526 |
| 2011-2014 | 358 | $2,500 |
| 2015-2017 | 165 | $5,000 |
| 2018-2020 | 25 | $12,600 |
| 2021 or newer | 15 | $15,000 |
By how contested the auction was
| Bids on the sold lot | Sold | Share | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-5 bids | 166 | 14% | $1,050 |
| 6-15 bids | 250 | 20% | $1,378 |
| 16-30 bids | 362 | 30% | $1,675 |
| Over 30 bids | 444 | 36% | $3,150 |
By month
| Month | Sold | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|
| June 2026* | 103 | $1,800 |
| July 2026 | 246 | $2,400 |
| August 2026 | 273 | $2,000 |
| September 2026 | 327 | $2,025 |
| October 2026 | 275 | $1,692 |
| November 2026 | 1 | $260 |
By state
The states with the most sales (at least 10 each):
| State | Sold | Median winning bid |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 128 | $1,363 |
| Florida | 111 | $4,200 |
| Ohio | 107 | $1,550 |
| Tennessee | 91 | $1,692 |
| Alabama | 84 | $2,513 |
| Virginia | 73 | $2,500 |
| New Jersey | 66 | $1,688 |
| Texas | 56 | $2,028 |
| Massachusetts | 41 | $2,475 |
| Missouri | 39 | $3,200 |
Recent sales
The latest 8 sold, as GovDeals titled them:
| Lot title | Where | Bids | Winning bid | Ended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 International CE | TX | 3 | $260 | Nov 1 |
| 1989 Chevrolet B6P042 | NC | 11 | $925 | Oct 30 |
| 1998 GMC Savana | AL | 1 | $4,500 | Oct 30 |
| 1999 GMC Savana | SC | 6 | $525 | Oct 30 |
| 2000 Blue Bird A3RE Bus 150 | WA | 13 | $1,125 | Oct 30 |
| 2000 GMC Savana | SC | 4 | $500 | Oct 30 |
| 2002 Blue Bird A3RE Bus T-18 | WA | 17 | $1,175 | Oct 30 |
| 2022 International 42-Passenger Gas Engine School Bus | MA | 4 | $20,000 | Oct 30 |
What it resells for
We don't publish a resale estimate for buses. The buyer pool for a retired bus is narrow (converters, churches, camps, contractors, exporters), and moving a full-size one may take a CDL driver or a heavy tow. Price both before you bid.
GavelGap puts the other half of the math on every GovDeals listing: what the lot resells for, what it costs you landed, and the pickup-only, title and condition problems that sink a deal, right in your browser.
Try GavelGap free →Methodology
We include every GovDeals auction that ended from May 1, 2026 through November 1, 2026 whose outcome GovDeals confirmed by status, bid history or bid count. Lots we couldn't confirm either way are left out, as are sellers that sell at a fixed price with no bidding (at least 90% of 20 or more sales with no recorded bid). Buses are GovDeals' own "School Bus" category, with a model year on the listing; parts sold alone are excluded. Our tracking of this category starts June 13, 2026. Multi-unit lots ("lot of 10", "(4)", "10ea", pallets) are excluded so every price is for one item. Winning bids are the final bid before the buyer's premium and tax; Canadian lots are converted from CAD to USD. "Bids" is the bid count on the sold lot, which can include several bids from one person, so read it as a measure of how contested a lot was. Year, bid and state rows need at least 10 sales. We don't publish per-lot resale estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used school bus cost at government auction?
On GovDeals the median winning bid was $1,950 across 1,225 school buses sold from June 13 to November 1, 2026. Half sold between $1,200 and $3,750.
Why are old school buses so cheap?
Most are high-mileage and 2010 or older (662 of 1,225 here, median $1,526), districts retire them on a schedule, and the resale market is small.
Do I need a CDL to bring a bus home?
Often, for a full-size bus. Many buyers hire a driver or a tow. Check the bus's weight rating and your state's rules, and price the move into your bid.
What does the winner pay on top of the bid?
Usually a 12.5% buyer's premium, plus tax, title and transport. On the $1,950 median the premium brings it to about $2,194.
Related: Dump truck sold prices · GovDeals shipping and pickup · GovDeals fees explained · Profit calculator
More sold prices: Pickup trucks · Ford F-150 · Police vehicles · Chevrolet Tahoe · Dump trucks · Skid steers · Zero-turn mowers · Laptops