Learning Party Bus Rules to Keep Your Trip Safe and Enjoyable

Now that we've covered the rates of party buses, it's time to go into the somewhat less fun aspect of party bus rules.

After all, what dampens the party vibe more than a bunch of strict rules? The fact of the matter is that all of the rules implemented by party bus companies are there to help keep you and your guests safe. Party bus companies want you to have fun, but they also want to make sure you and your friends don't hurt yourselves in the process.

​There are a plethora of rules you may come across during your party bus hunt, but let's do a quick review of some of the more common rules you will see.
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​General Rules

General rules are the rules that fall into the "common sense" category of partying on a bus. Basically, these are rules that shouldn't have to be stated, but they are anyway. Not adhering to these rules will usually result in the immediate cancellation of your trip, sometimes without a refund.

Some examples of general party bus rules that you will most likely come across during your search are:

• No guns or any other types of weapons on board the party bus.
• No smoking is allowed on the party bus.
• No illegal drugs are permitted on the party bus.
• No tampering with any of the electronics or accessories on the party bus.
• No underage drinking is permitted (this will be covered in more detail in our blog about drinking rules on party buses).

Some other general rules might not be so obvious. Some companies may restrict the use of glitter or confetti in their buses since party favors like those tend to be a hassle to clean up at the end of a drive. Others might prevent kegs from being used on the bus or include a rule stating that the driver has the right to deny anyone entry on to the party bus.

​These rules vary from company to company so you should make sure you read your contract carefully. If you have any questions about them, don't hesitate to ask your salesperson as they almost always have a reason for enforcing all of their rules. That reason will usually be based on a previous negative experience with a customer.
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​Safety Rules

Safety should be the number one priority of the party bus company you select. Having fun should be the second. This may seem counter-productive to your goal of having a fun time, but you have to remember that your life is in the hands of your driver. A driver should always prioritize the safety of his passengers over anything else.

In 2017, buses were involved in 3,017 crashes in the state of Texas. 17 of those crashes involved fatalities and 60 of those crashes involved serious injuries.

When researching party bus companies, you want to be sure that they only employ CDL (Commercial Drivers License)-holding drivers. This is not only because it is illegal for anyone other than a CDL-holding driver to operate a bus, but also because those drivers know how to inspect the vehicle they are driving before they take it out on the road. This necessary pre-trip inspection isn't something required of drivers carrying a regular drivers license.

​With a CDL-holding driver operating your party bus, you know you are in good hands.

For passengers, the most common safety rule is to avoid moving around the vehicle while it is in motion. Again, this is something that should be fairly obvious, but you would be surprised at how many people like to walk around the bus while it is going 60mph down the highway.
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​Rental Rules

Now comes the fun part. What are the rules when reserving a party bus? Every party bus company will have different rules, but usually, these rules are in place to ensure that the company is able to stay in business. You will want to carefully review this section of your contract before you book with a party bus company.

Of course, you should carefully read the entire contract before you book with a party bus company, but the reservation rules will be particularly important since they pertain to your deposit and the company's cancellation fee.

Most party bus companies will require some sort of deposit (usually non-refundable) when reserving one of their buses. This deposit is usually to cover overhead costs for the company. You see, when you make a reservation, the company is unable to book the bus you choose to another party during your time block (and, in some cases, for the whole day/night).

If you cancel at the last minute, it is unlikely that the company will be able to re-book the bus for the date you canceled. A non-refundable deposit is essentially a show of confidence that you will keep your end of the bargain in the exchange of services.

Another thing to consider is the possible reasons for delays or cancellations that are out of the control of both the renter and the party bus company. Factors could include weather, mechanical issues and traffic conditions. Usually, in the case of things like that, the party bus company isn't liable and thus the customer is not entitled to a refund. There will usually be a line item for these types of instances in your contract.
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​Ninja Buses Rules

Ninja Buses enforces pretty much all of the rules contained within this blog post, but you can see all of our rules in our Rental Contract.

​Simply fill out the Reservation Form to be sent a copy of that contract!
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​Suggestions for Renters

All of the information on party bus rules included in this article will assist you when you are booking a party bus, but here are some additional suggestions to keep in mind when doing your research:

1. If you are unsure of anything, ASK.
2. ALWAYS read the contract/rental agreement thoroughly.
3. Ask if all of the drivers have their CDLs. If they don't, then don't book that company!
4. Upon booking, ask for the driver to contact you the day of your trip so you have a way to keep in touch with him throughout the day/night.
5. Make sure you are reserving a sufficient time block. Travel time for buses is about 1/3 longer than a car so you will want to account for that.

Ninja Buses will always bring top level, CDL-holding drivers and committed to safety to your bachelor party, so all you have to worry about is how good a time you want to have.
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​For a complete list of Ninja Buses' rates, simply visit their website here.