Coach hire for a school trip: the price per pupil in 2026

A school trip is decided on a per-pupil budget, not on a total price. Here is the complete 2026 rate card and what each vehicle really costs per pupil once it is full: from €9.68 per pupil on a high-capacity coach to €23.33 on a minibus.

DTRAVEL SASU (LOUERUNBUS.COM) has been a coach hire broker since 9 April 2018. Every price on this page includes VAT, covers a full day of availability and includes the driver. Our 1,200 partner operators cover the whole of France, from 8 to 93 seats, and beyond that in convoy up to 1,000 passengers. Answer in 15 to 30 minutes, guaranteed within 2 hours, 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm.

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How much does a school trip by coach cost, per pupil?

Cost per pupil = day rate ÷ maximum capacity. Our negotiated network rates remain 15% to 20% below the direct price.

What this table says in one sentence: the fuller the coach, the less the trip costs per pupil. The best ratio in the whole range is the high-capacity coach, 93 seats from €900 a day, at €9.68 per pupil. The worst is the minibus at €23.33 — but it remains the only vehicle suited to a group of fewer than 16.

A class of 50 pupils: one coach or two vehicles?

This is the most frequent question, and the answer is not the obvious one. A class of 50 rarely travels alone: count 4 to 5 accompanying adults, so 54 to 55 people to carry.

At 54 people, a single executive touring coach costs €100 less than two midibuses and €150 less than a coach plus a minivan — and it needs one meeting point, one driver and one number to call on the day. The tipping point is exactly 53 people: above it, move up a category rather than add a second vehicle.

Day rate or per kilometre for a school outing?

The day rate covers the vehicle and the driver for the day, waiting time on site included. The per-kilometre rate covers the journey, not the waiting.

Distances and times measured on Google Maps on 15 October 2026, fastest road route from central Paris.

The rule: below 100 km return, the per-kilometre rate is cheaper — but it does not pay for the coach standing still during the visit. A school outing keeps the vehicle on site for 4 to 7 hours: beyond Versailles, the day rate is both cheaper and simpler. That is why we recommend it by default for any full-day outing.

A pupil in a wheelchair: how does it work?

Our wheelchair-accessible coaches seat 20 to 50, are fitted with a lift or a ramp, and carry 4 to 5 wheelchairs per vehicle, from €800 a day including VAT. For a group with more wheelchairs than one vehicle takes, we run a convoy of accessible coaches, with one contact, one quote and one invoice.

See also: wheelchair-accessible bus and minibus hire.

What the rules impose on the driver, and what it changes for your programme

Driving time is governed by European Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, which applies in France as across the Union:

• maximum continuous driving: 4 h 30, then a break of at least 45 minutes;
• daily driving: 9 hours, extended to 10 hours twice a week;
• daily rest: 11 consecutive hours, reducible to 9 hours three times between weekly rest periods.

Beyond 4 h 30 of road, a 45-minute break is compulsory and must appear in the schedule. A heavy programme may require a second driver: we flag it on the quote, never on departure day.

Frequently asked questions about coach hire for a school trip

How much does a coach cost for a school trip?

From €350 incl. VAT a day for a minibus of 8 to 15 seats to €1,000 for a VIP coach of 20 to 40 seats. The most common choice for a class, the standard 30 to 53-seat coach, is €700 incl. VAT a day, driver included — €13.21 per pupil at full capacity.

How many pupils fit in a coach?

Up to 93 in a high-capacity coach, the largest vehicle in our fleet. Above 93 passengers we run a convoy of several vehicles, up to 1,000 passengers, with one contact and one invoice.

Is the driver included in the price?

Yes. Every price on this page includes the vehicle and its driver. We do not offer self-drive hire.

How fast do you send a quote?

Answer in 15 to 30 minutes, guaranteed within 2 hours, 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm.

Can you beat a direct price from a coach operator?

Yes. We are a broker: we negotiate across 1,200 partner operators and our network rates remain 15% to 20% below the direct price.

Is a deposit required?

Deposit terms depend on the operator selected and are stated on the quote, before any booking.