Motorcoach Sales Slip 4.1% in Q3 2026

Private operators' purchases keep falling while public-entity buying and pre-owned trends shift the market mix.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Car Types

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Motorcoach sales totaled 538 units in the third quarter of 2026, down 4.1% from 561 units a year earlier, according to the American Bus Association Foundation's Motorcoach Builders Survey. New motorcoach sales rose 1.7% while pre-owned sales fell 30.1% over the same period.

Why it matters

The decline in private-sector purchases, which fell 4.9% year over year, points to rising costs for operators in insurance, fuel, tariffs and equipment. Public-entity purchases, up 28.9%, partly offset the drop across the national market.

Participating manufacturers reported 466 new and 72 pre-owned motorcoach sales in Q3 2026, with new sales up 1.7% and pre-owned sales down 30.1% year over year. Sales to private entities fell 4.9% while public-entity purchases rose 28.9%.

The players

American Bus Association Foundation

The American Bus Association Foundation is the research arm of the American Bus Association, which conducts the quarterly Motorcoach Builders Survey tracking North American motorcoach sales.

Fred Ferguson

Fred Ferguson is a public figure cited in connection with the American Bus Association's motorcoach sales reporting.

The details

Private motorcoach operators recorded their third consecutive quarter of declining purchases in Q3 2026. Through the first nine months of the year, new private purchases are down nearly 18%, while pre-owned sales have risen nearly 8%.

First half of 2026: pre-owned and public-sector purchases helped support the market.
Third quarter of 2026: total motorcoach sales declined 4.1% year over year.
First nine months of 2026: new private purchases fell nearly 18% while pre-owned sales rose nearly 8%.

Roadmap

Total motorcoach sales in Q3 2026 remained 31.2% below pre-pandemic 2019 levels, according to the Motorcoach Builders Survey. The quarter continues a post-pandemic pattern in which public-sector buying and the pre-owned market have offset weakness among private operators.

Private operators weighing new purchases face higher costs for insurance, fuel and equipment, which may keep fleets older for longer. Travelers and charter customers may see tighter capacity if the private-sector decline continues.

The takeaway

Watch whether private-operator purchases stabilize in coming quarters, since their continued decline would signal sustained cost pressure across the motorcoach market.