Coach and minibus hire with an English-speaking driver for school and language trips across France, from EUR 350 a day for 8 to 15 pupils to EUR 900 a day for a 93-seat coach. One vehicle carries up to 93 passengers; above that we run a convoy, up to 1,000 passengers, with a single contact for the whole group.
★ 4.4/5 on Google, more than 70 reviews · Quote in 15 to 30 minutes, guaranteed within 2 hours maximum, 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm · All of France · Best price guaranteed, around 1,200 partner coach operators
How much does a coach for a school trip in France cost?
Prices below are our 2026 rates, per day, all taxes included, driver included. They are the same whether the school is French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch or from anywhere else in Europe. Our negotiated rates stay 15 to 20 % below the price a coach operator quotes directly, because we put around 1,200 partner operators in competition.
| Vehicle | Seats | Price per day (EUR, incl. tax) | Price per km (EUR) | Typical school use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minivan / Minibus | 8 – 15 | 350 | 1.50 – 2.50 | A language-exchange group, a sports team, a study visit |
| Midibus | 16 – 29 | 500 | 2.00 – 3.00 | One small class and its teachers |
| Standard coach | 30 – 53 | 700 | 2.50 – 4.00 | One full class, the most common school booking |
| Luxury coach | 54 – 63 | 900 | 3.00 – 5.00 | Two classes travelling together |
| High-capacity coach | 64 – 93 | from 900 | 3.00 – 5.00 | A whole year group |
| VIP / Executive coach | 20 – 40 | 1,000 | 4.00 – 7.00 | Staff trips, exam juries, delegations |
| Wheelchair-accessible bus | 20 – 50 | 800 | 3.00 – 5.00 | A group including pupils in wheelchairs |
Minibus or coach for a class of 30 pupils? The two options compared
Thirty pupils plus two accompanying teachers makes 32 passengers. That number sits exactly on the line between two vehicles, and the choice changes the price.
| Two minibuses of 8 – 15 seats | One standard coach of 30 – 53 seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats available | up to 30 | up to 53 |
| Fits 32 passengers | No, a third vehicle is needed | Yes, with seats to spare |
| Price per day (EUR, incl. tax) | 700 for two vehicles | 700 |
| Drivers | 2 | 1 |
| Luggage | Limited, no hold | Hold underneath |
| Group kept together | No, split across vehicles | Yes |
| Our recommendation | Only below 15 passengers | The right choice from 16 passengers upwards |
The conclusion is blunt: above 15 passengers, one standard coach costs the same as two minibuses and carries everyone in one vehicle. Below 16, the minibus at EUR 350 a day is half the price.
One coach or a convoy? What happens above 93 pupils
The largest coach in our network seats 93 passengers. Above that we do not look for a bigger vehicle: we run a convoy of several coaches, coordinated by one single contact, up to 1,000 passengers. Figures below are an indicative calculation from our 2026 price list, at the high-capacity day rate (from EUR 900), before the network discount.
| Pupils and staff travelling together | Vehicles | Seats available | Indicative price per day (EUR, incl. tax) | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 1 standard coach | 53 | from 700 | single vehicle |
| 93 | 1 high-capacity coach | 93 | from 900 | single vehicle |
| 150 | 2 high-capacity coaches | 186 | from 1,800 | convoy |
| 300 | 4 high-capacity coaches | 372 | from 3,600 | convoy |
| 500 | 6 high-capacity coaches | 558 | from 5,400 | convoy |
| 1,000 | 11 high-capacity coaches | 1,023 | from 9,900 | convoy, maximum capacity |
Day rate or price per kilometre: which one should a school ask for?
| Day rate (vehicle at your disposal) | Price per kilometre | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | The coach and the driver for the whole day | Every kilometre driven, EUR 1.50 to 7.00 depending on the vehicle |
| Best for | A trip with several stops: museum in the morning, château in the afternoon, hotel in the evening | One single transfer, for example airport to hotel on arrival day |
| Starting point | EUR 350 minibus, EUR 700 standard coach, from EUR 900 high-capacity coach | EUR 1.50 – 2.50 minivan, EUR 2.50 – 4.00 standard coach, EUR 3.00 – 5.00 high-capacity coach |
| Waiting time | Already included | Not applicable |
| Our recommendation for a school trip | The day rate in almost every case | Per kilometre for an isolated transfer |
Ask for both on the same quote. We send it back in 15 to 30 minutes, guaranteed within 2 hours maximum, 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm.
Does the driver speak English?
Yes. An English-speaking driver is guaranteed on request and confirmed in writing at the time of booking — not a maybe, a written commitment on your booking confirmation. A German-speaking driver is guaranteed on request in the same way, also confirmed in writing. For a language trip, where the teachers are often the only adults who speak French, this is the single point that decides whether the day runs smoothly.
How does a European school pay from abroad?
We are a French company, DTRAVEL SASU (LOUERUNBUS.COM), registered in Paris since 9 April 2018, French VAT number FR61 838 863 744. A school in Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands or anywhere else in the EU receives a French invoice and pays by SEPA bank transfer, by card, or against a purchase order from the school or the local authority. Prices quoted are inclusive of all taxes, so the figure on the quote is the figure on the invoice.
What do EU driving-time rules mean for a school itinerary?
Teachers building a programme are often caught out by this. Under EU Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, a professional coach driver may drive 9 hours a day (10 hours twice a week), must take a 45-minute break after 4 h 30 of driving, and must have a daily rest of 11 hours (reducible to 9 hours three times a week) before driving again. A tachograph records all of it. These are not our rules and no operator can waive them.
In practice, for a school trip: a late evening arrival followed by a 7 a.m. departure the next morning usually needs two drivers, or a later start. A full day of touring with a long drive at each end will include a 45-minute stop you should plan into the programme rather than discover at the roadside. We tell you which case you are in when we send the quote, not on the day.
Do you provide wheelchair-accessible coaches for a school group?
Yes. The wheelchair-accessible bus seats 20 to 50 passengers and takes 4 to 5 wheelchairs per vehicle, in addition to the seated places, at EUR 800 a day, all taxes included. There is no limit on the number of wheelchairs for the group as a whole: several accessible buses run in convoy, coordinated by one single contact. Tell us the number of wheelchairs when you ask for the quote and we size the convoy accordingly.
Why European schools book with France Shuttle
- Around 1,200 partner coach operators put in competition, which is why our negotiated rates stay 15 to 20 % below a direct booking.
- A quote in 15 to 30 minutes, guaranteed within 2 hours maximum, 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm.
- An English-speaking driver guaranteed on request, confirmed in writing at booking. German-speaking driver on the same terms.
- One single contact for the whole trip, from one minibus to a convoy of eleven coaches.
- A French company since 9 April 2018, more than 5,000 journeys organised, rated 4.4/5 on Google on more than 70 reviews.
How it works, in four steps
- Tell us the trip. Dates, number of pupils and staff, pick-up point, destinations, and whether you need the coach for the whole day or for one transfer.
- Receive the quote in 15 to 30 minutes. It prices both the day rate and the per-kilometre option so you can compare, all taxes included.
- Confirm. Payment by SEPA transfer, card, or against a school purchase order. The English-speaking driver is confirmed in writing here.
- Travel. One contact follows the group for the whole trip, whatever the number of vehicles.
Frequently asked questions about school trip coach hire in France
How much does it cost to hire a coach for a school trip in France?
From EUR 350 a day for a minibus of 8 to 15 seats, EUR 700 a day for a standard coach of 30 to 53 seats, and from EUR 900 a day for a high-capacity coach of 64 to 93 seats. All prices include tax and the driver. Our negotiated rates stay 15 to 20 % below a direct booking.
We are 32 people. Minibus or coach?
One standard coach. Two minibuses cost the same EUR 700 a day, carry 30 at most, need two drivers and split the group. From 16 passengers upwards the standard coach wins on every count.
Can you move a whole year group of 250 pupils?
Yes. Above 93 passengers we run a convoy: 250 pupils and staff travel in 3 high-capacity coaches (279 seats), from EUR 2,700 a day as an indicative figure from our price list. Up to 1,000 passengers, with one single contact.
Is the driver guaranteed to speak English?
Yes, on request, and it is confirmed in writing on your booking confirmation. A German-speaking driver is guaranteed on the same terms.
Can a school in another EU country pay by bank transfer?
Yes. DTRAVEL SASU is a French company, VAT number FR61 838 863 744. You receive a French invoice and pay by SEPA transfer, by card, or against a school or local-authority purchase order.
How far in advance should we book?
As early as the dates are fixed, especially for spring, which is the busiest season for school trips. That said, the quote itself comes back in 15 to 30 minutes, guaranteed within 2 hours maximum, so you can get a budget figure the same day.
Do you cover the whole of France or only Paris?
The whole of France. Pick-up from Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly or Beauvais airports, from any railway station, or directly from a school anywhere in the country, with around 1,200 partner operators across the territory.
Your school trip, priced in 15 to 30 minutes
Free quote, no obligation. From EUR 350 a day, 8 to 93 seats per vehicle, up to 1,000 passengers in convoy. English-speaking driver guaranteed on request.
Or call us: +33 1 84 21 05 65
DTRAVEL SASU (LOUERUNBUS.COM) — 231 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001 Paris, France