Our community buses are available for hire exclusively for registered charities and not-for-profit, volunteer-run, incorporated community groups.

Our buses are not available for use by commercial organisations, individuals, private companies (unless registered charity) for paying passengers or for parties.

If you are unsure of your eligibility, please contact us at [email protected].

As a hirer your responsibilities are to ensure the safety of your passengers at all times, abide by the laws and regulations of VicRoads and return the bus in good condition. Bus hirers should report any problems immediately on 03 5272 5272.

We have a modern fleet of reliable and economical mini buses:

• 9 seat bus (with wheelchair hoist)
• 12 seat buses

All seating numbers include the driver.

Eligible community groups are required to supply their own driver.

The bus will be provided to the hirer with a full tank of petrol and is to be returned with a full tank of petrol at the hirer's expense.

There are three steps to booking a community bus:

1. Register group with City of Greater Geelong (annually)
2. Each driver must submit driver declaration (annually)
3. Submit your booking/s online (at least seven days notice)

Advanced bookings are preferred.

We require at least three working days notice or normal hire charges will still apply and be invoiced.

We subsidise the costs to make this service more affordable for community groups.

Hire charge is $71.00 per day. Fees include GST and are charged in 24 hour blocks.

The bus will be provided to the hirer with a full tank of petrol and must be returned with a full tank of petrol at the hirer's expense.

Prices are correct at time of publishing - please confirm prices before making your booking.

Payment is required within 30 days of invoice date and can be made:

• In person at any of our Customer Service Centres
• Online using your credit card
• By phone using your credit card or
• By mail with cheque or money order.

The following conditions are required by law:

• Drivers of the 9 and 12 seat buses require a full drivers licence (not probationary licence).
• Driver blood alcohol levels must remain at 0.0 percent.
• Drivers must not be under the influence of drugs.

Is strictly not permitted on our buses at any time.

You must secure the community bus in off-street parking if your hire period is overnight.

All drivers are to familiarise themselves with the height of the bus and avoid locations with height restrictions.

Due to height restrictions and tight spaces, buses are not permitted to be driven through any of the following under any circumstances:

• automatic car-wash
• commercial parking station
• drive-through facilities at fast food outlets

A two-day limit applies. Please enquire at the time of your booking for further details.

Buses are not to be used for trips to hazardous areas (for example: in snow or rough terrain) and are only to be driven to Victorian destinations.

You are responsible for any toll fees or charges relating to City Link or East Link. A standard day pass can be purchased from:

• City Link online or by phoning 132 629
• East Link online or by phoning 135 465

If you forget to obtain a pass, you will be invoiced the late toll fine.

Buses are conveniently located in Geelong as well as the Bellarine Peninsula.

• Geelong: Corio Operations Centre - 299 Anakie Road, Corio
• Bellarine: Drysdale Operations Centre - McKenzie Street, Drysdale

The checklist provided at key collection should be carefully completed at the beginning and on completion of the hire, and returned with the bus keys at the pick-up location.

Bus incidents must be reported in the first instance to Transport Safety Victoria on 1800 301 151 (operates 24 hours, seven days a week) as soon as possible.

Once incident is reported to Transport Safety Victoria, our Booking Office must be notified on 03 5272 4732 during business hours.

Our Booking Officer will record all the relevant details for Transport Safety Victoria submission within 72 hours of receiving call.

You are responsible for paying the insurance excess of $500 for any damage to the bus.

You must do everything necessary to enable the insurer of the bus to recover compensation from any third party in respect of damage to the bus.

We are a member of the RACV. In the case of any difficulties, please contact the RACV on 1800 686 464.

To keep hire costs low, all bus users share the responsibility for cleaning the vehicle.

After bus use, it is the responsibility of the hirer to remove any rubbish and belongings from the floor and seats and wash the exterior of the vehicle (automatic carwash not permitted).

Failure to comply with the above may result in a admin fee and/or cleaning charges of up to $60 being charged to your group and jeopardise future bookings.

The bus must be returned by the specified booking time with a full tank of fuel. The bus should be filled up at the nearest fuel station to the bus depot.

When refuelling, please use the petrol bowser as an indicator that the tank is full and not the fuel gauge in the bus.

Additional costs could include refuelling charge equal to the value of petrol plus admin fee and/or cleaning charges of up to $60. Failure to comply with the above may also jeopardise future bookings.

We reserve the right to terminate any booking or future bookings due to any breach of condition of hire and/or misconduct by patrons including non-payment.