Top 6 Things to Consider When Buying a Hearse

Buying a hearse is not a small investment. Even the least expensive ones can start at $80,000 before any modifications by a coach builder.

Today’s blog explains the top six things to consider when buying a funeral car.

1. Used Versus New Funeral Cars

Funeral cars and hearses don’t need a lot of maintenance on their engines like ordinary vehicles in a fleet do. So, a used funeral car can actually be a smart investment for your funeral home if it meets your requirements. You can also upgrade a used hearse with modern amenities like backup cameras, driver safety, and sensors to improve the driving experience.

2. Measurements With Enough Interior Space

Funeral cars have long chassis to transport the coffin and wreaths. If you go the custom coachbuilding route, you’ll need to select a base vehicle that has a stout enough chassis to handle the length and the load. That’s why Dodge, Cadillac, Jaguar, and Mercedes are considered some of the best funeral cars in the business.

3. Engine Types

Gas or diesel funeral cars have been the standard for decades. However, many luxury manufacturers have plug-in hybrids. Some electric vehicle models are even converting to hearses now, like the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. Again, the engines of hearses generally don’t see a lot of wear and tear, so gas models are entirely appropriate for your business model with relatively low maintenance and not a lot of constant strain on the engine.

4. Securing Interior Items

Securing items inside of the funeral car is vital to its operation, whether you have a 500-pound coffin or a 60-pound urn inside. This is important to avoid accidents and to make sure everything stays safe if your driver is ever in an accident. An integrated urn holder also comes in handy. A sliding fastening system, either automatic or manual, prevents people from straining to move the coffin or urn. Wreath bars are also important if families want their loved one to be surrounded by flowers on their way to the final resting place.

5. Price

Price and your budget are often one of the most important factors when choosing a funeral car to purchase. How much maintenance, upkeep, and gas will you spend over the life of ownership? Are parts easily available? If parts aren’t available, can you find someone to custom-make a part? You can’t just factor in the overall price. You need to think about the lifetime of owning a funeral car.

6. Customizations

What customizations do you want for your hearse? Are they decorative or technological? Do they improve the customer experience or detract from it?

If you’re in the market for a luxury hearse, look no further than CoachWest. As southern California’s premium luxury and professional motorcar provider, we can help you find the perfect funeral car to meet your needs.Give us a call today or contact us on our website for more information on our available inventory of hearses.

6 Things to Consider When Buying a Funeral Car