Sticker Shock – Check out Ambulance Prices

Think new car prices are high? Try pricing an ambulance chassis.

Fayette County Commissioners Court awarded a bid from Oviedo Dodge in La Grange for a 2023 Dodge 4500 chassis with a diesel engine priced at $72,385.

That’s just for a heavyduty truck chassis, engine and cab. Commissioners have not yet accepted bids to build the ambulance box on the chassis. Even so, the $72,385 price tag is actually a good deal, according to Fayette County EMS Director Josh Vandever. Vandever said he was unable to obtain bids from the local Ford dealerships due to delivery delays for Ford fleet vehicles with an ambulance package.

Vandever said the County could purchase a new Ford F-450 chassis from the ambulance manufacturer Fraser for $81,500. Fraser also offered a comparable chassis from International Corp. for $95,000. Oviedo was the only local dealership that could supply a vehicle that met the County’s specifications.

“If we’re not buying straight from the manufacturer, I prefer to buy local,” Vandever said. “This allows us to check that box, and it’s cheaper.”

Vandever said the last several ambulances Fayette County EMS purchased were built on similar heavy duty chassis with diesel engines. He said the platform holds up well for his department’s use.

“Every one of these trucks we get rid of has at least 300,000 miles on it,” Vandever said.

Vandever estimated the cost to outfit a complete ambulance with a box, lights and sirens somewhere between $270,000 to $329,000, including the cost of the chassis. One ambulance manufacturer increased costs by 30 percent this year, Vandever said.

“It’s ridiculous how much of a jump everything has taken in one short year,” he said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to accept and award the bid to Oviedo.

This ambulance will be paid for with grant funds the County received from the American Rescue Plan.