MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Monkey Bus has been providing free rides to tourists and residents around Anna Maria Island for 14 years.

But earlier this month, the business owners decided to halt operations due to the increased cost of auto insurance.

What You Need To Know

  •  Monkey Bus owners stopped operations when they cancelled their auto insurance on August 2

  •  Their insurance increased from $2,100 a month to almost $20,000 a month
  • They paid more than $100,000 dollars for insurance since March

  • Now the owners hope to resume operations once they find an affordable insurance

“We are trying to get the inside of this bus all ready,” said Sally Dirbas, the owner of the Monkey Bus.

For the past six months, Sally Dirbas and son Mitchell Gross have been renovating their eight monkey buses, updating the look and improving safety.

“We thought we would pull the bus in get the seating all changed,” said Dirbas.

They wanted to give the shuttles a new look inside and out.

“This job doesn’t even feel like a job, I feel like I’m on vacation,” said Gross.

But the Anna Maria Island shuttle service was put on pause on August 2, when Dirbas canceled their auto insurance.

“It was only $2,100, then two weeks later, it was raised,” she said.

She says the rate increased to almost $20,000 a month. Since March, the business paid out more than $100,000 just for insurance.

“There is no way the Monkey Bus can pay that for trips," she said. "We are a small business, we don’t make money. Like, that we are doing it for a community service."

Auto insurance for businesses is more extensive and expensive than an individual policy. But a U.S. News and World Report says policies in Florida cost 40% more on average than in other states.

“It’s very hard on us little business and in know daily there are small business all around Florida that are shutting down daily,” she said.

Dirbas says many small business owners simply can’t afford the increased cost of insurance. The former EMT retired to Florida from Indiana in 2013. Her commitment to community service motivated her to buy the monkey bus last year.

“It’s a lot of work,” she said.

That hard work hasn’t paid off yet. But these owners do plan on resuming service. 

“Everyone on the island is affected by us not running,” she said.

She expects to have a new insurance policy in place soon. She refuses to let this temporary setback put the brakes on their business.

The owner says she is looking for quotes for the best and affordable insurance. Once they start up again, there will be a $5 fare charge for all riders.