Motor buses were operated on a trial basis in Reading in 1913 and it was six years later that the first examples were purchased, these mainly being used to supplement and feed tramway services. AEC, Thorneycroft and Guy chassis were early purchases, the latter predominating until 1930. In 1929 and 1931 Leyland Titans were received but in 1932 the first AEC Regents were delivered - a type that was favoured for many years thereafter.

A committee was created by the Corporation in 1931 to report on the Borough's future transport needs, with particular reference to tramway replacement. In 1932, the name Reading Corporation Transport was adopted and, by 1934, the committee had reported in favour of a new trolleybus system. The first such services commenced in 1936 - using six trolleybuses from five different builders - and it the last tram ran on 21st May 1939, with the commissioning of twenty-five new AEC trolleybuses. The new system was extended many  times in future years - the last instance being in January 1963 - and occasionally involved the replacement of motor buses. Six second-hand Karriers entered service between 1948 and 1951, whilst new vehicles arrived from BUT and Sunbeam. The final trolleybuses were more Sunbeams, delivered in 1961.

The standard AEC Regent motor buses were supplemented by Bedfords in 1945/7 and Crossleys in 1950. The last Regents arrived in 1957 and, in the same year, the first of very a many standee-type single deckers entered service - initially on AEC Reliance chassis. Between 1962 and 1966, all double decker purchases were Dennis Lolines and Reading became the largest municipal operator of the type. A report received from the Transport Committee in 1966 recommended the replacement of all trolleybuses by motor buses and conversion was carried out between January 1967 and November 1968 using a fleet of special Bristol RELL single deckers with Strachan and Pennine bodies

The standard double decker between 1971 and 1977 was the Bristol VRT, although one MCW Scania Metropolitan purchased in 1975 heralded allegiance to this type and its successor, the MCW Metrobus. This was followed by Leyland Titan and Tigers and secondhand MCW Metropolitans which entered service to replace VRTs. 

On deregulation, an operating company "Reading Buses" was formed this now operates outside its old boundaries and has also since taken over the Reading Mainline Routemaster operation and The former Q Drive Bee Line company in the Newbury area. This is now operated under the seperate "Newbury Buses" fleet name.

Reading  was one of the few companies to buy the Leyland Titan new. This one No 68 (YJB 68T) was new in 1978

One of the 1968 Bristol RE's with Pennine B34D bodies bought to replace trolleybuses.

No 71 (CRD 594) was a petrol engined Bedford OB. It is seen here parked outside Mill Lane depot 1961. It had a Mulliner body and was withdrawn in 1963

No 83 (CRD 872) is a 1948 AEC Regent II with lowbridge Park Royal body

An AEC Reliance with Duple body new in 1962. It had a B34D layout with room for 26 standees.

No 47 (RD 7127) a superbly restored 1935 AEC Regent