Let's denote \( x \) as the number of students on each bus. Since there are 9 buses, the total number of students transported by the buses is \( 9x \). According to the problem, there are 449 students in total, with 8 students not able to fit on the buses and traveling in cars. Therefore, we can write the equation as follows:
\[ 9x + 8 = 449 \]
Now, we can solve for \( x \):
- Subtract 8 from both sides:
\[ 9x = 449 - 8 \] \[ 9x = 441 \]
- Divide both sides by 9:
\[ x = \frac{441}{9} \] \[ x = 49 \]
Thus, the number of students on each bus is \( \boxed{49} \).