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Limousine Rental Tips
What You Need to Know Before Renting.
Here are some handy tips you can utilize
TO ENSURE THAT your special day is
incident free!
Looking for the "lowest price"? You may be disappointed.
The biggest error you could make when shopping for a wedding
limousine is searching based on PRICE. In the limousine industry, there are many
variances in quality and price. All too often, a cheaper price translates into
larger risk for you.
Most consumers would not choose a restaurant or hotel based SOLEY on price, yet,
SOME shop for a LIMOUSINE service BY THIS METHOD and expect A 5-star quality
PRESENTATION. If you shop for a
limousine service based on price alone, you will likely be frustrated and
disappointed with your limousine experience.
Old, dirty, poorly maintained vehicles, shoddy service, unprofessional
chauffeurs with poor hygiene, dangerous vehicles, and under-insured services are
all possible results of a "best price" shopping priority.
Ask to see
the company's vehicles.
Check out the vehicle you plan on renting. Some companies utilize older fleets.
You don't want to be surprised if a 1988 limousine shows up, when you were
expecting a 2005 model!
Get A Signed Contract.
A reliable and professional service will be more than happy to
provide you with a signed-contract for service. Companies who CANNOT supply a
contract may not be confident in their ability to fulfill AN AGREEMENT.
Ask About
Insurance and Permits.
All
limousines are required to carry commercial insurance and must be properly
licensed. Unfortunately, the Yellow Pages do not require the same INFORMATION in order to
advertise. To protect yourself from "gypsy companies", ask for proof
of these REQUIREMENTS with your signed contract.
"We
don’t have your reservation!"
Don't be the person which gets the "We don't have your reservation"
story. Cover yourself by getting a signed contract and shopping smart.
Shopping on price alone is dangerous. Some unethical operators do not hesitate
to drop a reservation to pick-up a better paying fare.
Vehicle Rental Policies
In general, the BIGGER and the NEWER the limousine, the more
expensive it will be to rent. Here are 3 standard types of limousines operating
today at their relative cost per hour to rent:
Price estimates below do not include the standard 20% chauffeur gratuity.
Wedding rates are usually quoted at a
'package' price. For
instance, "Our 3 hour wedding package is
$240.00 and includes our
ten-passenger limousine". Ask your limousine company what
IS included in the package price. ALL or SOME OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS may be included in the price:
ONCE
AGAIN, When booking a limousine, always make sure you know what kind of
car you are getting. Simply being told a "10-passenger limousine" is
not enough. Many smaller companies utilize older fleets. There currently are
three Lincoln body styles of limousines on the market Make sure you know which
you are getting. You don't want to be surprised when a 1988 stretch limousine
appears at your doorstep when you were expecting a 1998 model!
Most companies require a minimum 3 to 4 hour booking when making reservations.
If you are looking for a limousine for only 1 hour or for pick-up and drop-off
service, you will have to do some searching. Many companies simply will not do
these types of bookings because of cost considerations. If you do find a company
that will do your event for 1 hour, more than likely the limousine will be an
older model vehicle or will not guarantee the arrival time (s) of the car. There
is nothing wrong with older model limousines; however, we suggest you view any
vehicle before you rent, especially one that is over 5 years old!
Deposits
Required
Most companies require a 50% deposit to hold your reservation with
the balance due three (3) days prior to the RENTAL DATE. If you cancel your
reservation, your deposit can be forfeited. Such things can be outlined in the
contract. Ask your selected company their policy.
Be aware that many older model limousines have air-conditioning systems which
are NOT equipped to handle hot days. If your event is in the 'dead of summer',
inquire about your limousine's air conditioning system, especially if your
vehicle will be older than 4 years old! Older models may only have one AC
compressor and on extremely hot days, getting a cool limousine may not be
possible. Request limousines that have two AC compressors which will eliminate
this problem.