Whether you're renting a limousine for your Wedding Day, one of the most important days of your life, or a Night out on the Town, your limousine selection should be planned carefully. Here are a few suggestions to consider before making your final decision:
- Inquire about the number of years the limousine company has been in business. Experience is a key factor. Companies that have been in business for a number of years will most likely be more reliable and provide better service than those with little or no experience.
- Inquire about the limousine company’s license and operating authority. Limousine and transportation companies in Michigan are required to have a Federal and State authority from the Department of Transportation to operate their vehicles. Limousine Companies with such licenses are regulated and thus more likely to provide the consumer with good service.
- Inquire about the Limousine Company’s Insurance. There are unfortunately numerous companies around that do not carry the proper commercial insurance coverage on their fleet to protect the consumer in the event of an accident or other mishap. A reputable Limousine Company will have the required commercial insurance coverage and will have no problem providing you with a Certificate of Coverage, if asked.
- Inquire about the Limousine Company’s affiliations with reputable organizations such as The National Limousine Association and their local Livery Association. Memberships with any of the above and other related organizations is an indication that you are dealing with a professional, reliable Company.
- Inquire about evidence of the Companies performances from past clients. Excellent references from other customers will minimize the possibility of service problems.
- Ask to see the vehicle(s) you are inquiring about. If you don’t have time to go and visit the Limousine Company’s showroom personally, ask the company if photos are available on their website or to email you photo(s) of the limo(s) and other vehicle(s) you are interested in. This will ensure that you will not end up getting an old rundown limousine in lieu of the new white super stretch you were led to believe you would have. Be sure to check the year of the limousine, year, make and model as well as the amenities inside the limousine such as tinted windows, fiber optic lights, TV, VCR, CD player, bar, and any other items you are interested in having in your limo.
- Inquire about the size of the limousine you are interested in. The following is a brief description of the frequently used sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 Passenger Limousines, 16-20 Passenger Super-Stretch SUV's, 20 - 30 Passenger Limo-Coaches (Party Bus, Limo-Bus)
- Inquire about overtime charges and overtime availability. It is common for Limousine Companies to charge a full hour even if your time runs 10 minutes over the contracted time. Remember, most Limousine Companies will schedule subsequent rentals one after another, so judge your rental times carefully. Overtime may not be available if scheduling does not permit.
- Be sure to ask about your chauffeur’s gratuity. Most companies have a mandatory gratuity policy for their chauffeurs which is usually 20% of the total bill. If overtime is utilized, gratuity should also be added to the overtime charges.
- Inquire about the Company’s starting time policy. With a majority of Limousine Companies, your time starts at the time of the initial pickup. Others may charge you from the time the Chauffeur leaves the garage. We also suggest you inquire about travel time. It is common for Limousine Companies to charge you travel time if your pickup location or destination is further than a certain amount of miles.
- Inquire about the Limousine Company’s packages. Most Companies offer special packages which offer the best value. Most Companies will also provide complimentary items with certain packages, i.e The Wedding Packages may include rolling out the red carpet, specialty signs (just married), pom poms used to decorate the exterior of the limo, etc.. Be sure the complimentary items you want for your event are specified when making your reservation, and placed in the contract.
- Inquire about your chauffeur. Check to see if your chauffeur has experience. You may also want to inquire about your chauffeur’s attire during your event. Most Limousine Companies ask their chauffeur to wear a black suit, white dress shirt and black tie or a formal tuxedo. Reputable Limousine Companies should have no problem supplying you with a copy of the chauffeur's Motor Vehicle Report (MVR), upon request.
- Once you have selected a Limousine Company to provide your service, ask for a detailed contract of your reservation. Your contract should include the date of service, the time of pickup, number of hours you have reserved the vehicle, the vehicle's assigned fleet number, the total price of the contract, including driver’s gratuity, overtime charges, and routing information, i.e pickup and drop off locations. The Contract should also contain language detailing the Company’s policies regarding cancellations, deposits and the company’s liability in the event they are unable to provide the service.
- If you have hired a (wedding) coordinator for your event, be sure to provide a contact name and phone number to the Limousine Company, so that proper communication is established prior to or during your event. If you have not hired a (wedding) coordinator, choose a particular person to be in charge of directing the chauffeur and provide his/her contact information to the Limousine Company.
- Although some Limousine Companies will call you prior to your reservation to review the itinerary and details of your reservation, if you have not heard from the company 48 hours prior to your scheduled event, contact the company to review the details. Many Limousine Companies make it their policy to only confirm Wedding Rentals. This is due to the large number of "Surprise" rentals booked.
- Inquire whether the Limousine Company will have a live person available during the scheduled event, should you require any assistance. If not, be sure to obtain a contact phone number of an operating manager or other individual in charge.
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