Ten Questions You Always Ask Limousine Companies:
1. When I rent or hire your limousine, how many miles and hours do you include with your daily rate? What’s the difference between a local-day, half day, night of bar hopping, out-of-town, business function or wine tour (as examples) in terms of mileage, time, day-rate or flat rate? Which rate is most cost efficient for me?
2. Does your limousine or limousine bus include amenities such as, flat screen televisions, alcohol service, movies, sound system, specialized lighting, internet service, satellite service, wet bar, refreshments (water, sodas and snacks), and personal climate controls? What are your charges for any of the aforementioned? What other amenities or services do you offer your customers?
3. What is your limousine company’s cancellation policy? Will your cancellation policy be given to me in writing on my invoice, confirmation, or is it on your website for me to copy? If the cancellation policy isn’t written somewhere, can I get your complete policy in writing before my deposit is given?
4. Who is responsible for delays due to inclement weather, highway congestion or Acts of God? What manner of delays will cost me extra money? What are your supplemental hourly and mileage costs for my limousine or limousine bus if we should go overtime or over the allotted mileage?
5. What is a fair and realistic gratuity to give the limousine or limousine bus chauffeur depending of course on mileage, number of passengers, complexity of client needs, and length of travel days? What are the responsibilities of a limousine or limo bus chauffeur?
6. Can you provide me with proof of insurance that shows mandatory Federal, State or Provincial insurance between $1,500,000.00 and $5,000,000.00 dependent upon size and function of vehicle?? Insurance minimums differ from State to State or Province, Interstate or intrastate transportation or actual seating capacity (not passengers) of vehicle. Please ask your limousine company about required insurance.
7. Do you operate your own limousines, town cars, sedans and limo buses or will my transportation be contracted out to another company? Will you guarantee in writing that you will not contract my limousine or limo bus rental service?
8. Are your limousines and buses available for inspection and will you specify the manufacturer, type and age of the limousine or limousine bus rental I will be using for my trip, excursion or transfer?
9. Do you operate your own maintenance yard, and do you publish copies of your most recent inspection by Federal, State or Provincial authorities and agencies?
10. Are you a member of any associations such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), NLA (National Limousine Association), ABA (American Bus Association), UMA (United Bus Association), Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA), Charter Dispatch (CDIN) or State organizations such as Florida Limousine Association, Inc. or New England Livery Association (N.E.L.A.)?
Use these questions as a reference for your selection process of limousine service providers. Limo Charter Dispatch makes no claims or warrants regarding the above questions. We ask and request that you distinguish vague and ambiguous answers that should generate your follow up questions. Always ask detailed questions such as the types referenced above, and accept nothing less than extremely precise and comprehensive answers from prospective limousine, town car, sedan, and limo bus companies. We thank your for your valued patronage.
Ten Ways To Check Limousine Service Providers:
1. Always check if the limousine bus, party limo bus or limousine company has had complaints or grievances filed with the Better Business Bureau, Charter Dispatch (CDIN), Federal, State and Provincial regulatory agencies or other government authorities within the recent past.
2. Ratings are one way to determine the qualifications of a prospective limousine or town car company. Check with the FMCSA link found on each members LCD entry. State and Provincial authorities are also available but at this time you must research via telephone or other methods. LCD is currently working on access to these records for our web users convenience. A lack of information shown on our website can mean the limousine operator is not a member or is unwilling to issue specific information. It is always a good idea to question why certain information is not entered into a LCD member’s entry.
3. The easiest way to obtain the least expensive limousine, limo party bus and town car or sedan price is to enter your needs into our competitive quote/bid database. However, if you don’t have the luxury of time you may search through our database via city and state or zip code/postal code. Search results will bring up limousine companies as far as 200 miles from your request. Contact each limo company found on our dynamic search pages after reviewing their data. You must be a registered user of LCD to use any of our free services.
4. Almost 75% of all “purported” limousine company websites that are generated on the first page of a Google or Yahoo search are limousine, town car and limo bus brokers, or small limousine operators that broker your service because they operate very few limousines, town cars or sedans. Unless you have a good relationship with your carrier we suggest paying strict attention, as brokers may, and do, charge as much as 30%-100% of the actual cost they are paying the contracted limousine carrier. Be extremely attentive when reading through these websites. And remember, it is their business to be deceptive when revealing anything about themselves or their company. We recommend only using a broker when they disclose the real limousine company you will be using, and when working from a 10% broker rate.
5.The limousine industry consists of an estimated 12,000+/- regional and national limousine, town car and sedan companies throughout the U.S. and Canada. There are hundreds of limousine brokers that don’t and never have operated a limousine or town car whatsoever. To view a list of some of these brokers click here.To advise LCD of known limousine, town car and sedan brokers please email us your domain name findings via our contact page.and please advise why you believe them to be a broker.
6.Limousine, limo party bus and limousine bus company’s prices do not rise and fall like the NYSE or NASDAQ. There are modest price variations due in part to commodity fluctuations such as oil prices. However, as a simple rule of thumb, prices are higher on holidays, weekends and special days like Grad Nights, Prom Nights, Valentines Day and a few others, so book early to guarantee both availability and receive your best price. And, a dependable limousine company rarely increases their price accept when clearly posted on their website.
7.A normal deposit for a limousine rental is 50% for over-the-road trips, and you might be required to pay in full prior to your departure. A deposit for local limousine rental (holidays especially) can run as high as 50% and again, payment in full may be requested prior to your departure date. Speak with your limousine carrier about deposit requirements before signing any documentation.
8. All Chauffeurs are Federally, State and Provincially prohibited from driving in excess of 10 hours in a 24-hour period. Chauffeurs are also forbidden to be “on duty” for more than 15 hours in that same 24-hour period. Some limousine operators may tell you they are not required to follow these regulations. However, that is either untrue or they are skirting the law and especially jeopardizing your safety. A good rule of thumb is; so long as the driver is legally responsible to file a daily log the 10-hour rule is in effect. Please see regulations noted below.
9.Limousine rentals are usually priced by the hour for local destinations (with a minimum 4 to 5 hours required) and by the mile and hour for longer trips, or a combination of mileage, hours and or days. Some limousine carriers charge only for the actual daily use and depreciation. The customer then is responsible for fuel, chauffeur, vehicle fluids, food and lodging and all other costs. Please discuss in detail with limousine and limo bus-company before booking.
10. Although the actual number of limousines an interstate carrier operates is not essentially a signal of whether you’re dealing with a good or bad limo company, it might be a good indicator of out-of-service, accident and driver citation ratios when carefully reviewed. Be sure to review how many vehicles (power units) a company operates at: http://www.safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx
Driver Regulations: Federal, State and Provincial driver regulations are quite complicated but without ambiguity. They are established for your protection and safety and therefore should be followed to the letter. Accept for a few instances, commercial drivers may not drive more than 10 hours in any 24-hour period. Commercial drivers may not be on-duty more than 15 hours within any 24-hour period. And, drivers must calculate daily logs based on 60 (on duty) hours in 7 days, or 70 (on duty) hours in 8 days contingent upon their status with their limousine company employer. Please consult with your limousine (especially limousine bus) company to make sure your trip is safe and worry free. Limo Charter Dispatch advises; never use a limousine company that overtly disregards commercial driver regulations.
Ten Reasons To Use Limousines and Limo Buses:
1.Limousines and limo buses are twice as safe as flying commercial jetliners and 26 times safer than traveling in your private automobile. Safety figures are courtesy of the United Sates Department of Transportation.
2. Limousines and party limo buses are able reach more destinations and take you closer to your end destination in style and comfort. Jets and trains can only transport you to intermediate points that are usually many hours and miles from your eventual destination. Don’t forget that limousines and limo buses will pick you up from your doorstep as well.
3. Limousine buses and party limo buses allow for more access, comfort and mobility. Your family, corporate clientele, tour and church group members will appreciate the additional ease and relaxation upon their arrival. And, these vehicles will be at your disposal for the entire duration of your trip, tour, junket or traveling vacation should you desire.
4. According to the U.S. and Canadian Departments of Transportation, party limo buses and limousine buses combined average of 1584 BTU’s per passenger mile are more fuel-efficient than commercial jets that use 4847 BTU’s per mile, trains that use 2450 BTU’s per mile and private automobiles that use 3639 BTU’s per passenger mile. As a group these bus types also use more bio-diesel than tour and charter buses.
5. Limousines and limo buses are friendlier to the environment than most other types of transportation because of their comparatively low energy output. With today’s clean burning CNG and bio-fuels, limousine and party limo buses are becoming even more environmentally mindful and friendly.
6. To rent a limousine or limo bus or coach typically cost no more than the price of flying to your destination. This doesn’t include the additional benefit of the bus providing local transportation once you, your family and or your guests have arrived at your eventual destination in style.
7. Party limo buses and limousine buses are simple and cost effectively turned into transportable billboards that can travel city to city successfully spreading your corporate message. These vehicles are typically wrapped with colorful and eye catching vinyl corporate logos and driven from corporate, public and private functions for months on end. Please speak with your limo operator about this remarkable and efficient marketing tool for your company, product or service.
8. The use of a sleeper bus (band bus) have been utilized by entertainers of all kinds to travel long distance in style and comfort over short periods of time. Many of these buses (sometimes called star coaches) have all the comforts of home including kitchens, private bedroom, satellite systems, marble flooring, full showers and pop-out sides for added living space. Others may be used for family and business functions and for just plain traveling in style.
9. Party limo buses and limousine motor coaches provide excellent alternatives to flying for people who go through flight phobia. Limousine and sleeper buses routinely have similar and even more elaborate amenities (i.e., bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, full showers, pop-out sides, etc.) then the finest of first class commercial aircraft.
10. Limousine bus travel provide an exceptional and rare chance to take great pleasure in the beautiful scenery that you may never get to see if you are driving a private car and certainly if you fly.
Limo Charter Dispatch recommends you speak with our limousine bus operators for even more reasons and benefits to use limousine, sleeper and party limo bus motor coaches. We expect that your chosen limousine service provider can sufficiently add to our list of benefits.
Ten Reasons That Benefit The Environment:
1.In 2008 the U.S. government required stringent guidelines for all bus and coach emissions using diesel fuel. This included all limousine and party limo buses as well. Operators throughout the United States and Canada can now make use of efficient and more easily accessible bio-fuels rather than diesel. Please discuss your fueling options with your limousine and limo bus company.
2. Every full limousine or limo bus has the potential of removing 6 to 40 private cars from United States and Canadian highways, reducing emissions as well as extreme freeway and highway congestion. While party and limo buses do not seat as many passengers as standard buses, they too can remove many private automobiles from severely congested roadways and highways.
3. Limousine bus rental transportation provides an average of 82 passenger miles per gallon. Single occupant automobiles achieve no more than 28 miles per passenger gallon.
4. Limousines, limo buses and sleeper bus transportation release the least amount of carbon dioxide per passenger mile when compared with all other means of traditional transportation.
5. Changing to bus travel for the 12,500 miles annually traveled by the average North American would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by a staggering 4.3 tons per automobile.
6. The Union of Concerned Scientists released their study entitled, Getting There Greener: The Guide to Your Lower Carbon Vacation, saying 'A couple that travels in a limousine bus (or party limo bus) would generate about 50 percent less global warming pollution than if traveling by the family hybrid car.'
7. Many third parties within the academic world and government will help the bus industry become an even more successful industry for decades to come. Limousines of all types are environmentally friendly by virtue of the potential numbers of passengers they can carry over that of personal vehicles.
8. Newer limousine buses and coaches now used by limousine bus operators of all kinds throughout the world can enjoy more efficient fuels. With the arrival of CNG, propane and bio-diesel power plants, limo bus operators also benefit the environment. Your limousine and limo bus company may have a number of fuel options to offer you so please discuss directly with them.
9. The added funding from third parties has enabled the limousine industry to become more resourceful, and is becoming more important to more people throughout the world of limousine transportation.
10. This fact bares duplication: According to the U.S. and Canada Transportation Departments, buses (inclusive of party, limo and sleeper buses) are the most fuel-efficient transportation vehicles by virtue of only 1584 BTU's per passenger mile as compared to planes with 4847 BTU’s, trains with 2450 BTU’s and automobiles with 3639 BTU’s.
Ten For Limo Charter Dispatch:
1. Limo Charter Dispatch does not have any financial stake in the company you choose as your limousine rental carrier. We advocate you support and use Limo Charter Dispatch members rather than non-members. But, we also list non-members in our database as well. We believe however, that the benefit of our authentication process and research allows you a more informed decision when selecting one of our members.
2. Your limousine bids are always competitively quoted without any collaboration on the part of our members or third parties. Once you have made your selection of a limousine rental company you deal directly with them. Make payments, communicate itinerary changes, alter plans, call them directly and never go through our service until you need another company or service. You can also be assured that our nominal monthly fee to your selected member will never cause an increase your price.
3. Our ever expanding website(s) allows effortless anonymity and publishing of information about your limousine trip so you can locate the best-suited limousine company for your needs.
4. We distribute clear-cut, impartial and fully disclosed information about every member (as received and checked by LCD). Limo Charter Dispatch makes every effort to authenticate all information issued through our CDIN websites. LCD does not offer special memberships that would allow one company an advantageous over another. All Limo Charter Dispatch companies are on an equal basis and they cannot pay more to come up higher on our search engines.
5. LCD offers many ways for you to find and select a limousine company either last minute or planned out well in advance. It is always recommended that our website visitors/customers use our posting process system to receive the most competitively priced quotes. All free services of any CDIN website requires a simple registration process taking less than a minute and being perfectly safe and anonymous.
6. Limo Charter Dispatch offers consumers the ability to choose any limousine company based on ratings, price, references and other information that is posted within our website. LCD offers you of the most up to date information about each and every limousine member.
7. When you register on LCD you will receive a special discount offer (you must accept the option) for party bus transportation, limousine services, fine restaurant establishments, three and four star hotels, tourist attractions, entertainment venues and more, for small and large groups of travelers.
8. You, your itinerary and personal information are anonymously displayed (email addresses are displayed as “Send Email”) on our CDIN membership website. Depending on your preferences, you may elect to have company’s phone or fax you directly. Your personal information is never sold or used outside of the Charter Dispatch family of websites, that’s our pledge to you.
9. Unlike limousine brokers, Limo Charter Dispatch never receives a commission from your transportation or other business. Our membership pays a very small monthly charge to receive our marketing service. In most cases the fee is well under the cost of a 12-volt car battery and way less than what a broker would charge as commission for a simple airport transfer.
10. Our main purpose at LCD is to assist our limousine company members in generating business and cause a higher standard of safety, service, and reliability for the limousine traveling population around the world.
Limo Charter Dispatch is one of many websites within the Charter Dispatch International Network (CDIN). CDIN sites are free to the consumer. When looking for a charter bus please go to www.buscharterdispatch.com. If you’re looking for a party bus please go to www.partybuscharterdispatch.com. If looking for a tour please go to www.tourcharterdispatch.com. Please check back with us as frequently as possible to find new websites continually being added.
Please use all of our Top Ten’s as a reference for your selection process of limousine service providers. LCD makes no claims or warrants regarding any of the above Top Tens. Use these references as a guideline for the selection of limousine companies throughout the world.
