Not sure if you can afford a limousine rental?
What should you know when calling around?
Are all Limousine Companies the same? Can I just shop by price?
What questions should I ask when shopping for a limousine?
How much does it cost to rent a limo?
8 passenger limo, 10 passenger limo - what's the difference?
Can I book a limo for 1 hour? What is gratuity?
Can I get a 'deal'?
Are all Limousine Companies the same?
Can I just shop by price?
Like most things in life the old saying holds true - you get what you pay for. A limousine rental is a luxury experience, like selecting a 5 star hotel or restaurant, and is usually reserved for a very special occasion. If you are only shopping on price you run the risk of being taken advantage of, usually resulting in serious disappointment on that special day. Read on to be sure you know all the right factors to consider before choosing your limousine company...
Why are some companies priced so low? The way we look at it - each limousine company in town knows what they are worth and they charge accordingly!
A very low price may be a warning flag for such things as:
1) Very old vehicle - the biggest tip-off the car is old (and shows it) is a low price
2) Inadequate maintenance - things we commonly see in WNY from 'low-budget' limo services include:
- Air Conditioning not functional
- Exterior & interior lights not all working
- TV/stereo broken
- Ripped roof (outside and inside)
- Dirty vehicle
- Frequent break-downs
- No glassware
3) No insurance (yikes!)
4) Not licensed with the State of New York (operating illegally, no semi-annual inspections)
5) Underpaid chauffeurs - an unhappy employee almost always results in poor service for you
6) Company does not show up on time, does not show up in the promised vehicle, or does not even show up at all (after your 'great-deal' low-price reservation was made they found another client who was willing to pay more and they never bothered to call and let you know) - and yep - these are the same folks who won't give you a written confirmation either! Owning, operating and maintaining a fleet of limousines properly is almost impossible to do at lowball rates.
Is it worth saving $30-$50 on a special night out for this type of risk?
At Buffalo Limousine, not only do we operate one of the most well maintained fleets in town, we probably have the most courteous and friendly chauffeurs you will find.
We recommend that you stick with companies that are members of the BBB (Better Business Bureau) or the NLA (National Limousine Association), or both. Companies who do so tend to be the ones who can be counted on to show up on time, with the promised vehicle and give you the experience you are paying for and the service you expect. Buffalo Limousine Limousine is a member of the BBB, Chamber of Commerce, and the National Limousine Association. We value our reputation within the community, and always treat each customer with honesty and care. Choose Buffalo Limousine Limousine and you are choosing a Limousine service you can place your trust in.
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What questions should I ask when shopping for a limousine?
If you ask the following questions and sense any sort of hesitation, evasion or incomplete answers you should take it as a warning sign. Any properly operated transportation company should be able to answer these questions for you.
1) Are you licensed with the State of New York? Does your car have a current license sticker on it?
Note - Don't be afraid to ask about permits! The Yellow Pages does not require limousine companies to provide proof of permits or insurance to advertise. Call the Better Business Bureau, the National Limousine Association or your local limousine association to double-check on your company.
2) Are you fully insured? Can you fax me a copy of your insurance binder and your agent's phone number? Do you mind if I call your agent to verify your policy?
3) How large is your fleet? (Did you know most companies in Buffalo only have one car? - This may not seem like a big deal until they have a breakdown on your special day and there is no backup car!) At Buffalo Limousine we own one of the largest and most diverse fleets in Buffalo.
4) What age is the car I am renting? What condition is it in? Is anything broken or not working?
5) What is your backup/emergency plan in case of an unexpected last minute breakdown or accident? Who has the responsibility for finding a replacement car at the last minute? At Buffalo Limousine if we are not able to substitute an alternate car from our fleet we will immediately contact one of our many quality partners in town - we never make a last minute problem into your problem to handle!
6) Can you arrange for me to view the vehicle prior to making my reservation? If the price seems to good to be true or something doesn't feel right be sure to go view the vehicle. You will be shocked at some of the limos out there. Don't let the shock be when it pulls up for your scheduled pick-up time...
7) Will you guarantee my reservation with a written contract? Don't get caught in the classic story of "The Limo Broke Down" or "We Don't Have Your Reservation" We hear this several times per month from customers of other companies calling us in an emergency. If you didn't get it in writing there is no proof of a contract. Unscrupulous companies will drop low-price or 'one hour' reservations in a heartbeat if a better paying or longer rental fare comes in.
8) How many seatbelts are in the rear passenger compartment? Important to ask if you have more than 4 people in order to determine the true passenger capacity. If you are told "we're not sure because the seatbelts have been taken out" be aware that this is a violation of state law and you can be sure that vehicle has not been properly inspected or permitted.
9) Can you please tell me about your chauffeur training and certification program?
10) Are you a member of the Better Business Bureau or the NLA (National Limo Association)?
11) Are your vehicles QVM or CMC certified?
12) Is there a sales tax charge? We are seeing some unscrupulous companies in Buffalo quoting or charging their customers sales tax. There is no sales tax in Buffalo on limousine service. This is simply a way to cheat you out of more money.
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How much does it cost to rent a limo?
Average limousine rental costs vary based on a variety of factors. Your exact costs will depend on the factors listed below:
- Time of year (spring, summer, etc.)
- Type of vehicle (larger vehicles cost more)
- Day of week (weekends cost more, weekdays less)
- Distance traveled (Longer travel times may be more expensive)
Here are national hourly rate averages of the most commonly rented limousines and ground transportation. These figures are examples only and these rates do not construe an offer to solicit for ground transportation.
Vehicle Type National Rate Averages (based on a 3 hour rental)
- Luxury sedan (1-4 passengers) $45-$65/hr + gratuity
- Stretch limousine (1-8 passengers) $65-$125/hr + gratuity
- Stretch SUV (1-14 passengers - Excursions, Hummers, etc.) $100-$300/hr + gratuity
- Mini-buses / LimoCoaches / PartyBuses (22 passengers and up) $75-$200/hr + gratuity
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8 passenger limo, 10 passenger limo - what's the difference?
Question:
Why do some companies advertise that they have 10 passengers limos?
Answer: To get you to pay more per hour for an 8 passenger vehicle.
At Buffalo Limousine we advise against dealing with companies who try to rent you a '10-passenger' stretch limousine. Generally speaking, if you are renting a 120" stretch limousine (the common limousine found in the USA) the vehicle seating can accommodate only 8 people of average size. In other words, there is no such thing as a 10 passenger limousine. Lincoln and Cadillac only certify stretch limos for eight passengers (plus the driver equals nine). Placing ten passengers in a 120” stretch will be uncomfortable at best, and a safety risk at worst. The simple question to ask -"How many seatbelts are in the back?"
The proper stretching of limousines is overseen by Lincoln and Cadillac through their QVM (Lincoln) and CMC (Cadillac) certification programs. Each stretched limo starts with a specially manufactured base vehicle from Lincoln or Cadillac with extra braking capacity and a stronger than normal suspension. Some companies cut costs (and compromise safety) by buying regular street cars and having them converted into stretch limousines in un-certified backroom shops. Only QVM/CMC vehicles have undergone the rigorous safety & crash testing required by the manufacturers and the Federal government. Companies who are advertising 10-16 passenger stretch Towncar or Cadillac limousines are operating non-QVM/CMC vehicles, or dangerously overloading an 8 passenger vehicle. Rest assured that at Marriton Limousine we operate only QVM/CMC certified vehicles.
Please be advised that even true 8 passenger vehicles may not accommodate eight larger people (200+ lbs.) in a comfortable manner.
What about SUV stretch limos? Only since January 2003 have SUV limos have been certified by Ford or Cadillac for up to 14 passengers. Many people do not realize that the 14 passenger certification is only valid on 2003 or newer Ford Excursion or Cadillac Escalade SUV stretches! Anything older than 2003 or advertised as more than 14 passengers has not been stretched by a company authorized to follow the safety and reliability processes mandated by Ford and Cadillac. These vehicles are often missing the mandatory escape hatches on such a long vehicle (creating a safety hazard in case of an accident or fire), and may have inferior braking and suspension systems.
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Can I book a limo for 1 hour? What is gratuity?
According to the experts at Limos.com it is estimated that 95% of the limousine industry does not offer limousine service for 1 hour, and there are good business reasons for this. To maintain a high quality of service for the consumer there is usually 1-2 hours of total prep (before the job) and cleanup time (after the job) for any booking regardless of length, and it simply is not cost effective for most companies to send a stretch limo out for only one hour.
At Buffalo Limousine we do offer one hour bookings in some instances - please call or email to inquire about your specific situation.
To hire a limousine, most services require a minimum hourly booking, typically 3 hours. In high demand months, such as the spring, hourly minimums can increase to 5, 6, and sometimes 8 hours.
In addition, each limousine service charges a standard gratuity which is based on the total fare.
Gratuities averages are 20%. If your total rental bill is $300, expect to be charged a $60 gratuity charge. Some companies automatically include gratuity in their fare estimates, while others do not. Be sure to ask if it is not made clear. Either way, it is customary to budget gratuity in your rental cost. Limousine chauffeurs earn their living by providing excellent service in exchange for gratuities, much like waiters do in fine dining establishments.
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Can I get a deal?
Most companies will offer deals on different types of packages, however the availability of deals mostly depends on the time of week and the time of year.
Deals on Mondays, but not Saturdays...
For example, you won't find special deals or discounts on a Friday or Saturday night, nor for a rental on New Year's Eve or during Prom season. In fact rates and minimum hours will be higher than normal. During these high-demand times the supply of limousines simply can't meet the overwhelming demand which drives prices and minimum hourly rates up.
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