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What You Need to Know Before Renting |
| Here are some critical guidelines to follow
to ensure your prom or homecoming is a dazzling success! |
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| Looking for the "Best Price"? You may be
disappointed. |
| The biggest error you could make when
shopping for a prom limousine is searching based on PRICE. In the limousine
industry, there are many variances of 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 on price, yet people shop for a limo service this way and
expect 5-star quality. 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, late service, and services are all possible results of a "best
price" shopping priority. There are exceptions-- however, the lower the
price, the more risk you will assume with your transportation plans. |
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| RISKS YOU TAKE WHEN SHOPPING FOR A LIMOUSINE
BASED ON PRICE ALONE. |
Your limousine does not show up. You miss your prom.
Your limousine shows up late. You miss your prom.
A 1987 model limousine rusting at the seams arrives at your door when you
were expecting at a year 2000 model. Instead of being lavished in luxury,
you are embarrassed.
Your limousine shows up with an unprofessional chauffeur with poor hygiene.
Your limousine service gets into an accident and does not have proper
insurance to cover the damages involved in your injuries.
Your limousine drops an axle during transport and you are injured. Turns out
your service did not have the limousine safety inspected as state law
mandates.
Your limousine drops an axle during transport and you are injured. Turns out
your service did not have the limousine safety inspected as state law
mandates.
Your limousine breaks down on the freeway during transport to your after
prom party. Instead of enjoying after-prom festivities, you and your date
have to call your parents. Yet, you saved $40.00. Is it worth the risk?
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| Ask About Insurance and Permits. |
| All limousines are required to carry
commercial insurance and proper permits. Unfortunately, the Yellow Pages and
advertising services such as ours do not require the same in order to
advertise. To protect yourself from "gypsy companies", ask for these from
your selected company. |
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| "The Limo Broke Down!" |
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Don't be the unfortunate teen which gets the "The Limo Broke Down" or "We
don't have your reservation" story. Cover yourself by dealing with a
reputable company. Shopping on price alone is dangerous. Some unethical
operators do not hesitate to drop a reservation to pickup a better paying
fare. |
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| Prom Limousine Rental Costs - How it is
determined. |
To determine the cost of a prom rental,
limousine services utilize several factors in determining price.
Vehicle Rented: Luxury sedans are the least costly, however can only
transport up to 4 passengers. Your cost increases proportionate to vehicle
size.
Hourly Rental Time: Limo services charge on a per hour basis. Charges vary
from $35/hr upward to $150/hr depending on vehicle time.
Travel Distance: If your transportation involves an abnormal amount of
travel time, some services will charge extra. |
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| How Much Does It Cost To Rent A Limo for
Prom? |
Limousine rentals run in the neighborhood of $50 -
$120 per hour with a MINIMUM of 4 to 8 consecutive hours booked. Companies
require a minimum to 4 or 8 hours to provide service because of increased
demand. Here are some hourly rental guidelines:
Here are some hourly rental guidelines
Luxury sedan service = $30 - 50/hr
6-passenger service = $55 - 75/hr
8-passenger service = $70 - 95/hr
10-passenger service = $90 - 115/hr
12-passenger plus = $100 - 150/hr
Excalibur's, Rolls Royce $150/hr and more
Stretched Navigators, Excursions and Hummers = $150-$250/hr or more
THESE HOURLY RATES DO NOT INCLUDE
GRATUITY (20%) |
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| Do We Have to Pay for the Limo While we
Attend the Prom? |
| You still have to pay for the rental time
during prom, even if you aren't physically using the vehicle. While you are
at the prom, the vehicle cannot be used elsewhere; even when there are 2 or
3 hours in between the drop-off and pickup. Some companies sometimes offer a
discounted hourly rate when the vehicle is idly waiting outside. In
addition, if there are more than 4 hours between drop-off and pick-up with
minimum travel time, some companies may offer a "split" - just a rental
to-and-from your destination with no charge for waiting time in between.
However, minimum hourly booking requirements still apply. |
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| Can I Rent A Limo For 1 Hour? |
| No. Most companies require a minimum
4 hour booking to rent a limousine during prom season. In some areas, some
minimum hourly requirements can scale up to 8 hours! This is due to the huge
demand on limousines during prom season. March through June are also busy
wedding months which also inflate minimum hourly requirements and rental
costs. You are more likely to get struck by lightning than getting a
limousine rental for 1 or 2 hours during prom season. |
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| When Do My Rental Charges Begin? |
| This varies by company and location. Some
companies begin rental charges at your designated pickup time at your pickup
location. If you say, "Pick us up at 6pm at 123 Main St", then this will be
the beginning of your rental charge. Other companies begin rental charges on
portal-to-portal basis and charge 'travel-time'. Specifically, your rental
time may begin the moment the limousine begins its journey to your first
pickup location. Ask your limousine company specifically how they charge.
Travel time is usual in rural areas where the closest limousine service may
be miles away. |
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| Can We Drink Alcohol in the Limo? |
| UNDERAGE drinking is not allowed
under any circumstances. |
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| Do We Have to Tip The Driver? |
| Yes. The standard tip is 20% of the total
fare. If you feel your driver has performed in an exceeding manner, you can
tip more. Some companies will AUTOMATICALLY include the gratuity (tip) in
their total price quote. When making reservations, always ask if GRATUITY is
included in the total price. If not, you should budget an extra twenty
percent towards your total bill for driver gratuity. |
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