| What You Need to Know Before Renting |
| Here are some handy tips you can utilize so
your wedding day is incident free! |
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Looking for the "Best 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 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 under-insured services are all possible results
of a "best price" shopping priority. |
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| 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 can't supply a contract may not be confident in their ability to
fulfill. |
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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 proof of
these with your signed contract. |
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| "The Limo Got Into An Accident!" |
| Don't be the bride which gets the "The Limo
Got Into An Accident" or "We don't have your reservation" story. Cover
yourself by getting a signed contract and by shopping smart. 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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| Vehicle Rental Policies. |
In general, the BIGGER the limousine and the
NEWER, the more expensive it will be to rent. Here are the are 4 standard
types of limousines operating today at their relative cost per hour to rent.
6-passenger limousines ($40-$75 per hr)
8-passenger limousines ($60-$90 per hr)
10-passenger limousines ($80-$110 per hr)
12-passenger limousines ($100-$130 per hr)
Wedding rates are usually quoted at a
'package' price. For instance, "Our 3 hour wedding package is for $225
and includes our six-passenger limousine". Ask your limousine
company what comes included in the package price. ALL or SOME may be
included in the price:
Standard chauffeur gratuity @ 20%
Champagne Nonalcoholic beverages
Alcoholic beverages
Red carpet roll out
Limousine decorations decorated after ceremony
"JUST MARRIED" sign
When booking a limousine, always make sure
you know what kind of car you are getting. Simply being told a "8-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 at your
wedding when a 1988 stretch limousine appears at your doorstep when you were
expecting a 1998 model! Most companies require a minimum 2 to 4 hour
booking when making reservations. If you are looking for a wedding limousine
for only 1 hour, you will have to do some searching. Many companies simply
will not do it because of cost considerations. If you do find a company that
will do your wedding for 1 hour, more than likely the limousine will be an
older model vehicle or in the off season. 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! |
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| Deposits Required. |
| Most companies require a 50% deposit to hold
your reservation with the balance due on the wedding day. If you cancel your
reservation, your deposit can be forfeited. Such things can be outlined in
the contract. Ask your selected company their policy. |
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| Air-Conditioning Systems. |
| Also, be aware that many old model
limousines have air-conditioning systems which are NOT equipped to handle
hot days. If you are getting married 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 only have one AC compressor and on
extremely hot days, getting a cool limousine may not be possible. Newer
model limousines have two AC compressors which eliminated this problem. |
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