| Hiring a stretch limousine need not be a hit and miss | | | | can lead to problems relating to reliability or timing and |
| affair if you ask the right questions and take account | | | | more often than not, a vehicle that has not been |
| of the following. | | | | properly prepared. It is also worth bearing in mind that |
| No two limousine operators are the same and | | | | many limousine operators offer a reduced hire charge |
| different organisations place varying levels of | | | | for mid-week hires, so if this is an option, don't discount |
| emphasis on service levels and investment in their | | | | it. |
| fleet. You can gain an insight into the way a company | | | | Another aspect to bear in mind when searching for a |
| operates by how responsive they are and the | | | | limousine for your event is reliability. Stretched |
| professionalism of their approach. For example, if you | | | | limousines are expensive to service and repair which |
| have completed an online enquiry form, how long does | | | | inevitably results in some operators attempting to delay |
| it take for them to respond, have they correctly | | | | repairs until the last possible moment. Unfortunately |
| interpreted your requirements and is the quotation | | | | poorly maintained limousines are notoriously unreliable. |
| professional or just a dismissive a one liner? | | | | Whilst it is reasonable for you to expect the limousine |
| Similarly telephone enquiries can also provide an insight | | | | operator to be diligent in such matters, it does not |
| into how a limousine operator is likely to handle their | | | | necessarily follow that they are and it may well affect |
| customers. Is your call answered promptly and | | | | your hire! In many cases a cheap hire really does result |
| professionally with the company name, are they | | | | in a cheap service. Listed below are some useful |
| friendly or evasive when answering your questions, do | | | | questions to ask of your limousine operator. |
| they offer to send you a written confirmation of the | | | | Questions to ask Limousine Operators |
| price, or is your call answered by a telephone | | | | How long have you been in business? |
| answering machine. | | | | How many vehicles do you have? |
| If you are visiting websites look for signs that they are | | | | Where are you based? |
| a professional limousine operator. Do they have a | | | | How old are you vehicles? |
| fixed line number or just a mobile phone, does the | | | | Where can I view your limousines? |
| website include the name of the company or individual, | | | | Are there any minimum charges or hire durations? |
| is there a physical contact address, or just a PO Box | | | | Are you a full-time limousine operator? |
| number, or worst still, no address at all? These are | | | | What does the price include (VAT, Drinks, Gratuities |
| indicators, not definitive signs of a poor organisation, but | | | | etc)? |
| you should ask yourself why, for example, a limousine | | | | What contingencies do you have if the limousine |
| operator would not want tp include their full company | | | | breaks down? |
| name or physical address. | | | | What guarantee do I have that I will receive the |
| Because the limousines are a critical aspect of the hire, | | | | limousine I have chosen? |
| look to see if the website includes images of their own | | | | Do you have the appropriate private hire insurance, |
| vehicles. Study the pictures, many companies use | | | | can I view it? |
| generic pictures of limousines, if this is the case, ask | | | | Will I receive a written confirmation of the price? |
| yourself why they would not want to show images of | | | | Do you provide a booking confirmation with the |
| their own vehicles. One clue maybe to look at where | | | | itinerary and price included? |
| the picture was taken and the registration plate, if it | | | | What payment methods do you accept? |
| looks as if it was taken in the USA, then take care. | | | | What is the deposit and when is the balance due? |
| Also ask about signage on the vehicle, some | | | | What livery is on the limousine is it discreet? |
| operators use their limousines as advertising hoardings, | | | | Questions to ask Brokers |
| which can leave many hirers disappointed. | | | | What does your accreditation or approval process |
| If you come across a broker offering to secure | | | | consist of? |
| quotations on your behalf you will need to consider the | | | | How often do you complete this procedure? |
| following. Most limousine operators will be paying for | | | | Will I be able to see a copy of the last report for the |
| each enquiry they receive or a percentage of the hire | | | | company I book with? |
| value, will you end up paying a premium price for the | | | | How can I be certain that I will receive the limousine I |
| convenience of using a third party? Some of these | | | | ask for? |
| brokers describe their limousine operators as | | | | Do you provide any guarantees regarding operator |
| accredited or approved. If this is the case ask what | | | | reliability? |
| this process entails, what guarantees if any, the | | | | Will I have to pay any extra if I use your service, either |
| accreditation process provides you, for example, will | | | | directly or indirectly? |
| the broker underwrite the hire and also how often are | | | | Who do I pay? |
| the operators checked? You also need to bear in mind | | | | How can I be certain that you are truly an independent |
| that you are relying on a 3rd party to complete your | | | | service? |
| research, which means you are dealing with two | | | | Can I be sure that my email address will only be used |
| entities of which you have no previous experience. | | | | for the purpose of a quotation? |
| Whilst there is inevitably a temptation to decide on | | | | None of these questions are unreasonable and no |
| price, this should only form part of the process given, | | | | professional limousine operator will have any objections |
| as should become clear from your research, all | | | | responding positively, however, if you meet with |
| limousine operators are not equal. A professional | | | | resistance or the answers are evasive, it should be a |
| limousine operator may charge £10 or £15 per hour | | | | case of caveat emptor or ' let the buyer beware'. |
| more, but on an average hire of 5 hours, this amounts | | | | In summary: |
| to no more than £75, a small premium to pay in | | | | Prepare your questions in advance |
| order to secure a professional service, from an | | | | Know who you are dealing with (Trading name, |
| established full-time operator with modern limousines. | | | | physical address, landline number etc) |
| Another aspect to consider is the length of the hire. | | | | Don't be frightened of asking probing questions. |
| The average time taken to prepare a stretched | | | | Insist on viewing images of the actual limousine or visit |
| limousine prior to hire is around 2.5 hours. Therefore, | | | | the premises |
| most professional operators will impose a minimum | | | | Get everything in writing, the quotation and the itinerary |
| charge and/or a hire duration of 3 hours or so, this | | | | Make sure you are comparing on a genuine 'like for |
| may be higher during peak periods. The minimum hire | | | | like' basis |
| charge is likely to be in the region of £150. Beware of | | | | Consider hiring your limousine mid-week, where |
| any company that does not apply these caveats | | | | significant savings can be gained |
| given it often means that the operator intends to use | | | | Never be tempted to decide on price alone |
| the vehicle for several hires on the day. Inevitably this | | | | If in doubt, keep searching! |