Limo & Car Service Serving Orange County, LAX Airport & Major Local Attractions

Business experience is important. Services with some time under their belts are usually better than start-ups. If you run across a new business, ask about the operator's background. Some of the finest boutique companies are relatively new but are operated by managers and drivers with years of limousine experience.

Every car should have commercial vehicle insurance. Town Cars are required to have a minimum of $750,000 in liability coverage. Vehicles that carry eight passengers or more should carry at least $1.5 million in liability coverage.

Check out the limo in person. If the vehicle isn't available, ask the company to email photos. It's important to inspect the vehicle and verify the make, model, and amenities inside the limousine.

One of the best ways to find good limo services is through word of mouth. If a friend has used a company on multiple occasions and is happy with the service, use this company. Above all else, trustworthy first hand referrals are the best way to select a limousine company.

Most limousine services automatically charge a 15% to 20% gratuity. If the driver gratuity isn't included on the bill or it's categorized as a service charge, move on to another service. More than likely, the driver is being cheated and you're dealing with a disreputable company.

Someone should be available to take your call 24 hours a day. If you're dealing with a limo service that handles airport transfers, dispatchers should be in the office around the clock. If the company's primary business is weddings, proms, and nights out on the town, an overnight emergency number is acceptable. No matter the situation, your limousine service should always be accessible.

The number of cars a service has doesn't necessarily predict quality, but it will give you some insight into the company. Small companies offer highly personalized service and typically focus on one type of service such as airport transfers. Medium sized services have a variety of vehicles and do everything from airport pickups to proms. Big limo companies handle corporate accounts and are made up of Town Cars and stretch limousines.

If you're planning to book more than two cars, ask for a discount. Limo rates are set arbitrarily and are variable depending on the time of year, week, or day. If you plan to give a service a lot of business, it will be worth your while to negotiate a lower rate.

Make sure you get everything in writing. A contract should include the year, make, and model of the limo; rates, including gratuity and surcharge; deposit and cancellation fees; and the company's liability in the event of a breakdown or no show.

If problems arise, you should be able to cancel your reservation. Cancellations are common occurrences for limo companies, so feel free to ask about the policy and get it in writing.

Advertised passenger capacities for stretch limousines are incredibly misleading. When you book a stretch, inquire how many seatbelts are in the rear passenger compartment. This will give the limousine's true seating capacity. Another thing to consider is weight. When setting the GVWR, manufactures assume that everyone in the vehicle weighs 150 lbs. If you're going to exceed this, consider renting a larger limousine.

Cheap limo companies love their surcharges. Discounted services may be inexpensive upfront, but they usually make their money with surcharges.

In addition to surcharges, you should also be on the lookout for hidden charges. Reputable limousine companies only charge for parking and airport tax. Also, be aware of bogus taxes. Limousine service is not subject to local or state sales tax.

In theory, an hourly limousine trip should be billed from the time a limo leaves the garage to the time it returns. Unfortunately, due to the dynamics of geography and traffic, limousine companies have fixed travel times. Some companies like to pad this time, but the industry standard is one hour. This entails 30 minutes to the pickup location and 30 minutes back to the garage.

If you book a limo for an allotted period of time, find out what happens if you go long. In most cases, a company will bill in 15 minute increments until the run is completed. Unscrupulous services will charge by the hour or simply bill you for another run. For example, if you book a run for six hours and go over, ask whether the service will charge only the overage or bill you for another full run.