|
Limousine
Rental Tips -
What You Need To Know Before Renting
Avoid
making critical mistakes which can turn your limousine event
into a nightmare! Wedding horror stories, limousine price
shopping pitfalls, and more...
Do
you have a summary sheet that summarizes everything Custom
Limousines has to offer?
Glad
you asked! Please view our printer friendly "Custom Limos flyer" to better understand everything we
offer our clients. If you'd like, just give a us a call
and we'd be happy to mail this information to you as well. Through our sister company - Thunderstruck Entertainment - we can also offer a 30-passenger "Nightclub on Wheels."
Looking
for the "Best Price"?
Please
don't make a limousine price shopping mistake! The biggest
mistake you could make when looking for a limousine service
is shopping on PRICE alone. Huge mistake! In the limousine
industry, there are many variances of quality and price.
All too often, a cheaper price translates into a larger
risk for you. Most consumers would not choose a restaurant
or hotel based on price alone, yet people shop for a limousine
service this way and expect 5-star quality for the cheapest
price. If you shop for a limousine service based only on
price, you will likely be frustrated and disappointed with
your limousine experience. We suggest you always personally
"see" what you would be getting before you book
a limousine (with us or a competitor).
Old
vehicles, poor service, unprofessional chauffeurs, dangerous
vehicles, under or uninsured vehicles, and even "no-shows"
are all possible results of a "best price" limousine
shopping experience.
How
much does it cost to rent a limousine?
One
of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, "How
much does it cost to rent a limousine?" Well, such
a general question is difficult to answer without more information.
The cost of renting a limousine in the Quad Cities Area
is based on several factors:
- Size
of limousine (we offer 6 to 14 passengers, with prices
that escalate with capacity)
- Type
of limousine (we offer our Excursion SUV ultra-stretch
limousine, plus we have Cadillac's top-of-the-line Platinum Edition Escalade ESV)
- Quality
of limousine and service (we offer the newest and nicest, excellent
condition limousines and guarantee satisfaction with our
service!)
- Duration
of booking (the greater the number of hours booked, the
lower the rental rate per hour)
What
kinds of amenities do your limousines have?
Our
limousines have color TV(s) as large as 20-inch
LCDs, DVDs or VCRs, surround
sound stereos with CD players, privacy
dividers, leather seating, decanter bars and ice chests
with crystal glasses, dark tinted windows, mirrored glass
ceilings with multi-color fiber optic lighting.
What
comes with your wedding packages?
Since
weddings are the largest part of our business, we excel
in this area! In addition to the extravagant amenities
listed above, our limousine wedding packages (extra charge
may apply) also include:
-
A courteous, knowledgeable and uniformed (i.e., black
tuxedo) chauffeur
- A
9-ft. red carpet rolled out for the wedding party
- A
"Just Married" sign on the back of the limousine
- A
tuxedo hat champagne stand (that matches the chauffeur's
tuxedo) for the bottle of champagne that the client
may provide (it is actually illegal for a limousine service
to provide alcohol without a liquor license)
- The
interior will sparkle with real crystal champagne flutes
and rock glasses, and ice chests stocked with ice (again,
the client must provide any beverages) We'll
also provide color-coordinated napkins folded in each
glass that matches the wedding party's colors.
- We'll
also include a disposable camera to capture and remember
your limousine experience.
When
does my time start on a limousine rental?
For
bookings in the Quad Cities, your time begins when our chauffeur
arrives at your "doorstep". For any pick-ups or
drop-offs outside the four Quad Cities, the time begins/ends
when the chauffeur leaves/returns from downtown Davenport.
Am
I charged for waiting time?
A
limousine is booked for a certain time allotment and the
client is charged accordingly. We offer discounted hourly
rates for multiple, consecutive hour bookings. Single, "split"
hours command a higher premium, but can allow the client
to avoid paying for down-time that's not needed.
Is
there a minimum or maximum amount of time I have to rent
a limousine?
Our
minimum rental is one hour, which cannot be split up; the
maximum time is up to the client.
What
colors are your limousines?
Because
of our brides' overwhelming preference, our most popular
Excursion SUV limousine is white with two-tone tan leather
interior. Our Cadillac Escalade SUV is platinum (silver/gold) with tan leather interior.
How
can I know my driver will be there on time? And will he
wait on us while we are at a dinner, dance, or other type
of occasion?
All
of our limousines are booked on a dedicated format. When
you lease a limousine, it will provide exclusive service
to you for the time that you book it. The chauffeur will
not leave while you are dining (to pick up someone else),
and then rush back to pick you up. We never double book
a limousine.
Is
limousine service expensive?
Simply
put, yes. But our services are competitively priced for
what you'll receive (the highest quality SUV limousine and
professional and courteous chauffeur), and the services
that we offer are dedicated to make our clients' experiences
a memorable occasion enriched with amenities. Cheap limousines are better known as taxis.
How
can I pay for limousine services?
A
deposit (50% of the total bill) is required to reserve
a limousine for services, and the balance for the initial
scheduled time is due the week prior to the date of service.
Any additional time used (subject to availability of the
limousine) will be charged and due at the end of the service.
Payments may be made with cash, local check, money order,
or credit card (MasterCard or VISA).
Are
all limousines in the Quad Cities Area (QCA) the same?
Absolutely
not! Limos in the QCA vary in many ways (e.g., vehicle model,
passenger capacity, age, condition, mileage, etc.) For a
full understanding of what your limo options in the QCA
look like, we encourage you to take the time to see any limousine in person before ever paying a deposit or signing any contract (every reputable limousine company offers its customers a written contract).
Are
all limousines safe, certified and fully insured?
Unfortunately
not! Please demand from any limousine company you're considering, a proof of insurance, as well as their US DOT certification.
Is
Custom Limousines properly insured?
ABSOLUTELY!
We will happily provide you a copy of our required
$1.5 million liability insurance certification.
In
addition to your basic rental rates, are there any other
costs or surcharges to consider?
The
State of Iowa charges 7% sales tax for limousine bookings
in Iowa. The State of Illinois does not charge any sales
tax on limousine service. While we do not mandate any gratuity
for the chauffeur, it is always greatly appreciated by us
(and the driver) if the client remembers a tip for the excellent
service the chauffeur provides. Industry guidelines offer
10-20% of the cost of the limousine service, with the specific
amount to be based on the level and quality of the service
that the client feels the chauffeur has provided.
Is
smoking allowed in your limousines?
In
all of our vehicles, smoking is strictly prohibited. This
policy allows us to maintain the highest quality fleet of
vehicles in the Quad Cities Area. However, our chauffeurs
will gladly stop as frequently as guests may need to get
out of the limousine and enjoy a smoke.
Do
you go to O'Hare and/or Midway Airports?
No,
we are one of the few companies in the Quad Cities Area
that does not do airport runs as part of our
service. Several of our competitors already do a fine job
offering this type of service. Quite frankly, most clients
looking for airport transfers just want a cheap ride to
Chicago. Our luxurious fleet of Custom Limousines &
Exotic Cars is better utilized serving the other segments
of the QCA limousine business. Please don't misunderstand
our focus…we would still love to take a group of you
on a shopping spree in the Windy City, to a sporting event
out of town, or anywhere else you desire to travel in style.
Airport runs just aren't our niche.
Why
should I choose your company as my limousine service provider?
Custom
Limousines & Exotic Cars is a locally owned and operated
service that's been in business since February 4, 1991.
We pride ourselves in providing the finest quality and first-class
luxury in chauffeured limousine transportation services.
We are the Quad Cities' only limousine service provider
that can offer our clients such a wide choice of limousines
and specialty vehicles, while also guaranteeing total satisfaction.
|
