In the quest for the perfect limousine services for any event, the first question people often ask about is the price. So, what exactly are costs associated with renting a limousine? How much are limousine hire services? What can you do to keep your limo costs down? How to limo companies figure their pricing? What factors are involved in the pricing of limo rentals? Knowing what to expect when it comes to the cost of a limo rental will help you determine whether or not you're getting the best limo hire for your money.
The length of time that you plan to use the limousine services is one of the biggest determining factors in the cost of your ride.
A short, 2 hour limo ride, which is perfect for a trip to the airport, a dinner out or even for a ride from the wedding to the reception will break down to a higher rate per hour than an all-day hire. So when you're trying to determine your budget for limousine services, keep in mind the length of time that you'll be needing the rental, in addition to the tip. Most people make a habit of tipping the driver at the end of each ride. If you've rented the limousine for an entire weekend, and plan to do a lot of running around, you can't be guaranteed the same driver the entire time, so be sure to communicate with your driver to ensure that you're able to give them a tip.
Consider also the amount of people sharing your limousine ride.
When you're scheduling for a large group, you'll want to get the hourly price, and then divide it by the amount of people you're transporting. For example,
if you're getting a $150 an hour rate for a stretched Hummer that seats 20 people, then each person will be paying $7.50 per hour. You'll also want to factor in the savings associated with not paying for parking.
That same 20 people would be spending sometimes $10 per car to park at the stadium, so if there were 4 people in each car, they're saving, as a group, $50 on parking, which brings the cost per person down to $5 each. Not to mention the fun factor of riding with friends and arriving in style!
The final factor affecting the price of limo rental is the time of year and the day of the week.
In communities with limited limousine service options, the price of a rental on prom night, for example, will be higher than on a random Tuesday. If your days are flexible, ask the limousine service company if there are days of the week that are less expensive. By planning your event or dinner on a cheaper evening, when less people are out and about, you can sometimes save money at restaurants, too, which often offer specials on evenings that are less busy. During the winter, holiday light tours are popular.
So in order to get the best price on your limousine service, consider the companies fluctuating rates based on supply and demand. When limousines are in high demand, the pricing will be higher. You can get the best price by planning your event on a night when not much else will be going on. You can also pay a lower hourly rate by scheduling the ride for more hours. Consider all of the costs and savings involved, including gas and parking. Also, consider the pleasure of enjoying a limo ride, having a designated driver and relaxing during the ride. The costs of limo services are often much lower than people imagine.