Things & Companies to be leery of:

Anyone offering extremely low prices (There is NO free lunch):

1. This may be the only way for them to attract customers, they may not have insurance, may not be properly licensed, drivers may not be trained or properly licensed. Insurance alone is $200-$300 per month per vehicle. Some companies book every call at a low price to insure full bookings, then continue to book the car at higher prices. You may get cancelled and your deposit returned if you booked at a lower price. You are left stranded without service.

Companies with all brand new cars:

1. Their debt load may be so high they could go under before your event and leave you stranded without service.

2. All their cars are leased, and they have no investment to lose if their cars are repossessed for non-payment.

New cars versus older cars:

Both old and new cars can have mechanical problems. New cars have technical problems that are hard to track down and repair. Does the company use ASE certified mechanics and have a preventative maintenance program in place? You are renting a car and you know breakdowns can occur or systems can fail at anytime. Older cars may actually be equivalent to newer cars, dependent upon mileage and usage. Maintenance is the crucial determinant.

Companies that say that if there is a problem they will send another car:

This is impossible to guarantee because during prime time all of their cars will be out at the same time.

Companies that have been in business under 5 years:

Companies that say they have been in business for a long time but can't prove how long. Limousine companies come and go like a revolving door - few last 5 years. Just look at last year's phone book and call a few to see how many went out of business since then. The average is 45 % go under each year.

Companies that offer all kinds of free extras:

This may be the only way they can lure customers because they have nothing else. Standard complimentaries are decorations and champagne, and some offer red carpets. If their freebies seem unreal (offering pizza and beer) - beware.

Limousine size:

Limousine passenger capacity rating is determined at maximum. For instance, a 120 inch super stretch 10 passenger can accommodate 10 people at about 150 pounds each.

Ten football players will be very uncomfortable if they can squeeze in. Take into account the duration the passengers will be in the car, a lot of short trips might well be worth the squeeze. If you're chartering for a long trip, get a bigger car, van, or bus than you need if you want to be comfortable.