How Much is It to Rent a Limo?

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How Much is It to Rent a Limo?

How Much is it to Rent a Limo?

Chances are that at some point you will wonder how much it is to rent a limo. They are billed as a luxury and exclusive mode of transport. But, does this make limos expensive? Furthermore, when you ask a limo company, ‘how much is it to rent a limo?’ they often come back with a basic price that seems alluring until you realize that it excludes a heap of add-ons. So, here we look at the true costs of renting a limo, including what to look for in the price, so that you can make comparisons. At the end, you’ll see that while hiring a limo is a luxury and exclusive experience, it can also be cost-effective.

How Much is it to Rent a Limo - The Basics

You might find it helpful to have a quick look at our wedding limo prices (even if you are considering a limo for another reason). This helps you to see how limo prices vary – mainly by season and type of vehicle. Classic cars typically only used for weddings tend to be more expensive to hire (as they are rare and more costly to buy, maintain and insure), whereas popular limos like a Hummer are more affordable.

What’s important when you ask how much it is to rent a limo is to find out what’s included. This allows you to make accurate comparisons. Here we look at some of the things that you should ask about whether they are included.

Limo Cost Breakdown

1Service Charge

The service charge may be different from the tip that you would pay to the chauffeur after the journey in the limo. However, it’s usually charged at around 20% of the package price. What the service charge covers can vary from provider to provider. You need to check whether there is a service charge added and if so, what it includes. Don’t forget to factor in the gratuity too if the service charge doesn’t cover this!

2Fuel Costs

With reputable limo companies, the price of the limo will be stated per hour, or arranged on a bespoke basis to cover your intended plans. Both of these pricing structures will typically include everything, including fuel. Unfortunately, some less reputable limo companies will charge fuel in addition. Be wary if they do because typically they will apply a mark-up on the actual fuel costs and offer a per mile fee that is well in excess of real rates.

3Tolls

When you’re riding in a limo, part of the luxury experience is that you don’t have the same hassles that the driver usually does and one of these is tolls. It’s your chauffeur’s responsibility to take care of tolls. Again, reputable companies build the toll charges into their overall pricing and you won’t then see these itemized on a later bill.

4Type of Event

Most limo companies have different charging structures for different types of event. For example, it’s generally more costly to hire a limo for a wedding compared to a family celebration. This is because a wedding service typically has additional elements included, for example vehicle dressing, champagne or a red carpet. Therefore, when comparing how much it is to rent a limo, make sure you state what event the limo is being used for and find out what’s included.

5Food & Drinks

Most limo firms offer complimentary water and other refreshments are charged as extras. However, if you want to keep costs down, you should be able to provide your own drinks and food for the limo and avoid these charges altogether.

6Hourly Rate vs Complete Service

Most limo companies use their hourly rate to give you some idea of limo costs. However, it’s usually best to then explain your plans. Often, it’s worth hearing what the company can offer as a complete package price. This is usually more cost-effective than paying per hour. Even if you hire the limo by the hour, you may also find that you get free hours included. For example, take a look at our wedding limo prices and you’ll see that for most hire packages of 3 hours or more, you’ll get at least one hour included for free. This helps you compare one package with another.

7Cleaning Fees

Standard cleaning fees are included in the price with reputable limo companies. Unfortunately, many are now putting cleaning fees as an extra. However, it’s normal for limo companies to retain the right to charge special cleaning fees for exceptional circumstances requiring more extensive cleaning than usual e.g. glitter or vomit.

8Admin Fees

Lastly, check if admin fees are included in your limo costs. Again, they should be factored into the whole package and you should receive reliable customer service before, during and after your booking.

Types of Limo

As explained earlier, different limos carry different hire charges. It’s vital that you compare one limo at one company with the same specification at another, if you want to see how costs truly compare. There is no standard limo. There is a huge difference, for example, between a two-seater Rolls Royce Phantom and an 18-seater Cadillac Escalade. It might surprise you to know that the Cadillac Escalade will usually cost less to hire than the Rolls Royce Phantom, so if you don’t understand the differences between vehicles, it’s best to ask.

Seasons, Times & Days

Yes, limo companies have seasons! Expect to pay premiums for summer Saturdays as well as days like Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, or local popular events. When limos are in high demand, the prices go up. Evenings are more expensive than daytime. Similarly, limo charges after midnight are usually higher. Cheapest limo hire charges are on weekdays during daylight hours. Generally speaking, it’s more cost-effective to rent a limo for more hours. Some companies will have a minimum number of hours you can make a booking for.

The Difficult Things to Price

There are some things which are difficult to quantify but you should consider when comparing the price of different limo companies.

Experience, reputation, reviews, chauffeur training etc. are all difficult to quantify but can very much alter your limo experience. It’s always worth choosing a reputable local company with a reputation for careful vetting and training of chauffeurs, as well as exceptional maintenance of the fleet, like Bergen Limo. You can’t put a price on peace of mind and outstanding standards!

How Much is it to Rent a Limo - The Numbers

Take a look at our wedding limo rates and to get an idea of which vehicles cost more to hire and which are more affordable. Here you can also see how certain dates affect how much it is to rent a limo, and also how packages can offer complimentary hours or additional things like champagne.

Generally speaking, a good rule of thumb is to expect to pay upwards of $50-$100 per hour for a limo booking, with a minimum 5 hour rental period.

Get a Limo Quote for Your Event

At Bergen Limo we are happy to give you a bespoke quote for your limo booking. Give us a call on 1-201-703-7979. We are competitively priced and offer exceptional value for money, while being a reputable luxury limo company in New York and New Jersey.