Limousine Hire and Chauffeur Car Hire Directory UK Limo hire

There has been a great deal of publicity over the past few months about the issue of passenger safety and the competence of some companies operating as limousine operators. Some commentators have been fair in their assessment, many have not, but of course everyone believes they are right. We have provided some useful guidelines to aid you in your search to find the right company, it is not exhaustive, it is not supposed to be the definitive guide to hiring a limousine, but it is provided in good faith as an aid.

Although many operators of limousines and chauffeur cars have websites, many of these include generic images of vehicles, rather than actual pictures of their own cars. Never shy away from asking probing questions. If the type, colour and condition of the vehicle you will be hiring is important, make sure you ask whether the pictures are of the actual limo or car you will be hiring for your event. No professional company will refuse. Some companies cover quite a wide area, therefore it may not be practicable to travel to their location, but you could ask the company to send you images by email of the actual limo or chauffeur car.

In recent months, more and more local authorities have allowed the licensing of limousines for private hire, whereas in the past many have resisted. Therefore, it is more likely today that you will be able to find a licensed limousine operator in your area. We would suggest you start by asking any company you ask to quote your hire if they are licensed for private hire, if so, be sure to ask for their number or some proof. Companies in this directory may not be licensed, you must make your own enquiries, this is because it would be impossible for us to police their status on an ongoing basis. If you cannot find any limousine or chauffeur car company in your local area, phone you local authority and ask them why, it may not be the fault of the operators, but the unwillingness of your local authority to grasp the nettle. Limousine operators and chauffeur car hire companies have to follow a strict process to become a licensed private hire operator. This includes regular checks on the vehicles, typically every 6 months, and this is a much tougher test than a standard MOT. In addition, all chauffeurs have to be licensed, this process will include a full Criminal Records Bureau check (CRB). Most people will not get into an unlicensed mini-cab and they should apply the same criteria when ordering a stretched limousine of a chauffeur car. We believe that if the local authority allows the licensing of limousines, then the operators should make the effort to become licensed, but if your local authority does not allow the licensing of limousines, then perhaps you should lobby them to do so.

Limousine companies licensed for private hire can only carry a maximum of 8 passengers in their vehicles, irrespective of the actual carrying capacity. It is possible for perfectly legitimate companies to provide chauffeur driven limousines that carry more than 8 passengers, but these are in the minority. The operator will require an appropriate operators license, the vehicle must have a certificate of initial fitness (these are very rare and expensive to obtain, therefore few vehicles actually conform) and the chauffeur must have a current public service vehicle license. Despite this, anyone searching the internet for a company willing to carry more than 8 passengers could be forgiven for believing that there are a plethora of appropriately licensed vehicles and operators out there who can legally carry more than 8 passengers. This is just not so. The Police and VOSA are now getting very tough on those that potentially risk passengers safety by carrying more passengers than they should or those that operate outside, or perhaps on the very fringes of the law. Where there is a case to answer, the Police and/or VOSA have the powers to impound a vehicle or issue prohibition notices. There are operators that would argue that they have found a legal way to carry more than 8 passengers, they may well be right, but this places a heavy burden of responsibility on the hirer to accept their word, because no-one appears to have had the courage to publish how they do it. We have based our advice on information readily available on Government sites, if any of these operators are willing to go public, we will of course be happy to update this section.

Our advice, when searching for a limousine is simple; provided your local authority recognises limousines as private hire vehicles, try and find an operator that has invested the time, effort and money to license their vehicles and chauffeurs. Ask to see the actual vehicle or images of the limousine or car you are being offered. If they are offering to carry more than 8 passengers, ask what sort of operators license they have and check whether the vehicle you intend to hire has a certificate of initial fitness, no legitimate operator will refuse to provide this information, in fact, most will be delighted that you have asked. Bottom line, don't be tempted to use an unlicensed operator just because they are cheaper or one who offers to carry more passengers than the current regulations allow. If you are uncomfortable with the operator, go with your gut feeling. don't compromise your safety or that of you fellow passengers by using a minority company that will openly flout the laws introduced to protect the majority. If a company will willingly flout the law or licensing regulations, the chances are, they will not care too much about customer service either. At the end of the day, there is a great deal of responsibility on the shoulders of the person hiring the limousine or chauffeur car, few people will hail the organiser for saving them £100 or so, if the company doesn't turn up, or worse, the journey is curtailed by the Police, a VOSA check or some other mishap.

This advice is provided in good faith, it is entirely the responsibility of the hirer to establish if a company is suitable, whether they find them in this directory or elsewhere. We do not warrant, imply or suggest that any of the companies in this directory operate within or outside current regulations, nor do we recommend, endorse or attempt to judge any company listed herein. It is not our responsibility to police such matters. For further information on issues relating to the matters raised in this section we would refer you to the appropriate regulatory authorities such as VOSA. Transport Office

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