Reliable limo rental services face a difficult challenge. With so many companies operating identical vehicles, it’s hard for a good company to stand out. After all, Town Cars are all the same …. Right?
Wrong! …. Although most companies look the same on the surface, successful operators do the right things behind the scenes. Everything from regular vehicle maintenance to accurate dispatching contributes to a successful run. Unfortunately, most clients never realize this until they’re stranded at the airport.
If you’re serious about finding a great limo rental, take the time to check-out the car in person. A quality service will be happy to show off their vehicles. An inspection should focus on the three C’s: Compliance, Condition, and Cleanliness.
Compliance
- Limo rentals should always have a license number. This number is usually located on the front and back bumper. The license is issued by the state and allows a limo to legally operate.
- Sedan based limos such as the Lincoln Town Car must have a livery plate. In California, these plates typically start off with the sequence 1zz and have “livery” stamped at the bottom.
- If the limo picks up at the airport, it should have a special airport permit. In California, if the vehicle is an SUV or min-bus, it will also have a blue Charter Party permit on the rear bumper. The Charter Party permit may display an expired date, but in most cases the permit is still valid.
Condition
- A limousine rental should have no more than 200,000 miles. This is especially important for any vehicle that has been stretched. These cars are problematic by nature, so the lower the mileage, the better.
- Check the body for scrapes and dents. The middle section of a stretch is prone to rust and typically incurs the most body damage. If this area is clean, move on to the bumpers. It’s natural for these areas to have a few nicks and scratches, just as long as the damage is minor.
- On a stretch, have the operator turn on the vehicle and check the rear air-conditioning. Auxiliary air-conditioners are temperamental and have a tendency to fail. This is important because the back of a stretch has limited ventilation. Once the air goes down, it’s miserable behind the partition.
- Inspect the interior lights. This should include both the bar lights and the fiber-optic lighting in the ceiling.
Cleanliness
- The interior of a limo rental should be spotless. Despite the fact that clients regularly make a mess, a diligent operator will keep things perfect. The carpet should be vacuumed, and the bar and champagne glasses should be free of fingerprints and spills.
- The limo should smell good. Limosine rentals can smell musty when the ice bins get dirty. They also develop this smell when an interior leak is present. If the car smells bad, move on.
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