Ditch The Redneck Taxi And Ride In Style

Traveling in Style
Everyone likes to travel in style. The last thing anyone needs is a redneck ride through town. And talking a ride in a New York City taxi is a sure fire way to raise your blood pressure.

Taxi Nightmares
Many of us are well indoctrinated as to New York City’s taxi madness. On a good day, you might find a driver who doesn’t run red lights, maintains some level of the speed limit and works to ensure his passengers don’t need an airline sick bag in order to endure the ride.

Finding a Good Limo Service
It can be tricky finding the right fit. There are so many companies and cars to choose from…how do you know which is the right one? If your smart and ask the right questions, you can ditch the hillbilly taxi ride and find a great company to drive you in style.

Not sure what to do? No need to panic—we’ve got it covered. Here are six tips to help you figure it out.

1.     Licenses, Associations & Screening - Every limousine service must have a license number in order to legally operate. A reputable company will always belong to an association like NLA. Be smart—contact the Better Business Bureau and check the out their history. Make sure they follow the laws regarding driver drug tests and physicals, clean driving records and driver familiarity with the service area. It pays to know before they show.

2.     Years in the Biz and Hours of Operation – Flashy cars and sexy drivers are great, but experience is what counts. But the best boutique businesses may be new, but they’re usually operated by managers or drivers with years of experience. Also, make sure someone is available to take your call 24 hours a day, especially if they handle airport transfers. Experience counts—look for it.

3.     Insurance – Every car should have commercial vehicle insurance. Town Cars in particular are required to have a minimum of $750,000 in liability coverage. Vehicles that carry eight passengers or more should carry at least 1.5 million. Don’t be shy—ask about it.

4.     Check it Out – Check out the limo in person. If it’s not convenient for you or for them, ask them to email photos. One way or another, always inspect the vehicle, verify the make, model, and amenities inside the limousine.  If it seems fine in photos, but does not live up to expectation when it arrives, call the company, say so, and ask them to deliver as promised.  Never settle for less than the real deal.

5.     Referrals – A great way to find good limo service (or anything else) is through word of mouth. Ask a friend, give a shout on Facebook or ask for referrals from other businesses you deal with. A trust worthy, first hand referral is like gold.

6.     Tips – Most limousine services automatically charge a 15% to 20% gratuity. If the tip isn’t included or is shown as a “service charge,” move on to someone else. This nearly always means the driver is being cheated and you’re dealing with a disreputable company. Don’t deal with cheaters.

For example, Luxor Limo offers the highest caliber of professional, luxurious vehicles and services throughout the NY Metro area at highly competitive prices. Not only will they drive you in style, they’ll take you anywhere you need to go (cross country included), day or night, during your next New York meeting or sojourn.
 

Tom Lowery enjoys writing about people, interpersonal skills and business.