How to Save Money on Your Limousine Booking
- Book Early:
As with most industries that deal with making reservations, scheduling their service is their top priority. Many consumers simply don’t realize that they can usually get discounts from limousine companies just by being willing to schedule their limousine service in advance.
With that in mind the type of event you are planning will determine how far in advance you should try to book your limousine. For example, if you are booking limousines for a wedding try to make your reservation at least six months in advance. If you are booking a reservation for a birthday party, try to book your limousine at least 30 days in advance. Many times booking your limousine early can result in as much as a 10% discount off of a limousine company’s regular rate.
Most limousine companies only require a minimum deposit. That, and the fact that most limousine companies offer a cancellation period if plans would happen to change for some reason, should make you feel much more comfortable booking your limousine service early.
- Buy Packages If Available:
Many companies offer many different limousine service packages. In many cases, wedding packages, concert packages, casino tours, wine tours, etc , can have a predetermined total price. The total pricing for these packages will generally be significantly less than renting the limousine service by the hour. This is because most companies that offer packages already have a pre-calculated idea of what to expect for the occasion. Additionally, in the case of tours the limousine company may be getting a commission from the casinos or the wineries.
- Understand That Bigger Is Not Always Better:
The idea that bigger is always better is not necessarily the case when it comes to limousine companies. In fact, many larger companies charge higher prices than the smaller limo companies. This is due to many reasons.
Fact #1: There is only so much limousine business in any general market.
Fact #2: Large limousine companies with 20 to 30 vehicles or more have significantly more overhead than a smaller company with 5 to 10 vehicles.
Fact #3: Most small business owners take a more personal approach in their business. In other words, they are more hands-on than the employees of larger companies. It is a simple fact that small business owners have a more vested interest in the success or failure of their business than employees of larger companies.
- Try to Get Owner to Drive:
This tactic is where dealing with a smaller limousine company has a great benefit. As mentioned above, most small business owners take a more personal approach in their business. With that in mind if you can convince the business owner to actually drive the limousine them self you will likely see a discounted price. This idea is based on the premise that you are cutting the business owners total expense for this limousine rental.
In your typical limousine rental the business owner has several expenses. Fuel, maintenance, chauffeur expenses and business profit. If you can get the business owner to act as the chauffeur you are cutting out some of the expense of the limousine driver since the business owner is already adding in business profit.
In Summary:
Please take note that you will likely never be able to parlay all of these tactics together. However, utilizing just one of these tactics can possibly get you anywhere between a 10% discount to a 20% discount.
It is important to note that most limousine companies in any area have very similar pricing. With that in mind if you find a limousine company that makes you feel comfortable and then allows you to utilize any or all of the tactics above, you can rest assured that your limousine rental will be a great experience, in both value and in quality.