How to rent a limosine or party bus

As summer weddings and sunshine escapes beckon, here are some questions consumers may want to ask when picking a limousine company to chauffeur a special evening. Industry officials and regulators alike say there are guidelines to keep in mind when choosing chauffeured limousines, party buses, SUVs or other services.

1. DON’T LET PRICE BE YOUR ONLY CONSIDERATION

After shopping around for the best price, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration spokesman Duane DeBruyne recommends looking up safety records for companies that are authorized to carry passengers.

2. CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE COMPANY IS FOLLOWING SAFETY REGULATIONS

For companies that only carry passengers within certain boundaries, check with the agency that regulates chauffeured vehicles about whether they’re up to code. That could be the department of transportation, highway patrol agency or police.

3. MAKE SURE THE COMPANY YOU PLAN TO HIRE HAS INSURANCE AND IS LICENSED TO OPERATE

If an agency can’t immediately provide you with the information you seek, ask the company to provide you with proof of insurance and their license to carry passengers. Be sure to check how many passengers the company is allowed to carry in each vehicle.

4. MAKE IT PERSONAL

If you like the way the company sounds on the phone, the National Limousine Association’s executive director Philip Jagiela recommends stopping by the company’s offices in person to see what you think of their fleet of vehicles (and particularly the one you will be renting).

5. GET IT IN WRITING

Ask the limousine company to give you a written agreement with the cost, deposit required, refund and tip policies, pick-up/drop-off times, arrival and departure locations, type of limo requested and specific services you expect.