A selection of the things you may want to know.
If you need further information, please contact us.
How many passengers can you carry in a limousine?
The maximum number permitted is 8, plus the driver. We do know of some companies who offer to carry more than 8 passengers, but carrying this number of people can invalidate their insurance cover, and if stopped by the police guarantees a long walk home. Our vehicles are equipped with rear lap or 3 point seat belts which we advise passengers should be worn unless the vehicle is parked, we can't carry passengers in the front of the vehicle (there isn't a passenger seat!).
Do you have lower rates for quiet times?
Yes, we do offer more favorable hire rates from Monday through to Thursday for the stretched limousines, though this is not always possible when popular weekday events are scheduled, such as Wimbledon, Derby Day or Ascot.
Are all Limousine Companies the same?
Like most things in life the old saying holds true - you get what you pay for. A limousine rental is a luxury experience, like selecting a 5 star hotel or restaurant, and is usually reserved for a very special occasion. If you are only shopping on price you run the risk of being taken advantage of, usually resulting in serious disappointment on that special day.
Why are some companies priced so low?
The way we look at it - each limousine company in the area knows what they are worth and they charge accordingly! Why not check out some of our competitors, they may have websites which don't show the vehicle interior, they may try to avoid arranging a viewing (always ask to see the vehicle before you book), and we know a couple who don't actually have any vehicles!
A very low price may be a warning sign for such things as:
1) Very old vehicle - the biggest tip-off the car is old (and shows it) is a low price
2) Inadequate maintenance - things we commonly see from 'low-cost' limo services include:
Air Conditioning not working Exterior & interior lights not all working TV/stereo broken Ripped roof (outside and inside) Dirty/scruffy vehicle Frequent break-downs Missing or chipped glassware 3) Inadequate insurance, make sure the vehicle is covered for 'Hire & Reward' under an Executive Hire Policy.
4) Not appropriately licensed (no regular inspections)
5) Underpaid chauffeurs - an unhappy employee almost always results in poor service for you
6) Company does not show up on time, does not show up in the promised vehicle, or does not even show up at all (after your 'great-deal' low-price booking was made they found another client who was willing to pay more and they never bothered to call and let you know) - did you get a written confirmation of your booking?
Owning, operating and maintaining limousines properly is almost impossible to do at low rates. Is it worth saving £20 -£30 on a special night out, or you wedding, to run this type of risk?
At Ribble Valley Limousines not only do we operate one of the best maintained fleets in the area, we probably have the most courteous and friendly chauffeurs you will find.
What about insurance?
Our vehicles are insured for hire and reward and our policies include cover for the vehicle, driver, passengers as well as public liability. Our policy is arranged through an insurer specialising in American Limousines .
What experience do your drivers have?
Most of our drivers are former emergency services personnel with a great deal of driving experience. Drivers have also had a Police/CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check carried out. You can be confident that we take our passengers safety and welfare seriously.
Are your stretched limousines current models?
Yes, our stretched limousine is referred to as the 'millennium' model. There was a major style change in 1998 (reputedly costing Lincoln some $7bn), when the Lincoln Town Car was given a rounder, more modern shape. There have been a number of minor changes since then.
Do you do airport transfers?
Yes, to all the major airports, though because of weight and space restrictions we are normally only able to carry 6 passengers and their luggage. Exceptions are weekend/short breaks when we can often accommodate 8 passengers + weekend cases.
Do you sell alcohol?
No. Depending on the length of hire however, we do provide complimentary wine, champagne, coffee or soft drinks.
Is smoking allowed?
No, we do not allow smoking or food in any of our vehicles, we pride ourselves on the internal appearance of our vehicles and guarantee that there will be no lingering odor of stale tobacco, chips or curry when you hire one of our cars.
Do you have a minimum hire period?
No. although we do not normally hire a vehicle for less than 1 hour.
Do you require a deposit against accidental damage?
We may require a deposit of £150.00. This is reimbursed once the vehicle has returned and been inspected.
What type of in car entertainment do your vehicles have?
Our stretched limousine comes equipped with a radio and CD player for the use of our passengers, in addition to 2 x 12" TVs, a DVD and a video player.
Do you supply the music CD's, DVD's and Video Tapes?
Yes, but we are happy for our clients to bring their own CD's and DVD's. Our Video is NTSC (American standard) so will not play UK standard tapes. Our DVD player is multi region so will play any DVD, CD or MP3 disk.
What other facilities do your vehicles have?
All of our vehicles are equipped with a mobile phone, albeit most are installed in the front with the driver. Our passengers are welcome to use the phones subject to a separate charge. In addition, some of our vehicles are equipped with mobile computing facilities . We also include an electric cool box for the use of our passengers. Up front we have a Traffic Master to keep us informed of traffic queues, and also SatNav - for the techies its a Navman 3000 running TomTom 3 on a Compaq pocket PC.
How far ahead shall we book?
The general rule is as early as possible. For annual events such as the Aintree Grand National and the Ebor meeting at York the cars are often booked 12 months ahead. Saturday Weddings should be booked 6 months ahead to avoid disappointment. For proms, the advice is to book as soon as the date is announced, demand on prom dates is exceptionally high. The later you leave a booking the more likely that the date may not be available.
Would you require a deposit at the time of the booking?
Yes. We normally require a deposit of £100.00 to secure your booking.
How many collection and return points do you allow?
We normally suggest that there should be no more than 2 pick up points to ensure that all of the passengers enjoy the maximum time in the vehicle. This also ensures that waiting time is kept to a minimum.
When does the charging start?
Unless advised otherwise, the charging will start from your door and the vehicle will be off-hire when it returns you. Where the hire period is extended an additional charge will be made.
How long are your stretched limousines?
We use the Lincoln Town Car limousine stretched at Lincoln Approved (QVM) specialist US Coachbuilders, Destiny by 120" - (10 ft). The total length of the car is about 28 ft. Many limousine operators state that their cars are 120 or 60 or 75 etc, this refers to the length that the car has been stretched by (in inches). Most limos imported into the UK are 120s, but there are some 60s, usually seating 6 passengers on two bench seats. There are also some 100s around and whilst these are usually advertised as seating 8 passengers they are almost 2' shorter than ours and, in our opinion, just a bit too cramped for 8 people.
That's just a couple of inches longer than a 25 seat Optare Solo M778 Bus.
or
about the length of 3.5 Smart Cars
Are they difficult to drive?
Not really as long as we take our time. The length can be 'interesting' on minor roads and can lead to some limitations on where we can go, the standard Lincoln has a very poor turning circle, not improved when the vehicle is stretched by 10 ft.
What is the MPG?
On a longer journey with a fair proportion of motorway driving, the miles per gallon will average around 16, driving in towns and cities will reduce this figure to 10 or 11 MPG.
How long does it take to clean the car?
Up to 3 Hours for a full interior/exterior clean to prepare it for a wedding. A normal interior clean and restock after a hire takes around an hour - plus about 20 minutes to fill the ice compartments and replace glassware.
How big is the engine?
4.6 liter V8 Ford, SOHC developing 205 hp
Width 1 m 97 cm, Height 1 m 45 cm
Weight 2.5 tonnes
The car is fitted with twin alternators and two batteries, providing ample power for the onboard lighting and entertainment systems.
Please ask if you want to look under the hood, we will be happy to oblige.
We value our reputation within the community, and always treat each customer with respect and care.
Choose Ribble Valley Limousines and you are choosing a Limousine service you can have confidence in.
