Limo or Town Car: Which Is Better?
Hiring a town car service would be the best option for getting around town to avoid any inconvenience, especially when traveling with your family. There are many things to think about. Do you like to drive, or do you like to take the bus? Do you need to bring your kids with you on this trip? The price is another consideration. How much will you have to spend on transportation?
When it comes down to it, the best way to get from point A to point B without having to worry about any of those things is to use a town car service. The number of drivers out on the road at any given time determines how quickly you can get a car, even though ride-share services like Uber and Lyft have helped these cities fill their transportation gaps. You might have to wait longer than you anticipate.
Town Car vs. Limo Comparison
Both options give you a high-end, classy experience that makes you feel like a famous person or VIP going to an event. But it takes a lot of work to beat a town car regarding cost, convenience, and service area.
Specifications | Town Car | Standard Limo |
Pricing (per hour) | $40-$70 (average) | $75-$135 (average) |
Seating Capacity | 5 Passengers (including the driver) | 8 to 10 Passengers (including the driver) |
Service Area | Ride Anywhere | Limited |
Trunk Space (Luggage) | 3 to 4 pieces of luggage | 3 to 4 pieces of luggage |
Why Consider a Town Car Service?
When you desire a more opulent experience, a luxury vehicle service is an excellent choice for a drive across town or any destination. A town car service consists of a chauffeur driving a town car (typically a luxury sedan or SUV) and offers a more sophisticated alternative to a regular taxi service.
The Benefits of a Town Car
Riding in a town car with your chauffeur is one of the most luxurious transportation experiences you can imagine. You don’t need to worry about looking for parking space or spending money on gas. With a town car service, you can get where you need to go with extreme comfort and calm. Chauffeurs of town cars are also service-oriented and friendly, ensuring a quality ride to your destination.
Experience Premium Comfort
A town car service is vastly superior to a traditional taxi service vehicle in terms of comfort inside the vehicle. City or airport taxi cabs frequently have poor exterior and interior conditions that can cause some concern for passengers. Town car service companies have high standards regarding the vehicles they choose and often consist of luxury or luxury-like vehicles.
A cab or rideshare vehicle might be adequate for a quick trip home from the bar, but not for a black-tie event, a dinner at a five-star restaurant, or an important business meeting. When you use a town car service, you can anticipate receiving executive sedans and luxury vehicles that are spotless and well-kept. For your special occasion, meeting, or trip to the airport, you will have a relaxing, stress-free ride, unlike a cab or rideshare service.
Every frequent user of a traditional cab or ride-sharing service has at least one nightmare story about a bad driver. There are many of these drivers, and if you’re unlucky, you might get in their car. These motorists may be inattentive or lost, and they might talk too much and try to start a completely inappropriate conversation with you. A passenger would feel uncomfortable riding in a vehicle like that, but with a town car service, you’ll feel safe knowing that your driver has been vetted and trained by the town car service company.
If you need to get somewhere quickly for leisure or business, plan with an airport or city town car service. Drivers for town car services are TSA-screened and will meet you at the gate or baggage claim area to assist you with your luggage and escort you to your car. Cab drivers and rideshare drivers are not even permitted inside the terminals.
No Surprise Costs
Transportation expenses can easily derail a vacation or business trip budget. In many cities, the prices of traditional taxis and ride-sharing services fluctuate minute-to-minute based on the time of day and surge pricing. One of the luxuries of town car service is the upfront cost which tells you how much you’ll be charged for your ride with no extra costs after your trip.
A Limousine May Not Always be the Best Option
While a limousine may be exciting to rent for a day or two for that special occasion with family and friends, it does have some limitations and inconvenient features about the service that will make you think twice before riding in one.
Here are some of the drawbacks of a professional limousine service:
Extra Costs
Aside from the higher cost of limo services, there are additional fees to pay, such as service charges, cleaning charges, any bar fees, and a 15-20% tip on top of everything.
Cancellation Fees
If you need to cancel your ride, most limo companies will charge you a fee (and sometimes just to change it). The average cost of renting a limousine is $95-$200 per hour, depending on the vehicle type, the number of passengers, the services offered, and several stops. Luxury vehicle services have reasonable rates, no hidden fees, and will not penalize you if your plans change.
Not Always Convenient
Most limo services require a minimum rental of 3-4 hours. For some, that may be longer than they require or desire. You are not required to book a specific length of time and then try to make it “worth it” with luxury vehicle services. You can also book a town car service ahead of time or at the last minute, which is something a limo cannot do.
Limited Service Area
It’s highly recommended to check with your limo service first to see if the areas you want to go to or the destination you have in mind is a place that is within their range of travel. Some limo service companies operate in select areas and don’t want to send their limos on long, extended trips that require lots of gas. In addition, limos are limited in the spaces they can enter, whereas a town car can fit almost anywhere.