Riding Limousines – 5 Etiquette Rules You Need To Know

Riding Limousines. The limousine service and chauffeur work to provide you with a luxurious vehicle and memorable ride to your various destinations. While your most important job is to ride, there are some limousine etiquette rules to follow to show respect to your driver and the limo service. Luckily, these are all easy to follow and it’ll make your trip better for everyone.

A good rule of thumb is to simply act respectful. Follow even this one basic rule and you’ve mastered a large part of limousine etiquette.

1. Respect Your Driver

It should go without saying that you shouldn’t yell at your driver, ask them to do anything illegal (speeding, passing in unsafe areas, etc.) or blame them for any issues with the limo. If you have any problems with your driver, contact the limo service immediately. The more you agitate the driver, the more difficult it is for them to concentrate on navigating through traffic.

It’s perfectly okay to talk to your chauffeur, but don’t expect them to strike up a conversation. Their job is to be polite, respectful and drive you from place to place without infringing on your special occasion.

2. Treat The Limo Better Than Your Car

It’s easy to get carried away while riding in a limo, but one of the more important limousine etiquette rules is to treat the limo even better than you would your own car. Try not to damage anything within the limo and if you’re having issues, ask the driver for assistance.

Remember that the limo service rents the limo out to others after you’re done. If you bring the limo back damaged, you could be held responsible for the repairs.

Never take anything out of the limousine that doesn’t belong to you. Glassware is one of the most commonly stolen items. Leave all glassware inside the limo.

3. Tip Your Driver

The recommended tip for your chauffeur is 20% of the rental price. Double-check with the limo service to see if the tip is already included or not. If you choose not to tip, let the limo service know why. Obviously, you shouldn’t be required to tip for bad service, but the limo company should be made aware of any issues you encountered. Otherwise, always tip for good service.

4. Enter And Exit Correctly

How many people have you seen entering limos with their butts sticking in the air? It’s not exactly elegant. Believe it or not, there’s an appropriate way to enter and exit limousines. First, always let the chauffeur open the door for you. The only exception is if there’s a person at your destination who is responsible for doing this.

Next, slide into the first available seat and swing your legs inside. Slide along the seats until you’ve reached your seat. Follow the same procedure while exiting. You’ll look and feel like a VIP when your getting in and out like a limo pro.

5. Keep Your Party Tame

Don’t worry, you’ll still have plenty of fun, but it’s important to keep your party under control. Never smoke or do any drugs while riding in a limousine. Always get any alcohol approved by the limousine service, if it’s not already provided by the service.

No matter how much you drink, try to avoid using lewd language or getting rowdy inside the vehicle. This could cause the driver to not feel safe and result in your night coming to a premature halt. The chauffeur’s job is to keep you safe while riding, but they should also feel safe.

Put Limousine Etiquette Rules To Use

Now that you know the rules, isn’t it time to put them to good use? As you can see, the limousine etiquette rules are simple to follow. Go ahead and rent a limo for a day or night you’ll never forget. Be courteous and you might just become your driver’s favorite passengers.

Ready to feel like a VIP for your special occasion or event? Contact American Limousine Service today to rent the perfect limousine.

Image: Alan Light