Limousine Industry Terms & Definitions

Glossary of Terms

Sedan

A four-door luxury vehicle seating up to 3 passengers in the rear. Common models include the Lincoln Continental, Cadillac CT6, and Mercedes S-Class. Used primarily for airport transfers, executive commutes, and point-to-point rides.

SUV

A sport utility vehicle configured for chauffeured service, seating 5 to 6 passengers with expanded luggage capacity. The Cadillac Escalade ESV and Lincoln Navigator are industry standards. Preferred for airport groups and corporate travel.

Stretch Limousine

A modified sedan or SUV with an extended wheelbase, seating 8 to 14 passengers in a rear cabin with bench seating, privacy partition, and bar area. Used for weddings, proms, and formal events.

Party Bus

A converted bus with club-style interior: LED lighting, premium sound system, dance floor, and bar setup. Capacities range from 20 to 56 passengers. Used for bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthdays, and group outings.

Sprinter Van

A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter configured as a luxury shuttle, seating 10 to 14 passengers with high ceilings, forward-facing leather seats, and overhead storage. Used for corporate off-sites, hotel shuttles, and group airport transfers.

Motor Coach

A full-size coach bus seating 40 to 56 passengers with reclining seats, overhead bins, restroom, and climate control. Used for corporate shuttles, convention transport, and long-distance group travel.

Chauffeur

A professionally trained driver who operates a chauffeured vehicle. Distinguished from a rideshare driver by formal attire, background screening, drug testing, service training, and knowledge of proper protocol including door-opening, luggage handling, and route planning.

Flat-Rate Pricing

A pricing model where the fare is quoted and locked before the trip begins. The rate does not change due to traffic, route variations, or time of day. Standard for airport transfers in the limousine industry. Contrasts with metered or surge-based pricing.

Hourly Charter

A service model where the client books a vehicle and chauffeur for a set number of hours with multiple stops allowed. Most vehicles require a 2- to 3-hour minimum. Rates are per-hour and include the driver, fuel, and vehicle.

Point-to-Point

A one-way transfer from a pickup address to a drop-off address with no additional stops. The most common service type for airport transfers and corporate pickups. Priced either flat-fare or by distance.

Meet & Greet

An airport arrival service where the chauffeur enters the terminal and waits at baggage claim or the arrivals area with a name sign. Included with most airport transfer bookings at full-service limousine companies.

Flight Tracking

Real-time monitoring of an inbound flight's arrival status. The limousine company adjusts the chauffeur's dispatch time based on actual landing rather than scheduled arrival, preventing both early idling and late pickups.

Red Carpet Service

A premium arrival experience where a physical red carpet is rolled out at the vehicle door. Common for weddings, galas, and VIP hotel arrivals. Often paired with a Rolls-Royce or stretch limousine.

Gratuity

A tip paid to the chauffeur, typically 15 to 20 percent of the total fare. Some companies include gratuity in the quoted price; others leave it to the client's discretion. Industry standard in Chicago is 18 to 20 percent for hourly charters.

Minimum Hours

The minimum booking duration required for hourly charter service. Most vehicles carry a 2- to 3-hour minimum, with peak dates (New Year's Eve, prom season, major holidays) requiring 4- to 6-hour minimums.

Dead Miles

The distance a vehicle must travel empty to reach the client's pickup location. Some companies charge for dead miles when the pickup is outside their primary service area. Also called 'garage to pickup' or 'empty leg' miles.

FBO (Fixed Base Operator)

A private aviation terminal at an airport that services private jets and charter aircraft. Chauffeurs picking up at an FBO drive directly onto the tarmac or park at a private lot steps from the aircraft. Common FBOs near Chicago include Atlantic Aviation at MDW and Signature Flight Support at ORD and PWK.

DOT Compliance

Adherence to U.S. Department of Transportation regulations governing commercial vehicle operation. Includes vehicle maintenance records, driver hours-of-service logs, drug and alcohol testing programs, and vehicle inspection schedules. Required for motor coaches and any vehicle operating across state lines.

ICC Authority

Operating authority issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission for intrastate limousine and livery service. Required for any company commercially transporting passengers within Illinois. Verifiable through the ICC public database.

Livery

A general industry term for pre-arranged, chauffeured ground transportation. Livery service is distinguished from taxicab service by the requirement that all trips are pre-booked — no street hails. Livery vehicles carry distinct insurance policies and licensing requirements.

Deadhead

Industry shorthand for the same idea as dead miles — any leg the vehicle drives empty, with no passenger aboard, to position for or return from a job. A far-suburb pickup may carry a deadhead charge because the chauffeur drives out empty before the paid trip begins. Companies with a wide local fleet absorb most deadhead within their service area.

Chauffeur vs. Driver

Not interchangeable terms. A driver operates a vehicle. A chauffeur is trained in service protocol — opening doors, handling luggage, maintaining route knowledge, dressing in business attire, and observing passenger privacy. Chauffeurs in commercial livery are background-screened and drug-tested. A rideshare app sends a driver; a limousine company sends a chauffeur.

As-Directed

An hourly booking with no fixed itinerary, where the chauffeur goes wherever the passenger directs for the booked block of time. Common for shopping days, multi-meeting business days, and nights out where plans shift. Billed per hour against the vehicle's minimum rather than as a set route.

Spotting / Greeter Fee

A charge some operators add for the chauffeur to park and physically meet a passenger inside an airport terminal with a name sign, rather than waiting at the curb. At Royal Carriage, terminal meet-and-greet is included with airport transfers, so there is no separate spotting fee.

Run Sheet

The chauffeur's trip itinerary for a booking: pickup time and address, each stop with timing, special instructions like gate codes or doorman names, and the final drop-off. A detailed run sheet supplied 48 hours ahead is the single best defense against a tight-schedule mistake on event days.

Overage / Overtime Rate

The per-increment charge that applies when a trip runs past its booked hours. Usually billed per 15 or 30 minutes at the vehicle's prevailing hourly rate. Reputable operators state the overage rate in the written quote so a late finish never becomes a surprise on the final invoice.

Wait-and-Return

A round-trip arrangement where the chauffeur waits at the destination and brings the same passengers back, rather than dispatching a second vehicle. Priced as an hourly charter that covers both legs plus the wait. Efficient for medical appointments, short meetings, and one-stop events.