Long distance car driving services: experience being chauffeur-driven
Long distance car driving services can mean that a professional driver will drive your car for you while you ride in the comfort and ease in your own car. It can also mean that you are driven by a professional car driver in a car of your choice from the cars owned and maintained by the company. This is usually referred to as a long distance shuttle service. Either way, you can experience being chauffeur-driven with ease and comfort from your house to your destination and back.
What is the difference between a driver driving your own car and a driver driving a car of your choice?
Well, the difference is in the cost and in the liability. First, when a professional driver drives your own vehicle, you will only pay for the driver’s service, his time, the fuel cost and other incidental road expenses such as expenses for food and accommodations. You will not need to pay the cost of renting and using the vehicle of the driver or his company on top of the cost of the driver’s services when you opt for them driving your own car.
When you choose one vehicle from a fleet of cars belonging to a long distance shuttle service, you can actually ride in any car they have available. Most shuttle services maintain vintage cars, luxury vehicles or ordinary sedans, depending upon your budget and taste. You can choose to travel like royalty and drive a Jaguar or a Mercedes Benz, thus fulfilling your wildest dreams.
Second, a driver driving your own car means that your car has to be road worthy. You will have to pay for your car to be serviced and tuned-up prior to the trip to ensure optimal functioning during the long distance trip. For long distance or cross-country road trips, you need to bring your car to a mechanic to ensure a thorough check-up: the fan belts may need to be replaced; you may need to buy new tires or a new car battery. You may need to have not only the engine oil checked but also the brake fluid, the gear oil, and the automatic transmission fluid. You might even need to have the electrical wiring checked. All this maintenance and preventive service will add up to your cost but when you opt for a long distance shuttle service with a car and driver provided, the car’s preventive maintenance cost will be borne by the long distance car driving service provider.
Third, you must think of liability for accidents that may occur on the road. No one wants to have an accident but road accidents are a possibility that you have to factor in when you opt for another person to drive your car. You may have to purchase additional insurance against theft or acts of God to ensure that you are covered for the most common risks on the road. When you opt for a long distance shuttle service with both car and driver provided, the company often shoulders insurance costs. And of course, all of our drivers are given a thorough background check to ensure that they do not have any substantial history of accidents and/or traffic violations.
Fourth, you will also have to make sure that your liability insurance is up-to-date and your car’s registration is free from any outstanding traffic citations, violations or suspensions. Remember that the DMV of most states have access to a centralized database of traffic records. If you have any outstanding traffic violation tickets, unpaid parking tickets or any outstanding traffic misdemeanor cases involving your car, highway police officers may run your car’s license plate and unearth your records. Your car may be impounded. It might be better to have your car transported as cargo onboard a train or truck instead of it being driven by a professional driver.
Fifth, most long distance car driving service companies provide newer model cars with GPS tracking (unlike older-model cars). This will give you peace of mind and a sense of safety. Your family can track your progress while on the road. They can easily locate you should a medical emergency occur. In case of road accidents, your family can locate you faster. Aside from GPS tracking, most cars provided by long distance car driving services also have CB radios or satellite phones. A long distance shuttle service may keep email accounts and cell phones so that they can keep in touch with their drivers while on the road.
Some people need their cars driven cross-country but they are unable to drive their own cars, so they really do not have a choice but to hire a professional to drive their car long distance. Others have a choice and whether they opt for a driver to drive their own car or a long distance shuttle service is a matter of taste, and other personal, health and budget considerations. Learn more about it before you make your choice.
Image credit: AngMoKio