Which private-driver booking you actually need
“Private driver” is the person and the reserved car. The trip type still has to be one of these.
Swipe sideways to read every column.
| You need | Book it as |
|---|---|
| One pickup and one destination | Point-to-point. The driver is released after the drop-off. |
| Stops and waiting on one date | Hourly or full-day. Three-hour minimum. The driver stays with the car. |
| The same commute on set days | Daily car service. Not an all-day hold. |
| A group in one vehicle | Sprinter or SUV, after the headcount and bags are confirmed. |
| A vehicle included with the driver | Sedan, SUV, S-Class or Sprinter, named in the confirmation. |
The driver and the car come together
People ask for a private driver when they want a chauffeur who follows their day rather than a shared ride. The driver uses a sedan, SUV, S-Class or Sprinter reserved for the booking. The confirmation names the class you accepted.
The booking includes that car and the chauffeur.
Your itinerary decides the hours
A private driver for a dinner is often a transfer to the restaurant and, if you want it, a later transfer home. Those can be two bookings. A private driver for a day of appointments is hourly. Starting rates are $120 an hour for a sedan, $150 for an SUV, $175 for an S-Class and $200 for a Sprinter, each with a three-hour minimum when the car is held.
Write the first address, the stops you know, and the time you expect to release the driver. A hotel doorman and a brownstone are both workable pickups if you name the door. “Somewhere in SoHo” is not enough for the driver to be in the right place.
Privacy is a practical instruction
Say who may receive the trip details. An assistant booking for someone else should put both phone numbers on the reservation and say which one the driver should use at the curb. If the destination should not be repeated to other passengers, send that with the booking.
Nothing here is a security detail. The driver is not a bodyguard, and the car is not credentialed for a closed street. For a United Nations week, read the UNGA page and send only the access information you actually have from official sources.
How to place the request
Send the date, start, pickup, destination or hourly stop list, passenger count and bags. Name the vehicle class. Ask for the price of that itinerary and what happens if you add an hour.
Use the contact form if the day is irregular. Use the booking page for a straightforward reservation once you know the class and the trip type. If the need repeats every week, switch to daily car service rather than rebooking the same commute one morning at a time.
Questions before booking
Does the booking include a car?
Yes. The private driver is booked with a sedan, SUV, S-Class or Sprinter. The confirmation names the class.
Can I drive the vehicle myself?
No. There is no self-drive offer. The chauffeur drives the reserved car.
What is the difference between a private driver and hourly car service?
Hourly car service is the way you keep the driver when there are stops and waiting. Private driver describes the chauffeured arrangement. A single ride can still be point-to-point.
Will I have the same driver each time?
Not by default. Each reservation is confirmed on its own. A repeating schedule can be requested, without a guarantee of one chauffeur.
Which car should I ask for?
Match the party and the bags. Sedan or S-Class for a small party, SUV for more luggage, Sprinter for a group that must ride together. Look at the fleet page before you choose.