In this post, we'd like to take the time and give you some advice when it comes to planning something special, for which you are considering the use of limousines. Whether you are responsible of getting a few couples together for a special night out, or you are in charge of some special occasion (perhaps with your community or church,) there are certain things you need to look for, in order to plan a successful occasion.

1. Do your planning and plan ahead of time

This is a fairly easy one, but a must: You can't leave everything for the last fracture of a second. It's better to be overly prepared, than to be late and sloppy for the event. Make sure you spend the time to shop around the market. Not only for prices but also quality. Obviously in this case, we would suggest that you figure out the best limo company in town. But this advice can carry you a long way, assuming you take it and use it for other aspects of your event. 

2. Make sure all important figures feel confident about your picks

There are so many things that can go wrong when arranging for the special occasion that requires transportation. When it comes to limousines, you could get some rates that aren't satisfying everyone in the group, you could get limousines that people don't like, drivers that they hate, interiors that smell and so many other complicated problems. Make sure you find the best limo operator for each and every one of the above parts. Most importantly though, make sure people are happy with what you've decided for them. If it's a surprise event and you are stuck with it...good luck (hey call us!) But if other people are aware of what you are trying to do, always get a second opinion - as if you are getting a doctor's opinion. Why put up with frowned faces for the rest of the night, right? 

3. Learn from the limo business, about innovative ideas and tricks

Think it through...when you are 25 years in business, you absolutely need to find new fun ideas to add to the transportation. Otherwise you are getting older by the second. Trust the business you are working with, to provide you with some extra "tricks" that will make the occasion super special. For example, you could have some very good quality alcohol in the back as a surprise for the guests. Or you could have some special stop at some place. Get creative, and let the limousine staff provide you with ideas. 

4. Always have a plan "B" 

Not to throw mud on anyone's face, but there are some bad limousine companies. The same way you get bad doctors and lawyers, you can end up with a grumpy limo driver, or a very weird group of people working at the limo company. Always make sure you have something else planned along with everything you are doing, in case something falls apart. If you go to Limo Rental Columbia I guarantee you that you'll get the best package as a whole. But in the case that you don't rent your limousine from us, then watch out. My advice to people is always: check the limos, check the limos! You won't believe how many companies (and fortunately not locally) have some beaten up vehicles that have a bad smell in the interiors with the wheels squeaking along the way. Demand from the limousine owner to show you the vehicle, before you give them a dime. 

5. Have some fun

Don't take everything too seriously. Of course make sure you are doing a good job and you are getting the best piece of the pie for everyone. But overall, if you want to organize something enjoyful for all, and something fun for all, make sure you have some fun as well: believe me, you will schedule something much prettier than doing it in misery. 

Happy New Year to all! From the bottom of our hearts here at Limo Rental Columbia we wish everyone a very prosperous and happy year. 

I'm pretty sure - due to the latest events (Christmas holidays, New Year's celebrations etc) one may have had a few extra drinks. Totally cool...but what isn't cool is when you need to drive back home or worse: drive other people to different places while being in a "very happy mood."

It may have not crossed your mind, however getting a limo is really the safest way to party. It's really the only way that you can connect both drinking with driving. Now don't get me wrong: I am not pushing anyone towards the "drinking direction." However since everyone pretty much has a drink or two during happy events (such as holiday events), I think it's important to give everyone some alternatives to their happiness and celebration, without taking the fun out of it. 

Now why is renting a Columbia limousine a very good idea? There are a few reasons actually:

1. You get your own private chauffeur: Think of that...for the whole time you use the limo, you get the opportunity to be driven around town by someone well experienced and extremely polite who can also have a few shots stocked up in the bar. 
2. You can party as hard as you like, and you are ensured to not have any issues or troubles. That includes drinking (which is kinda of the main subject of this blog.)
3. You can really fit many many people: More than you'd think. 

I'm pretty sure if I put my head to think about many more reasons, I could give you some extra ideas. But using a limousine is really a practical solution. Hollywood has given us the impression that only dirty rich people or the president uses such vehicles. News flash: We are so advanced as a society where riding in a limousine isn't really that "filthy sexy" anymore. It actually still is sexy and all could agree, hotter than riding in a cab. 

If you've never gotten in a limo, then why not give it a try? But if you've gotten in a limo before, you surely know what I'm talking about. 

Coming back to the drinking: You can literally drink and drive in a limousine without having any implications. That's the magic of having someone else worry about the road. And if you know before hand that you'll get a little bit dizzy after a party or night out, then use a Columbia limo service to take you to and from the party. 

Treat yourself to something special! God bless you!

Today I am going to share with you and highlight the great importance of picking your limo drivers and not just randomly "getting them." Everything we will talk about in this blog will be based on a true story-example. 

For starters, can you think of some basic reasons you need to have the best limousine driver available? Right off the top my head, I can think of a few: experience in driving, politeness (you don't want to have a miserable person driving you) knowledge of locations within the city, overall safety. These are some main reasons you should pay attention to the type of driver you have for your limousine rental. Didn't even give it much thought. 

Here's a true story (happened last Sunday) about how one of our drivers (Russell) was able to prevent passengers/clients getting in the middle of an ugly and dangerous situation. A group of church members decided to go after the Sunday service and have lunch at a restaurant in Columbia. Once they got there, Russell noticed a fight was about to break. He could tell - having worked with people for so long - that something didn't look right. So he quickly put the passengers safely back in the limousine and drove away until the area was clear and safe again. After the heat was gone, he returned the passengers in front of the restaurant, and waited until everyone was inside and everything was okay. 

When you are at any job, you need to have great instincts and when it comes to handling with people and safety, your instincts need to be greater than ever before. A fight was not taking place when they arrived, but Russell could sense that something bad would happen from the behavior of a few people at the restaurant. Who knows? Had the limousine parked in front of the restaurant and passengers got off, there could be a very bad incident. I mean, these are strange days we live in, and considering that the passengers in our limo were Christian - religious people, you never know what could take place. So it's always good to have a third eye watching out for things and making sure all customers are safe. Safe driving is good, and we obviously have proved we are #1 in Columbia, SC when it comes to that test. However regular every day safety is equally important. Thinking fast, being smart and making decissions within a few seconds, is probally a few of the qualities that a limousine driver should have. 

​Here at Limo Rental Columbia we are extremely proud of our driver Russell and it's people like him that make our limousine company the greatest in Columbia, South Carolina. 

God bless you all and please stay safe!

I know we've mentioned in other parts of our site (such as the about page) some basic information on the background of our company, how long have we been in business, the type of limo drivers we employ etc. 

However I would like to get into a slightly greater depth, just for general information. As we've said before, we have been in business for over 20 years (close to 25.) It has been a journey and absolute blessing to be able to remain a high quality limo company in Columbia. Many events (such as 9/11) have taken place since we first started and have really changed the way the limo industry is formed and operated. Many limousine companies took a hit with the devastating events of that November. However, offering top limousine services at a very reasonable price has kept us in business. Which really allows us to provide further services for any type of event you are attending. 

Before though the business was formed, the owner of the company was working for another limousine company. You can't simply jump into an industry when you are starting your career in a young age. You obviously need to learn the ins and outs of it, before you invest heavily on your own venture. So the owner of this swell limo business worked for a good number of years as a limousine driver for customers within Columbia, SC. After a few years went by and he was able to preserve some capital, he decided (with the blessings of his former employer) to open up his own limo business. And so he did. Since then he has never looked back at as I stated earlier: It's been a true blessing. 

Our company has had the greater honor and privilege to serve CEO's and CFO's of Fortune 500 companies. There have been many events in Charleston, SC and our limo business has had the opportunity to serve such events. Probably the highlight of our career has been serving an event where Steve Forbes was attending. Our limousine drivers have received along the way excellent reviews from all customers: whether they were CEO's of large corporations, brides & grooms, or teenagers partying in a party bus.

As the greatest limousine company in South Carolina, we are greatly optimistic about the future of this business. We are already working on expanding in other States and getting the opportunity to provide our quality services to even more people. Specifically we are looking to expand in Georgia and North Carolina very soon. So if you are a travelling person and happen to be in one of the above States, give us a call as we may be able to send a limo over to you. In fact we actually ride our limousines there for customers here and there. We are just formally going to setup shop in those States as well.

Thank you for putting your trust in our company. It means so much for us, and no matter how many years go by, we will always be grateful for all your support over the years. God bless the people of Columbia, South Carolina.  

December is almost here and that means Christmas day is right around the corner. The holidays that are coming up are probably one of the most exciting ones in our yearly calendar. Too much planning, many fun activities and great family times are a few of the things that characterize these days. 

Have you ever thought about touring Columbia in a luxury limousine? Think about it. It'll be fun! Actually, I'm not suggesting this out of the blue. We actually have a special tour that we arrange each year four our famous Christmas Lights Tour. It basically is exactly what it suggests: a tour during which you get the chance to watch the different decorations on houses and other places within the city but even further in nearby areas. Most of the times the young family members are the ones that are excited for such tours. But you as an older adult are allowed to have a good time once in a while. Watching Christmas Lights and getting in a Santa Claus mood will be perfect for your holidays. 

The good thing about this occasion is that you can get into any vehicle you want. You can select a stretch limousine, a party bus or anything else you enjoy. In any case we will make sure you get a clear view of the Christmas decorations in Columbia, SC. We will probably even stop in certain places just to get a closer look at something that may attract our eye. Oh, and don't you worry about the cold weather: You'll be kept so warm in your limo that you won't want to exit it. We actually have had some "incidents" where our limo driver would encourage the passengers to step outside and watch the lights from up close, but they didn't want to leave their warm comfortable leather seats.

Whether you are someone that is always on the lookout for new experiences and fun activities such as this, or you are more of a loner, give this a try. We promise you'll love it. It's the best way to get into that good old Christmas mood. We'll make sure the music playing in your limo is preparing you mentally for these beautiful Christmas days. 

If we haven't convinced you already, call us today and book your Columbia limousine. 

We all understand that these last few days have to some extent been considered long holidays.. It's not exactly the time of year when you take a vacation. However it is a time of the year where you take care a lot of your shopping after Thanksgiving. 

Over this weekend, the main thing I've been thinking about is safety. You see everything that's going on with the discount offers and people being super excited about deals. Unfortunately this "great mood" can sometimes be carried on the road as well. I'm not going to talk simply about the importance of having a limo driver that is excellent and puts safety first: that is a given. But all of these safety concerns I've been thinking about, really got me wondering: what if as humans we were responsible on the road? Would that be enough. Mechanical and engineering problems came to my head, which is why I decided to make this post. 

The point I want to make is that, you can have the greatest limousine driver in the world, having logged 10,000 hours (the magic number at which you are considered to be good at what you do.) If the limousine though doesn't hold the tense transportation needs of a company, you can find yourself in serious trouble. Whether we like it or not, this time in the US economy isn't the greatest. All companies are trying to cut back on expenses. Unfortunately, I have seen so many companies cut down on expenses that include safety. My intention isn't to point a finger at anyone, but rather say: please be careful with your selections. Renting an old limousine isn't only bad for the looks and image of your transportation: it's ugly for the safety of its passengers. 

As a company that offers spectacular limousine services in Columbia, SC I just want to tell you that we personally service and fix up our vehicles. Our business is divided in 2 parts: 

• limousine services (for wedding occasions, corporate meetings, airport transportation etc)
• limousine sales and building 

We are actually the one and only business in Columbia that takes care of all limousines and luxury vehicles. Even our competitor's. As I've mentioned in other parts, whenever a limo breaks down or has some kind of problem, we are the ones to fix it. Having seen a lot, I just want to ask you the favor of being extremely careful when selecting a limousine company. Fortunately the companies based in Columbia are decent. However here and there, I do see things that just worry me. And I'm trying to transfer this to you. Always ask from the providing company to show you the limousine upfront. Don't make a deal with the limousine business unless you are 100% certain that it's the vehicle you want. You will be better off making  a few extra phone calls to other companies, than settling for something that could even be dangerous for you. 

Hopefully this gets some readers and some people's attention. Just for the extra piece of information: Limo Rental Columbia has been in business for over 20 years and hasn't had a single accident. That says a lot about a company. 

So the topic I'll be discussing in this article, will obviously have to do with the question of the Hummer's existence as a limousine model. Practically, Hummer limousines still exist and are on the streets. However, they went out of business in 2009. 

See, the financial crisis of 2008 affected basically all industries, including the automotive. Many worldwide seemingly stable and well positioned auto companies, nearly went bankrupt (including Ford motor company.) Hummer unfortunately wasn't one of the lucky ones to escape the devastating disaster of 2008. Hummer limousines were basically owned by General Motors however after the attempts to save the brand, they decided to shut down operations. This leaves limousine businesses and their clients hanging a little bit. Mainly because we understand that vehicles always need to be serviced and often break down. When an automotive company goes out of business, there aren't any more parts produced for their vehicles . So what this practically means, is that people owning hummer limousines really can't do anything about their vehicle breaking down. 

Why do you see them here and there on the streets? The answer is it's like a collector's vehicle now. So for a limousine business to hold a hummer model is important and preferred by the lovers of this model. Then again: when something happens to the vehicle, it's hard to deal with it. Many companies will really make a decision of continuing on running their hummer vehicles, or finally getting rid of them. I think the more traditional ones and the businesses that like remembering events of the past, will keep these vehicles in their fleet. However limousine owners that are interested in the future and offering upgraded and perfectly serviced vehicles for their clients, will probably avoid the Hummer. Not because it's a bad looking vehicle, but simply because it can get dangerous to keep running them, when you can't find spare parts. 

Let us know if you are a Hummer lover as well. We currently do not have any Hummer limousines in our fleet in Columbia, SC. We were a few of the Hummer "fanatics" but when you are trying to ensure a safe and comfortable ride for your clients, sometimes you just need to make some decisions and move on. 

So in today's blog post, I'll be talking about a common misconception about limousines and the costs of renting one. That being that it's an expensive luxury, or something that isn't affordable etc. Prices, when it comes to limousines, really vary on the type of vehicle you use, the number of people using it, the number of hours you need it for and the day of the week in which you will be using it. There are basically so many factors that add into the total amount needed to use a limousine service. 

The good news is, that in today's day and age you can have access to many different local companies and check out their rates. A simple call will do the trick and you can price shop for the best package and offer. A key thing you need to understand, is the day of the week for which you need the limo. Weekends are usually extremely busy, as weddings take place and many other formal events. However if the day you need this luxury service is a Tuesday or a Monday, you can get a pretty good bargain out of it. 

Limousine owners (including myself) always want to make sure the limousines are being booked 7 days a week. It makes sense that the more vehicles are out on the road, the more easy it is for the owner to pay everyone their entitled amounts, cover vehicle expenses etc. So if you are looking for a limo service during the middle of the week, know that you have an upper hand in the negotiation. Unless it's a very specific holiday or occasion of course or the owner is somehow extremely busy and needs to deny business. 

Number of hours is a very good factor to fit in when planning and shopping around for prices. Generally speaking, the more hours you book a limousine for, the less you will pay for it (considering the initial hourly rate.) So rule of thumb when it comes to number of hours is that they longer you need the limousine, the better package they will generally get you. Many limousine companies have a minimum of 3 hours rental policy. We do not have such annoying policies or company rules. Even if you need a simple pickup, call us and we will be there in no time. 

Number of passengers can sometimes be a factor that will change the pricing. Usually you pay for the limousine itself (no matter if 1 or 21 people are attending.) However I know that around the country, each limousine business operates slightly differently. We personally rent you a limousine as a whole. So we don't really mind if you got a few people in there, or if all seats are used up. It's your Columbia limousine for the day, so enjoy it!

I hope there were some helpful ideas and tips here to make sure you too can afford a limousine. 

The most common question we are asked is: "What limousine model do you suggest for our occasion?" "What kind of vehicle should we prefer for our event?"

These are some of the most important questions when you are looking to book a limousine, either that's a simple pick-up or an extensive 7 hours occasion. You want things to be perfect and a beautiful limousine is part of that perfect picture you are imagining. Generally speaking, I think the first thing you want to see is the passenger availability each vehicle has. So for example if you got 30 people, you can't expect to get into a 15 passenger stretch limousine. In that case you may need to look at a larger limousine or even a party bus. So the number of passengers really makes the decision a lot easier for you. 

But what happens when you have a few different options for the same number of people? In that case, if money isn't an issue, I would ask the limousine owner to send you some photos of the vehicle that will be used for your occasion, way before you book it. Please always make sure you have seen that vehicle before you hop into it. Unless you don't care to much about the looks of it of course. But if you do care/worry, then know that it's your right to ask for upfront photographs or even a regular in person view of the limo to be used. Many customers have come up to me, complaining about some competitor that promised them a sharp looking vehicle and ended up with a limousine that looked like it came out from a movie in the 50's. One thing I know is that we always text message you photographs of all our available vehicles. 

If money is funny and you want something economic and practical, then ask your limo owner the type of model that charges the less. The more luxurious the vehicle (and newer model) the more the total cost will run up for you. So gathering this basic information is essential for you to make an informative decision. If you get on the phone with us, don't feel ashamed of telling us exactly what is on your mind. We don't want you booking with us and then having an "oh shoot" moment because the price wasn't what you expected or the limousine was more luxurious than you needed it to be etc. 

The general rule of thumb when it comes to the colors of limousines is white for weddings-happy occasions and black for more sad occasions or very formal business meetings. We will always make sure we cover you no matter what the occasion. Hey, if you want to get to a wedding in a black limousine, who are we to say no to that, right? Personal preference is what makes us all so different and unique. So rest assured that at least Limo Rental Columbia has you covered. 

Contact us with any questions.