Practical guides for a better-planned trip
Short, practical guides to the questions people ask before booking a car. Each one ends with what to send us for a quote.
How to use them
Read the one that matches your next decision
Each guide answers one question, so you rarely need more than one or two. Pick by the stage you're at.
Not sure how to book
Start with the hourly or point-to-point comparison. It shows whether you need the car to wait for you.
Lots of people or bags
Read the vehicle and luggage guide before you choose a class. Passenger and bag limits are separate.
Meeting a flight
The airport checklist covers what to send when you book and what to do after you land.
A wedding or a day out
The wedding timeline and the wine-country day guide turn a full day into one quote request.
Ready to send
Every guide ends with a list of details for the quote form. Send what you know, and we'll fill in the rest with you.
Deciding how to book
Hourly or point-to-point car service?
Both come with a professional chauffeur. The difference is whether the car waits for you between stops. This guide compares the two side by side and walks through example days, so you can see which one fits your plans.
Read the comparisonChoose a vehicle for your passengers and luggage
The right vehicle depends on two numbers, people and bags, and on what those bags are. Read how to count suitcases, carry-ons and bulky items like golf bags or strollers, where child seats fit in, and how a sedan, an SUV and the Luxury Sprinter compare.
Read the vehicle guideBefore a flight
Plan your airport car pickup
A checklist for the moments that matter: what to send when you ask for a quote, what to check before you leave, and what to do after you land and collect your bags. It also covers what to do if your flight or meeting point changes, with links to the SFO, Oakland and San José airport pages.
Read the airport checklistPlanning a full day or an occasion
Build your wedding transportation timeline
Wedding days run on a schedule. List every group that needs a ride, map the locations, then work backward from the ceremony to the last ride home. The guide ends with how to turn that timeline into one quote request.
Read the wedding guidePlan a wine-country day from San Francisco
Choose Napa or Sonoma, book tastings before you plan the drive, leave time for a real lunch and plan the ride home. It also sets out what the car service includes, and what it doesn't.
Read the wine day guide
From guide to quote
Every guide ends with a request list
Each guide closes with the details we need to price that kind of trip. For an airport ride, that's the flight number and your bags. For a wedding, it's the timeline and the guest numbers. For a wine day, it's the tasting times and the size of your group.
You don't need every answer before you ask. Send what you know in the quote form, add the rest in the notes, and we'll fill in the gaps with you before anything is booked.
Start a quoteWhere to go after each guide
Guides explain the decision. The service pages cover how each trip is booked, the vehicles that suit it and the questions people ask about it.
| If you're planning | Start with | Then see |
|---|---|---|
| A flight in or out | Airport pickup checklist | Airport transfers |
| A group with lots of luggage | Vehicle and luggage guide | The fleet |
| A day with several stops | Hourly or point-to-point? | Hourly chauffeur service |
| A wedding | Wedding transportation timeline | Weddings and events |
| A Napa or Sonoma day | Wine-country day planning | Wine country tours |
Common questions.
Which guide should I read first?
The one that matches your next decision. If you're flying, read the airport checklist. If you're unsure how to book a day with several stops, read the hourly or point-to-point comparison.
Do I need to read a guide before asking for a quote?
No. You can send your trip in the quote form at any point, and we'll ask about anything we need.
How current is the advice?
Each guide shows the date it was last updated. Where a guide mentions our terms, such as waiting time or cancellation, it matches our cancellation policy.
Do the guides list prices?
No. We quote every trip individually, so you see the price before anything is booked. It depends on the vehicle, the distance or hours, the date and time, and any stops, and it includes gratuity, tolls and parking.
Are the guides written for the Bay Area?
Yes. They're written for trips in the nine Bay Area counties we serve, with SFO, Oakland and San José airports and the Napa and Sonoma valleys in mind.
Can you help me plan instead?
Yes. We're available 24/7. Call (415) 881-6199, or send what you know in the quote form and we'll fill in the rest with you.
Where can I find quick answers?
Our FAQ answers short questions about quotes, vehicles, airports, waiting and cancellations. For anything else, use the contact page.