A limousine is a big vehicle carrying people you care about, often late at night. Before you hand over a deposit, it is worth ten minutes of questions. Most reputable Edmonton companies will answer every one of these without hesitation. If someone dodges, that tells you something too. Here is the list we would want our own family to use.
Is the company licensed and insured for passengers?
This is the first question and the one that matters most. A limousine service in Alberta needs proper commercial insurance that covers paying passengers, not a personal auto policy. Ask directly: are you licensed to carry passengers commercially, and is the vehicle covered by commercial passenger insurance? A serious company will say yes and will not mind you asking. At Katch A Limo, every vehicle is commercially insured and every chauffeur is fully licensed.
Who exactly will be driving?
Ask whether chauffeurs are employees or contractors, whether they hold the correct class of licence for the vehicle, and whether the company checks driving records. A professional chauffeur is not just someone with a licence and a nice jacket. They know the vehicle, they know the city, and they are sober, rested and accountable to the company that sent them.
Our chauffeurs are licensed, vetted and trained for the vehicles they drive. You can read more about how we work on our About page.
How are the vehicles maintained and inspected?
Stretch limousines and party buses are modified vehicles, and the modifications need to be done right and kept up. Ask how often the fleet is serviced, whether it goes through commercial safety inspections, and how old the vehicles are. A company that maintains its fleet will tell you readily. A company that does not will change the subject.
Ask, too, whether you can see the actual vehicle before booking. We are happy to text photos of the specific limousine or bus you are getting, and our fleet page shows every vehicle we run.
Will I get the vehicle I booked?
A common complaint in this industry is the switch: you book a specific limousine and something else shows up. Ask what happens if the vehicle you reserved is unavailable, and whether you will be told in advance. The honest answer is that breakdowns happen; the difference is whether the company has a plan. We keep a backup vehicle in the fleet precisely so a booking is never left stranded.
What is the alcohol policy?
In Alberta, passengers 18 and over may drink in a hired limousine, provided everyone on board is of legal age. Ask the company how they handle mixed-age groups, whether they check ID, and what happens if someone underage is on the trip. A clear, consistent policy is a sign of a company that takes the law and your safety seriously. Ours is simple: if anyone on board is under 18, no alcohol for the duration of the ride.
What are the rules on board?
Rules exist to keep people safe in a moving vehicle. Ask about them before the night, not during it. The usual ones: stay seated while the vehicle is moving, nothing out the windows or sunroof, no smoking or vaping, and the chauffeur has the authority to end the ride if safety is at risk. Our FAQ lists ours in full so there are no surprises.
What happens if plans change or something goes wrong?
Ask how the company handles a flight delay, a wedding running late, a change of pickup point, or a passenger who needs to leave early. You want a company that answers the phone at midnight and has a person, not a voicemail, on the other end. We are reachable 24 hours a day, and our chauffeurs track flights on their own for airport pickups.
Is the quote all-inclusive?
This is a safety question as much as a money question, because a dispute at the end of a night is exactly the moment nobody wants. Ask what is included, what is not, and whether there are any extra charges you should know about. Gratuity, zone surcharges outside the city, and cleaning fees for damage are the usual items. We spell them out before you confirm. Our pricing guide explains how it works.
What do other customers say?
Read the reviews, and read the bad ones with more attention than the good ones. Look for patterns: late arrivals, vehicle switches, surprise fees, unreturned calls. One bad review is a bad night; five saying the same thing is a business practice. Google reviews are the easiest place to start for any Edmonton limo company, including ours.
A quick checklist to keep
- Commercially licensed and insured for passengers
- Licensed, vetted chauffeurs employed by the company
- Regular maintenance and safety inspections
- You can see the actual vehicle beforehand
- A backup plan if the vehicle is unavailable
- A clear alcohol and conduct policy
- Someone answers the phone, day or night
- An all-inclusive quote with no surprises
- Reviews that hold up
Ask us any of these. We would rather you ask than guess. Reach us through the contact form or at (780) 722-3070.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are limousines in Edmonton required to be insured?
Can I see the limo before I book it?
Is it legal to drink alcohol in a limo in Alberta?
What if the limo I booked breaks down?
Questions? Ask Us Anything.
We answer every one of these, and we would rather you ask than wonder.