A limousine service contract books a vehicle for a date and time window with a 3–4 hour minimum, a 25–50% non-refundable deposit, and 18–20% gratuity (often added automatically). Standard protections: overtime billed in 15–30 minute increments at 1.25–1.5× the hourly rate, a cleaning/damage fee schedule ($100–$500), a substitution clause for vehicle breakdowns, and cancellation tiers tied to how far out the client cancels.
Limousine Service Contract Template
Reviewed by the Agiled editorial teamUpdated June 2026
Limo disputes cluster around three moments: the group that wants 'just twenty more minutes' at the venue, the cancellation two days before prom, and the...
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Full template text
LIMOUSINE SERVICE CONTRACT
This Limousine Service Contract ("Agreement") is entered into as of [Date] by and between:
Company: [Business Name], located at [Address], License/Permit No.: [Number], Phone: [Phone], Email: [Email] ("Company")
Client: [Full Name], residing at [Address], Phone: [Phone], Email: [Email] ("Client")
1. Event and Service Details
a) Event Type: [e.g., Wedding, Prom, Corporate Event, Airport Transfer].
b) Date of Service: [Date].
c) Number of Passengers: [Number] (shall not exceed the vehicle's rated capacity).
d) Special Requests: [e.g., floral decorations, champagne, red carpet, specific music].
2. Vehicle Description
a) Vehicle: [Year] [Make] [Model], Color: [Color].
b) Seating Capacity: [Number] passengers.
c) Amenities Included: [e.g., bar, sound system, partition, TV, fiber-optic lighting].
d) In the event the designated vehicle becomes unavailable due to mechanical failure or unforeseen circumstances, the Company shall provide a comparable or superior vehicle at no additional cost to the Client.
3. Itinerary and Schedule
a) Pickup Time: [Time].
b) Pickup Location: [Address].
c) Intermediate Stops: [List addresses and approximate times].
d) Drop-Off Time: [Time].
e) Drop-Off Location: [Address].
f) The Company shall arrive at the pickup location at least [15] minutes prior to the scheduled pickup time.
4. Duration and Overtime
a) Minimum Rental Period: [Number] hours.
b) Scheduled Service Duration: [Number] hours (from pickup to final drop-off).
c) Overtime Rate: $[Amount] per [30-minute / 1-hour] increment for service exceeding the scheduled duration.
d) The Client shall authorize overtime verbally or in writing. The Company reserves the right to end service at the scheduled time if overtime is not authorized.
5. Pricing and Total Cost
a) Base Rate: $[Amount] for [Number] hours.
b) Additional Hours: $[Amount] per hour.
c) Gratuity: [Included at [%] / Not included — suggested [18-20]%].
d) Fuel Surcharge: $[Amount] (if applicable).
e) Tolls and Parking: Billed at cost and added to the final invoice.
f) Total Estimated Cost: $[Amount].
6. Payment Terms
a) Deposit: A non-refundable deposit of $[Amount] ([50]% of total) is due upon signing this Agreement.
b) Balance: The remaining balance of $[Amount] is due [7 days before the event / upon completion of service].
c) Accepted Payment Methods: [Credit Card / Check / Wire Transfer / Cash].
d) A charge of $[Amount] shall apply to all returned checks.
7. Cancellation and Refund Policy
a) Cancellation more than [30] days before the event: Full refund minus the non-refundable deposit.
b) Cancellation [15-30] days before the event: [50]% of total cost is non-refundable.
c) Cancellation less than [15] days before the event: No refund.
d) The Company may cancel this Agreement if the Client fails to remit the deposit by the due date or violates any term of this Agreement. In such event, the deposit shall be forfeited.
e) Rescheduling is subject to availability and must be requested in writing at least [15] days before the original event date.
8. Passenger Conduct and Vehicle Care
a) The Client is responsible for the behavior of all passengers.
b) Smoking, vaping, and use of illegal substances in the vehicle are strictly prohibited. A cleaning fee of $[Amount] shall apply for violations.
c) A minimum cleaning/damage fee of $[Amount] shall be charged for excessive mess, stains, or bodily fluids.
d) The Client shall be liable for the cost of repairing or replacing any vehicle components damaged by passengers, up to the full replacement value.
e) The maximum vehicle occupancy shall not exceed [Number] passengers. The Company reserves the right to refuse service if the passenger count exceeds the vehicle's rated capacity.
f) Passengers shall follow all instructions from the chauffeur regarding safety, including remaining seated while the vehicle is in motion.
9. Chauffeur
a) The Company shall provide a professionally dressed, licensed chauffeur.
b) The chauffeur shall remain with the vehicle at all times during the service period.
c) The Client shall not direct the chauffeur to violate any traffic laws or operate the vehicle in an unsafe manner.
d) The Company reserves the right to replace the assigned chauffeur without prior notice if necessary.
10. Liability and Insurance
a) The Company maintains commercial auto liability insurance in the amount of $[Amount] per occurrence.
b) The Company shall not be liable for loss, theft, or damage to personal property left in the vehicle.
c) The Company's total liability for service disruptions, delays, or failures shall not exceed the total cost of the service as stated in this Agreement.
d) The Client agrees to indemnify the Company against any claims arising from the conduct of passengers.
11. Force Majeure
Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform due to events beyond their reasonable control, including but not limited to severe weather, natural disasters, road closures, government actions, strikes, or mechanical breakdown that cannot be remedied in a timely manner. In such cases, the Company shall make reasonable efforts to provide alternative transportation or reschedule the service.
12. Dispute Resolution
Disputes arising from this Agreement shall be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved within [30] days, the parties agree to binding arbitration in [City, State]. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of [State].
13. Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties. Amendments must be in writing and signed by both parties. If any provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.
SIGNATURES
Company Representative: ___________________________ Date: _______________
Print Name / Title: ___________________________
Client Signature: ___________________________ Date: _______________
Print Name: ___________________________
- Hourly minimum
- 3 – 4 hours on weekends
- Deposit
- 25% – 50%, non-refundable
- Gratuity
- 18% – 20%, often auto-added
- Overtime
- 1.25× – 1.5× in 15–30 min blocks
What your limousine service contract should cover
Vehicle, date, and service window
Vehicle class (and capacity), pickup time, drop-off time, and addresses for each stop. 'A stretch limo for the evening' books an argument; '10-passenger stretch, 5 PM–10 PM, three listed stops' books a ride.
Rates, minimums, and what the price includes
Hourly rate against the 3–4 hour weekend minimum, or the flat transfer price. State what's included — fuel, standard stocking, tolls — so the final invoice matches the quote.
Automatic gratuity
18–20% added to the total, stated in the contract and on the quote. Auto-gratuity surprises are the most common review complaint in the industry; disclosure up front neutralizes it.
Overtime terms
Billed in 15- or 30-minute increments at 1.25–1.5× the hourly rate, subject to the chauffeur's next booking. The client authorizes overtime by staying out — the clause makes that explicit.
Cancellation tier schedule
Typical structure: deposit forfeited inside 30 days, 50% inside 14 days, 100% inside 72 hours. Prom and wedding dates are sold-out inventory that can't be re-booked late.
Damage and cleaning fee schedule
Posted amounts: excessive cleaning $100–$250, sickness $250–$500, burns or upholstery damage at repair cost. A card on file authorized for incidentals is standard.
Vehicle substitution clause
If the booked vehicle breaks down, the operator may substitute a comparable or upgraded vehicle at no extra charge — and that substitution is fulfillment, not breach. This clause saves the business when the Escalade dies on a Friday.
Conduct, capacity, and alcohol terms
Passenger count capped at rated capacity, no smoking, no underage drinking (the operator must comply with state law regardless of who booked), and the chauffeur's right to terminate the ride for unsafe conduct without refund.
Typical limousine rates and terms (U.S., 2026)
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stretch limousine (hourly) | $95 – $200/hr | 3–4 hr weekend minimum |
| SUV limo / party bus | $150 – $350/hr | Capacity-dependent |
| Sedan airport transfer | $75 – $200 flat | Plus airport fees and tolls |
| Deposit | 25% – 50% | Non-refundable, due at booking |
| Gratuity | 18% – 20% | Often added automatically |
| Overtime | 1.25× – 1.5× hourly | 15–30 min increments |
| Cleaning / sickness fee | $100 – $500 | Posted schedule in contract |
Rates vary by market, vehicle, and date — prom season and New Year's Eve command premiums and longer minimums. Interstate charter operators also carry federal (FMCSA) authority requirements.
How limousine service contracts work in practice
Wedding day service
Weddings book the longest lead times and the least flexibility: a fixed itinerary (prep location, ceremony, photos, reception), a decorated vehicle, and zero tolerance for lateness. The contract locks the itinerary at booking with a cutoff for changes (commonly 7 days out), prices added stops, and carries the substitution clause prominently — because the couple needs to know a mechanical failure means a comparable car shows up, not a refund and an empty curb.
Prom and event groups
Prom bookings concentrate risk: minors, peak-date inventory, and parents signing for groups. The contract requires an adult signer who accepts financial responsibility, states the zero-alcohol policy and the chauffeur's right to end the ride for violations without refund, and applies the strictest cancellation tier — a prom-night vehicle released two days out doesn't get re-booked.
Corporate accounts and airport work
Corporate clients run on negotiated flat transfer rates, monthly invoicing on Net 15–30, and a no-show policy (full fare after a stated wait — commonly 30 minutes domestic, 60 international, with wait time billed beyond the included grace period). The contract names who may book against the account, because 'someone from the company called' is not an authorization trail that survives an invoice dispute.
Mistakes that weaken a limousine service contract
Quoting hourly without a minimum
A two-hour Saturday-night booking blocks the vehicle for the whole evening. The 3–4 hour weekend minimum exists because the inventory is the night, not the hour — put it in the contract, not in the argument afterward.
Springing gratuity at the final invoice
Auto-gratuity is standard and defensible; undisclosed auto-gratuity is a one-star review generator. The percentage belongs on the quote and in the signed contract.
No card on file for incidentals
Collecting a cleaning fee after the fact from a one-time prom group is functionally impossible. An authorization on file, agreed in the contract, turns the 2 AM cleanup from a loss into a line item.
Vague overtime handling
'We'll see if the car is available' becomes a dispute when the next client is waiting. Fixed increments, a fixed multiplier, and the chauffeur's schedule as the limit — decided in writing at booking.
Refunding peak dates as goodwill
Releasing a prom-season Saturday two days out and refunding the deposit donates sold inventory. The cancellation tiers exist because the calendar is the product; honor them consistently or they're meaningless.
How to use this template
- 01
Download the limousine service contract template in Word or PDF.
- 02
Enter the vehicle, capacity, date, service window, and each stop on the itinerary.
- 03
Set the hourly rate and minimum (or flat transfer rate), the deposit, and the auto-gratuity percentage.
- 04
Fill in the overtime increment and multiplier, and the cancellation tier schedule.
- 05
Attach the damage/cleaning fee schedule and take a card authorization for incidentals.
- 06
Have the client sign, collect the deposit, and confirm the itinerary in writing before the service date.
Skip this template if…
- Charter bus operations above 15 passengers crossing state lines — FMCSA operating authority and different insurance minimums apply.
- Rideshare or taxi-style per-mile service — metered transport runs on different regulatory and pricing structures.
FAQs
How much does it cost to rent a limo?
Stretch limousines typically run $95–$200 per hour with a 3–4 hour weekend minimum; SUV limos and party buses run $150–$350 per hour. Airport sedan transfers are usually flat-rate at $75–$200 plus tolls and airport fees. Gratuity of 18–20% is normally added on top.
Why do limo companies require a deposit?
A booked vehicle is inventory removed from sale for that date. The 25–50% non-refundable deposit compensates the operator if the client cancels after the date can no longer be re-booked — which is also why cancellation fees scale as the date approaches.
What happens if we run over our booked time?
Overtime bills in 15–30 minute increments at typically 1.25–1.5× the hourly rate, subject to the chauffeur's next booking. A good contract states this up front so staying out later is an authorized, priced choice rather than a dispute.
What if the limo breaks down on the day?
Standard contracts include a substitution clause: the operator provides a comparable or upgraded vehicle at no additional charge, and that substitution fulfills the contract. Outright failure to provide any vehicle typically refunds all payments — but substitution, not refund, is the promised remedy.
Can a chauffeur end the ride early?
Yes, when the contract reserves it — for unsafe conduct, exceeding rated capacity, underage drinking, or damage to the vehicle, typically without refund. The clause protects the operator's license and insurance, which take priority over the booking.
Is gratuity included in a limo contract?
Most operators add 18–20% gratuity automatically and state it in the contract and quote. If it isn't stated, ask — the practice is near-universal, and the disputes come from discovering it on the final charge rather than at booking.
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