Hourly car service gives you a dedicated vehicle and driver for a set number of hours. Here's how it works and what it costs in 2026.
How Hourly Car Service Works
You book a vehicle for a minimum number of hours. The driver stays with you the entire time — waiting while you're in meetings, driving between stops, and available for last-minute changes. No need to rebook between appointments. The clock starts at your first pickup and ends when you're dropped off at your final destination.
2026 Hourly Rates by Vehicle Type
| Vehicle | Hourly Rate | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Sedan | $75/hr | 3 hours |
| Cadillac Escalade SUV | $95/hr | 3 hours |
| Mercedes Sprinter Van | $125/hr | 4 hours |
| Stretch Limousine | $150/hr | 3 hours |
| Party Bus (up to 30) | $225/hr | 4 hours |
All rates include fuel, vehicle, and driver. Tolls, parking, and gratuity are additional.
Minimum Hour Requirements
Three-hour minimums apply to sedans, SUVs, and stretch limos. Sprinter vans and party buses require four hours. During peak season (May-October) and holidays, minimums may increase to 4-5 hours. We don't pad minimums — if your event genuinely needs only 3 hours, that's what you pay.
Hourly vs Point-to-Point: Which Saves More?
If you have 2-3 stops in a single outing, hourly wins. Example: hotel pickup, two client meetings downtown, dinner reservation, hotel drop-off — that's 4 stops across 4 hours. Point-to-point would cost $89 x 4 trips = $356. Hourly sedan at $75 x 4 = $300, and you never wait for a new car.
Book Hourly Car Service
Call (224) 801-3090 for a custom hourly quote, or reserve at /book. We'll build the itinerary together.
From the Driver's Seat
Chauffeur notes — Roberto, 11 years with Royal Carriage
On late-night returns to the suburbs I keep interior lights on 10% dim rather than full-off because passengers appreciate being able to see their bags and phones without the harsh click of the overhead. Small thing, but it's the difference between a 5-star and a tip-and-rebook.
Last updated: 2026-04-05. Route tested winter 2026.
Key Points
- Flat-rate pricing, no surge charges
- 24/7 dispatch, live Chicago-based staff
- Call (224) 801-3090 or book online at /book
- Licensed, insured, and background-checked chauffeurs
Transparent Pricing for Chicago Service
| Vehicle | Capacity | Hourly | Airport Transfer (one-way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Sedan (Cadillac XTS / Lincoln Continental) | 1-3 | $95/hr | $125-165 |
| Luxury SUV (Cadillac Escalade / Chevy Suburban) | 1-6 | $125/hr | $165-225 |
| Stretch Limousine (10-pax) | 8-10 | $165/hr | Quote |
| Mercedes Sprinter Van | 10-14 | $175/hr | $245-325 |
| Party Bus (20-pax) | 16-20 | $245/hr | Quote |
All rates include chauffeur, fuel, bottled water, and standard wait time. 20% gratuity customary. No hidden surge pricing — ever. Quoted rates valid 2026.
Vehicle Selection Guidance
Royal Carriage maintains a late-model fleet of sedans, SUVs, stretch limos, Sprinter vans, and party buses. Every vehicle carries commercial insurance well above the Illinois minimum, undergoes monthly safety inspections, and is detailed between runs. Chauffeurs complete a 40-hour training program covering Chicago geography, defensive driving, and concierge etiquette before their first solo run.
- Business attire standard: Chauffeurs arrive in suit and tie with a printed name placard if you request one.
- Child seats: Available at no charge with 24-hour notice — infant, convertible, and booster.
- Accessibility: Several SUVs are wheelchair-accessible with rear-entry ramps; request at booking.
- Flight tracking: We monitor every pickup against your flight number and adjust automatically for delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we set up a corporate account?
Yes. Monthly net-30 invoicing with a dedicated account manager, a reporting portal showing every ride, and consolidated billing across employees. Minimum $2,500/month activity.
Do your chauffeurs sign NDAs?
Every Royal Carriage chauffeur signs a standing NDA as a condition of employment. We regularly move C-suite executives, attorneys, and private equity principals where discretion is non-negotiable.
Can you provide multi-city coordination?
We partner with vetted affiliates in 40+ US cities for a smooth travel experience. Book through Chicago dispatch, ride in curated vehicles nationwide, receive one invoice.
What's the billing structure for roadshows?
Hourly with a daily cap. A typical 10-hour investor roadshow bills at the hourly rate up to the cap, then becomes all-inclusive. No overtime surprises.
How do you handle last-minute changes?
Dispatch is staffed 24/7 by Chicago-based agents. Text or call for routing changes, additional stops, or vehicle swaps — we're set up to react in under 10 minutes.
Is Royal Carriage TNC or limousine licensed?
We operate under Illinois Commerce Commission limousine authority (ICC #MC-LIMO-2019). That's a stricter license than TNC/rideshare — commercial insurance minimum $1.5M, driver background checks, vehicle inspection program.
Why Chicago Riders Choose Royal Carriage
We've been moving Chicagoans since 2009. Unlike rideshare, every Royal Carriage chauffeur is a W-2 employee, not a gig contractor — meaning consistent training, background-checked drivers, and accountability on every ride. Our dispatch runs 24/7 out of a staffed Chicago office (not an overseas call center), and the person who books your ride is the same person who'll answer if your flight gets rerouted to Milwaukee at 2 a.m.
We serve the entire Chicagoland area: downtown Loop, River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, and every North Shore and West Suburban community, plus O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) with full flight tracking.
Book Your Chicago Limo
Ready to ride? Reserve online in under 60 seconds or call our 24/7 dispatch.
- Book online: royalcarriagelimo.com/book
- Call/text: (224) 801-3090
- Email: dispatch@royalcarriagelimo.com
We confirm every reservation by text within 15 minutes and send your chauffeur's name, photo, and live location 30 minutes before pickup.
Last updated: 2026-04-07. Pricing subject to change. Book online or call (224) 801-3090 for a current quote.