Here are some of the top things you should know before, during your party bus rental.
Top 3 Things To Ask (Before Rental)
1. Ask what the complete cost of the trip is, including all fees.
Some party bus companies will give a base rate, which only includes the rental price and tax. The driver of the party bus is providing a service. There is a service industry standard for most areas to tip the driver 15-20% on the base rate before tax. Some companies already include this amount when they originally quote you.
2. Ask if they're fully licensed, and have the proper up to date insurance.
It is in your groups best interest to inquire on licensing, prior to renting from any company. Like all industries there is always someone willing to cut corners and not obtain licenses, inspections, or proper insurance for what they do. Any company that would have an issue talking to you about this information shouldn't be trusted. Their service could potentially harm party bus rentals you if the vehicle were to get into an accident, without proper licenses, or insurance.
3. Ask if alcohol is allowed on the party bus, if you're of legal drinking age.
Some areas have laws against alcohol consumption on party buses. It is strongly recommended you ask this ahead of time, as most consumers assume it is legal and allowed.
It is in your best interest to ask ahead of time so there's no surprises on the day of your rental.
4. Ask which audio devices are in the vehicle you're renting.
Every vehicle has it's own type of audio devices. Most consumers assume that every party bus will have an ipod input, mp3 input, cd player, and dvd player. This isn't the case though as some party buses still only have cd players. Ensure you ask a head of time so don't have any surprises on the day of your rental.
Top 4 Things To Ask (During Rental)
1. Ask for the drivers phone number.
Most companies will gladly provide the party bus drivers phone number to allow you to communicate with the driver directly. Some companies may require all communications to go through the office to allow the driver to focus on safely driving the party bus.
2. Ask the driver that picked you up if they'll be the same driver for other the segments of your trip, if applicable.
Most companies will put the same driver on all segments of your trip. It's best to find out the driver and their phone number for the other segments of your trip to ensure your party bus rentals goes smoothly.
3. Ask the driver what information they have for the other segments of your trip, if applicable.
Companies are run by humans, and sometimes human errors are made. It is in your best interest to ensure that the driver taking care of your transportation is aware of the correct details.
4. Are there any additional costs I should be aware of.
Sometimes trips will go over the allotted quoted time, which could result in additional fees. There's also a chance that your group may of damaged the vehicle in some way, which you want to be aware of right away. It's strongly recommended to speak with the driver at the end of the trip to find out of there is any additional fee being charged to you, so you can split the cost with your group that night. It'll be much harder for you to go back to your group down the road when you see a charge to your credit card on file.