Chauffeur Service FAQs: Prices, Airports, Waiting Time and Cancellation
Prices, booking and the questions people ask most
Quick answers first. Each one links to the page with the full details and prices.
How much does a chauffeur cost in London?
From £72 per hour (4-hour minimum), £528 for a full 8-hour day, £120 for a one-way transfer and £144 from Heathrow to Central London — all including VAT. See the full 2026 price list.
How much is a chauffeur from Heathrow to Central London?
From £144 in an Executive Mercedes E-Class and £180 in a First Class S-Class, including VAT, meet & greet and 60 minutes of free waiting. Details on our airport chauffeur page.
Can I hire a chauffeur for 2 hours?
Hourly hire has a 4-hour minimum (from £288). For a single A-to-B journey, a fixed one-way transfer from £120 is usually better value. See chauffeur by the hour and one-way transfers.
Can I hire a driver for a whole day?
Yes — from £66 per hour with an 8-hour minimum (£528 for the day in an E-Class), including 60 miles. See full-day chauffeur hire.
What is the difference between a driver and a chauffeur?
A driver takes you from A to B. A chauffeur is a licensed professional who provides a complete service: meet & greet, luggage handling, door service, flight monitoring, a suit and tie, discretion and a premium vehicle no more than five years old. Our chauffeurs are DBS-checked, licensed and have at least three years’ experience as chauffeurs; many are defensive-driving trained.
Do I need a private hire licence to be a chauffeur in London?
Yes. Every chauffeur must hold a private hire driver’s licence, and the vehicle and operator must be licensed too. In London the licensing authority is Transport for London (TfL); drivers licensed by local councils such as Castle Point and Hertsmere work to the same standards and may carry out pre-booked journeys anywhere in the UK. Excel Chauffeurs operates as a licensed private hire operator, and our chauffeurs hold TfL, Castle Point or Hertsmere licences, so every journey is fully insured and compliant.
How much waiting time is free?
60 minutes at airports (with live flight monitoring), 30 minutes at private jet terminals and train stations, and 15 minutes for all other pickups.
Are the Congestion Charge, parking and tolls extra?
Where they apply, they are added at cost into your quote, so the final price you see before you pay is the total you pay. Any event-area or late-night supplement is included in that quote, and nothing is added after the journey.
How far in advance should I book?
We operate 24/7 and can often accommodate same-day requests, but booking ahead secures your preferred vehicle. Book online for an instant fixed quote, call 0204 515 4441 or WhatsApp +44 7383 009 099.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation terms depend on the service and notice given; the full policy is in Clause 4 of our terms and conditions, and a 3% admin fee applies only to bookings over £750.
Do you offer business accounts?
Yes — invoiced corporate accounts with ex-VAT pricing (for example £60 per hour for an Executive E-Class) and negotiated rates for regular or multi-car bookings. See our corporate chauffeur service.
What happens if my chauffeur is late?
You are covered by our On-Time Guarantee: a partial cash refund on a published sliding scale if we are late, and a full refund if you cancel after a delay of more than 15 minutes. See the On-Time Guarantee.
More questions about your journey
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Upon your arrival at the airport, you can easily locate your chauffeur by searching for the sign or name-board they will be holding. Additionally, the chauffeur will send a text message to the mobile number you have provided prior to your flight landing. In case you are unable to find them, kindly call +44 (0) 204 515 4441 or refer to the chauffeur’s mobile number on your booking confirmation. It is important to not leave the terminal before finding your chauffeur.
Our chauffeurs will be there to meet you even if your flight arrives earlier than expected. We constantly monitor flight schedules to ensure that our chauffeurs arrive on time and provide you with the best service possible.
We will then amend your booking accordingly and ensure that your chauffeur is ready to meet you at the new arrival time. We are always available to help, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us for assistance during any unexpected delays.
The travel time to Heathrow from Central London is approximately 60 minutes, while the journey to Gatwick from Central London takes around 90 minutes, depending on traffic and the time of day.
However, it is important to note that these estimated times can vary and it is always best to plan for extra time in case of unexpected traffic or road conditions.
Airport parking and toll fees are included in the final quote, which is a fixed price of £10 to £20. However, any additional car park fees requested within the city will be added to your final bill. Our aim is to keep these costs as low as possible for your convenience.
Absolutely not! None of our chauffeurs will ever speed.
Your privacy and confidentiality are our top priorities and we ensure that our chauffeurs adhere to the strictest standards of confidentiality. You can trust that your private conversations and information will be kept confidential and secure at all times.
Our chauffeurs are trained to be professional, courteous, and respectful. If the passenger(s) prefer to have a quiet ride, the chauffeur will remain discreet and not engage in conversation. If the passenger(s) prefer to have a friendly chat, the chauffeur will be happy to engage in conversation. Our main goal is to provide a comfortable and enjoyable ride for our passengers.
No, your chauffeur will not use a mobile phone while driving. This is a safety precaution to ensure the safety of all passengers. This is against the law.
Yes, your chauffeur will be happy to assist with opening doors for the passengers.
Yes, your chauffeur will be more than happy to assist with carrying your luggage. Our chauffeurs are trained to provide a five-star service, which includes assisting with luggage.
Yes, our chauffeurs are always smartly dressed in a suit and tie.
Yes, you can be notified when your car and chauffeur arrive. Our chauffeur services offer text message or email notifications when the car and chauffeur arrive.
It is best to book as far in advance as possible to ensure availability. For most services, we recommend booking at least two hours in advance.
Yes, we are able to set up a business account for you. You may be invoiced per trip or per week (7 days term), please contact the office for more details. ‘Subject to approval’.
We will require 100% from full amount to secure your booking.
Yes, all vehicles are cleaned and sanitized. All vehicles are washed daily and are regularly valeted.
Safety is always our utmost priority. Cars are serviced regularly in accordance with the manufacturer‘s requirements. Additionally, it is the chauffeur‘s responsibility to check the oil, coolants, and tyre pressures daily.
Yes, please visit our tariff page.
Yes, we do provide discounts. Please speak to our team about this. Call our office at +44 (0) 204 515 4441 or send an email to info@excelchauffeurs.com
Yes, you can charge your phone in the vehicle. Most vehicles have USB ports or 12V outlets that can be used to charge your phone. We offer a cables charger for both Android and iPhone devices.
Of course! We offer free bottled water, available in the vehicle.
On average, our cars are 3 years old. Maximum age per our fleet it’s 5yrs.
We provide water in all of our vehicles; however, eating is not allowed. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for more information.
All cars come equipped with a radio and Bluetooth, so if you‘d like to listen to music during your ride, please ask the driver. Some of our vehicles also have Wi–Fi and a rear TV with access to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and more. If this is one of your requirements please specify when booking the vehicle.
The Mercedes E-Class, Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, S500/S580 and Range Rover each carry two large suitcases and two cabin bags. The Mercedes V-Class carries six large suitcases and four cabin bags, and the Senzati Jet Class two large suitcases and two cabin bags. The E-Class, S-Class and BMW 7 Series seat up to four passengers (three in the rear, one beside the chauffeur); the S500/S580 and Range Rover seat three, the Senzati four and the V-Class seven. If you are travelling with more luggage, tell us when you book and we will suggest the right car or a second vehicle.