As title, anyone do / done any chauffeur work / executive car work? Maybe airport runs as well?

Thinking about ways to top up my income or possibly a new career path altogether. I currently drive a truck, but fancy something different so have just completed a CPC course, meaning I may spend more time in the office managing our small fleet. In my spare time / weekends I fancy going self employed as a Chauffeur / Exec car travel.

Wondered if anyone has done it or knows someone doing it? Is work good? Any tips of the trade, suggestions or advice on cars / insurance / finding work welcome.

I'm considering a Beemer 730d, poss LWB model, or maybe a S Class or even a CLS (they look amazing, but not sure on interior space thanks to the shape?)

Chatted to one guy who ran my Transport Manager's course, and he's just buying a 2nd car to back up his current spare time Merc S Class Chauffeur car. Seems to be working well for him

Ideally I'd love to work for just a few select clients, but airport runs etc would be ok if necessary to boost the income.

Any thoughts welcomed

Si

 

Cls are not very big in side come in are work all the time

 

Thought that might be the case Dan. They looks really smart on the road - done up nicely or on a private plate and they look like a £80k car to me. Really like them, but no good if space is restricted for the funky looks.

Think the traditional 7 series or S class is the way forward then.

Saw a really nice 760Li in Black with every option bar heated steering wheel. Looked awesome, but heavy on the go go juice, and pricey compared to lower miles / newer 730 diesels.

Would love a V12 though

 

Love the presence of these cars:





I'd have to sell the Evo to fund them in the first place, but no huge drama, I'm sure I'd survive pimping around in one of these!

Hmmm...

 

Yea we get 57 register ones go out for about 17k but they do look the nuts and go well for a big car

 

There's a new shape 7 series now, don't think I'd want to be exec chauffeured in an old model.

 

Where do you work now then Dan?

I've seen quite a few newer shape 5 and 7 series since the new plates went out a week ago. Don't like the look of them at all , but you're right I guess. Unless it's the newest model / latest shape, they can look quite dated and not as good amongst the newer ones.

Newest shape = bigger £s too

 

Yhep know it well as my sister has her own chauffeuring company does weddings, to airport runs to corporate events to advertisement for companies etc Its worthwile going into if you can afford it and have contacts in place already.. Of course you can start from the bottom but its alot harder etc 7 series is a good one to have even if its the old shape ( facelift model 2007 onwards).. My sister uses a bently arnage for corporate runs and has flyings spurs, phantoms etc for proms, weddings and the other stuff. Also does self car hire aswel on more exotic cars.

Iv got a 7 series for this exact thing but not used it.. its got 9,000 miles from new and its a 2008 its a disel so good on fuel etc has all the luxurys and thats what you need. People who go to airport runs are not bothered if its a brand new car or a car thats a year or two old if they were then they be hiring out a Bently or similar.. They just like to arrive in comfort and style and a 7 series does both.

 

manheim acctions mate

 

Soblet me get this straight, you want to spend £17k and upwards on a car to use at the weekend to drive peeps about in order to earn a few quid?

Most places will hire you a car to do the job and you simply pay the hire charges and fuel, my cousin used to own and run his own cab office back when he was alive and I recently spoke to on of his old drivers who said that the bigger cars were costing about £4/500 a week to rent out while his prius was costing about £270 a week and overall it was much cheaper to run and park up etc.

Don't forget you need to have a minicab license as well along with the required checks to go with them

 

you dont need a mini cab license for chaufering but you do need the correct license

 

So he won't need to have the green badge on the car then? Main issue is that if you don't declare the income you get royally shafted because the inspectors tend to hang about at the airports because it's such an easy revenue stream.

I was earning £400 in my pocket about 20 years ago doing cabbying with all the account jobs paying for the cost of the hire of the radio for the week so all I had to do was find a tenner a day fir fuel and £60 a month for insurance

I suppose now there are all sorts of names for essentially the same thing though?

 

I would be surprised if you can make a return on an investment with a rapidly depreciating asset which you are only utilising at weekends for one or two trips.

Your fixed overheads (depreciation being the main one, then insurance, then tax) are going to be the same as if you were full time essentially, but your turnover will be very small. So the percentage of fixed overhead per run is going to be massive and that will eat into your profit.


I dont think its viable economically, you'd probably make more money with a part time job in mcdonalds.

 

CLS has just been renewed and the new car is noticable different from the old one.

If you plan to chauffeur in London you will need a Public Carriage Office licence for the car. That narrows the options for spot hire because very few companies have licenced cars for hire.

Don't know why everyone is talking about the 7 Series when everyone KNOWS a chauffeur-drive limo HAS to be an S Class!

 

no it dosent I could say a real chauffeur experience has to be in a rolls royce phantom

 

Totally irrelevant for the type of work he is looking to do.

I use cars 3-4 nights a week and most weekends. Late home, sporting events, airport runs etc etc.

As long as its big and comfy.... and not smelly and too old, then I am totally unbothered as to what generation car or shape it is!

Biggest thing for me is if the car has decent nav in it (tomtom is fine) so that I can relax/sleep and not have to direct an annoying driver to my house or destination.

 

I'd say that AT LEAST 75% of people aren't going to have a clue whether it's the latest generation of 7 Series or S-Class or not, and even less are going to care.

As long as it's immaculate, you're laughing.

Certainly, some people will be picky and want the latest and greatest, but they'll go elsewhere. Likelihood is, you'll be more competitive on price and pick up customers that the competition won't, so it's swings and roundabouts really. That's the nature of virtually any business.

 

As Mentioned , you really can forget a CLS ! ( Whilst they are gorgeously beautiful cars , I know I own a Brabus tuned one )

Interior is very cramped inside and most defo not a chauffers car , and theyre a 2+2 !

The 2 choices are the BM or the S Class but both have to be the "L" version ! Myself Id plumb for the S Class , took one from Charles De G airport into centre of Paris and it was just such an inspired place to be ! messed about with the massage fully adjustable seat , massive leg room ! totally silent inside just loved it .... Now want an AMG kitted S class

 

Thats not the kind of thing I thought he had in mind when he said 'exec' I was thinking more of turning up at events where there were clients to impress or press etc, where the car would be a visible display of status.

I accept we may be at cross purposes

 

LOL @ anyone in business being impressed by a car anyway, helicopter maybe

 

Depends who you are dealing with totally.....petty directors of SME's generally take it as a measure of cock size IME. And there's fucking loads of them around.

 

Sod paying a firm to drive you anywhere, you can employ me to drive you about in the fezza (as long as I get to use it on the weekends )

 

Has to be an S class, beemers are for cocks!

 

I think your missing out on another luxury german barge, what about the long wheel base a8?

 

Some pretty respectiable looking jags about for not too much money as well.

 

chauffering is one step up from minicabbing all them sweaty birds and pissed up blokes in your car and then you take the mrs out mind the damp patch love

you may aswell get a transit tourneo and do airports and chuck the lot in and do nightclubs and pubs etc and a half tidy tranny is about 8 grand and won't fall out of bed value wise,then theres the other drivers who regularly clock there motor to keep things sweet with the vat man. Are you prepared to have to be a dodge pot like most taxi drivers/chauffers are.

if you really want to earn some wedge get a transit lwb and do removals,you can do moonlight flits or light loads and flats washing machines 3 piece suites etc etc and thats a better payer when you work out the depreciation aspect as a decent tranny for 2 grand doesn't lose anything over a year if you get a good one. Luton tranny vans with a tail lift are great too for obvious reasons

 

what about a VW phateon LWB, not the best badge but i guess 90 percent of clients wouldent care

 

XJ LWB

 

Si, a friend of mine does this as his full time job and seems to do really well. Has his own business with his dad I think and they sub in other drivers as needed. They have a good client base which is important.

Car wise they use Audi A8's. Switched into these from S class Mercs as they spent too much time back at the dealers going wrong.

I think if you invest in a big luxury car to do this it only pays if its being used all the time. Bit like airplanes. They dont make money sitting on the ground.

 

Yep, too much depreciation for something thats only used occasionally, it will be losing money faster than he is earning it if he isnt careful and he'll end up paying to work not getting paid

 

Just one thing might just be me but when I used to go uni I used to be in the centre of London every day and used to see plenty of people being chauffeured places plenty of 7 series and S classes around but also plenty of E classes too. Just another thing I used to think to myself too don't know if anyone else thinks the same but I see a big £50-£60k 7 series or nice S Class in black proper presence these cars....then I see a diesel badge on the back ....Don't have to go for a guzzling V12 nice V8 would do.

 

One of out work chauffeurs has a new Lexus Hybrid thing, looks bloody lovely, plus because of its 'hybrid' electric thingies or whatever it can/could attract corporate companies as being 'greener' than your everyday 7 series? You could think about doing airport run service thing, get a nice Merc people carrier (one of the luxury ones), undercut the competition slightly and your onto a winner. People always use cars to airports, you know your destinations, times etc etc.....

Word of advice though, dont bother with stretched limos etc.... I bought one about 5 years ago and its not an easy market!!

Chris

 

Why would he want to sit in a noisey bumpy sportscar when he could have some privacy, room and comfort in the back of a luxury car?!

 

 

I think you maybe under estimating just how much this will cost to run.
It's going to be a false economy if you are only going to do 'one or two' nights/days with it.

I have a hand in the Hackney cab trade and whilst I appreciate its not the same thing, if you are 'plying for trade' (advertising for airport runs) you will need the relevant public carriage insurance for a start (for my black cab its £2000 per year - just to give you an idea)

You will also, as far as i am aware, need the vehicle to pass the council test (which is done twice a year at £500 a pop depending on the council authority) to ensure its road worthyness complies with the relevant hire legislation

Dont want to put you off and I wish you the very best of British luck, but your best to contact the council and research all the relavent licences and insurances that you will need to have.

you could ignore that advice and do it 'underhand', but the moment you have an accident on a job and your passengers are hurt you will be fucked big time.

Oh there is one type of vehicle that I see round Manchester as 'executive' hire vehicles that no one here has mentioned and it would suit your needs perfectly if you go ahead:

The Mercedes V class (think its now the Viano). they do it as an 'executive' 5/6 seater people carrier with privacy glass and all the bells and whistles.
This will be more suitable as it'll have plenty of space for luggage and be perfect for Airport runs. They can come with full leather and swivilling seats if your 'clients' are business people having a 'pre business' meeting en route to a venue ect.

Good luck!

 

My father started out minicabbing 24 years ago and only in the last 10 years could he really be classed as a chauffeur. It took him that long to build up a good reliable client base.

I also look after accounts about a dozen chauffeurs that operate out of Heathrow airport.

Now, while I do admire your spirit, to be honest I don't think chauffeuring right from the off will be the best way to go, its a big commitment, a lot to take on especially when you have little to no experience of the work.

First off, lets look at the type of clientele your aiming for, its basically going to be high net worth individuals, and company executives. Now these are the sort of people who will want you when they want you to be there. They will probably want a chauffeur they can call upon and rely upon 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Right from the off if your doing this as a weekend after work only deal your going to knock out a large number of your potential clients. They are not going to use you regularly if they can't call you during the week and ask you to run them from a-b if your going to be working. So I don't think this is something you can do on your todd. Your going to need to sign yourself up with an agency who don't mind throwing you the odd job here and there, but even then your going to be restricting yourself, but at least it will mean you wont have to be chasing work up for yourself and you have an agency providing you work when your available.

Second of all lets look at your choice of vehicle. Pretty much every chauffeur I know use Mercedes Viano people carriers, including my father. The reason being is that most of his business work is picking up people from airports and taking them to their hotels, which means luggage, and quite often he picks up parties of 2 or 3 or more people, the Viano is the only car that allows him to pick up 2 or more people with luggage for a business trips. Also his high end networth customers usually have families, who want running too and from the airport which means 3+ people and luggage. You may find yourself being a bit restricted by getting yourself anything smaller. But the Viano is still pretty comfortable, loads of space, my Dads one even has a refrigerated cool box in it.

Third the legalities. You can apply for a carriage license from your local council, there are some strict guidelines to meet, but I know for one thing, a carriage license from a council in Somerset will not automatically mean you can operate outside of that county. For example you could drive a customer into London, but you couldn't pick anyone up from London, it also means you have to pay the congestion charge unless you also obtain a license from the TFL. There are associated costs to this including a more stringent MOT test too.

Fourthly, your area, how much have you looked into your area? Are there lots of high end individuals who could use your services? Are there many companies in your area that could do the same? How can you penetrate your market if for example they already have a company they use who could potentially do it cheaper and be more available than you? I don't know what area of Somerset you live or what the market it like there, but this is probably the most important thing your going to look at.

Fifthly, do you know anyone in your area in that line of work? If you do, can they refer you business? Give you advice? Have you spoken to anyone about this at all?

And lastly, the finances, how much will buying a vehicle to use cost you? How much work will you need to do to meet your commitments? How much is your insurance going to cost? (I know my father pays quite a lot for his Chauffeurs insurance) are you going to have enough money to cover the purchase of this car, the running of it and your insurance? Also bearing in mind your going to be paying more tax on any money you earn doing this because its a second job. Ultimately, if you put all that money into that car will you make a return on it?

My recommendation, get yourself a smart ish Diesel car that has plenty of space and you can run people about in with luggage that will not cost you the earth to buy and run and then get registered with a local cab office. Yes its not a glamorous as a chauffeur, but its where my father started 24 years ago and now all he does are company executives, retired rich people and the odd foreign dignatory (He has a ex US ambassador on his books, Take That, Jenson Button, Footballers, TV stars, and he has had the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in his car too!) Plus signing up to an Agency will let you see if you actually enjoy the work before committing yourself too much.

Hope this helps.

 

Just had a glance at this thread from my phone, so will read it properly when I'm home and answer any questions etc then.

Just wanted to say a huge thanks to anyone that has replied, but especially MadMac above. Wow, what an awesome reply

This is exactly why I love this place, the level of knowledge and advice etc on here whatever the subject never ceases to amaze me

 

Don't be too nice lol, I only know all this from my day job! When I get to my office tomorrow I will have a look and see if I can't dig up any more info for you.

 

i have to agree with what's been said above, i dont think you'd make much at all just doing it weekends, especially as most exec travel is demand, whereby you are on call 24-7 and not just weekends

you'd be better off (as already stated) doing airport runs in a mini bus, carting big families to & from airports

i did have a quick look today at old luxury cars, cant believe how cheap some are now, look at the prices of S320 mercs! £3k for a motor that cost £60k new