Okay parents, you want to get a limo for your kid's birthday. That sounds like a great treat, doesn't it? Your kid has his or her heart set on a Hummer Stretch that holds something crazy like 20 people. I don't expect you to know a lot about limos and coach builders, but here are some questions you need to be asking for when booking limos:

1. Is the limo certified? Most manufacturers have certification programs after limos were involved in some very bad accidents. Ford, for example, has QVM which does crash testing of limos and sets guidelines to ensure that they are safe. Hummers are notoriously very dangerous limos, one reason that our fleet does not have any. These certification programs also have limits to which you can safely stretch a vehicle, many of these "super stretches" violate these safety precautions.

2. Have you seen the inside of the limo? Many higher capacity limos forgo a beverage center. If this is for your kids it is not really a problem as they are not drinking anyway. The problem arises that there are two benches facing each other, ensuring no leg room. In these situations people have to sit with their legs between each other, think of it like a zipper. This is alright for very short trips but driving an hour into the city is incredibly uncomfortable. Make sure you see the interior of the vehicle before you book it, either online or in person.

3. Ask about final rates. A lot of companies are sneaky and only quote you their base cost. When you get your bill you see fuel charges, gratuity, STC charges, etc. which often can increase the base cost by as much as 35%. When you price shop make sure you are quoted the true cost, not the base. Ask about any surcharges that the company will apply.