Night Out Car Service in San Francisco

A night out car service keeps one car and one chauffeur with you for the evening. Book it by the hour, and the car waits while you have dinner, see the show and stop for a drink after. You get home at the end of the night without driving, parking or looking for a ride.

This guide covers how an hourly booking works for an evening in the city, what to send us, which car to choose, and the practical points about parking, drinks and the ride home.

With an hourly charter, the car and chauffeur stay with you for the hours you reserve. The chauffeur waits at each stop. You can add a stop, change the order, or stay longer at dinner.

You pay one hourly rate. Fuel, tolls and waiting between stops are included. Most hourly reservations carry a minimum that depends on the vehicle and the date, and dispatch confirms it when you book. Water, Wi-Fi and device chargers are on board.

A typical evening in San Francisco might look like this:

1. Pickup at home or your hotel
2. Dinner at a restaurant in another neighborhood
3. A show
4. Drinks somewhere after
5. The ride home

If your evening has one stop, a flat-rate point-to-point ride each way may be all you need. Each ride is a fixed price between two addresses.

Once you have two or three stops, hourly is usually simpler. With separate rides, each pickup is its own booking, and you need to be at the door on time: for non-airport pickups, the first 5 minutes of waiting are complimentary, and after that waiting is billed by the minute under our reservation terms. With an hourly booking, waiting between stops is part of the rate, so a show that runs a little long is covered within your reserved hours.

The more we know, the easier the night runs. When you book, send:

• The pickup address and time
• Each stop in order, with the address and any reservation time, such as dinner at 7 and a show at 9
• How many people are coming
• The address for the ride home, if it differs from the pickup
• A mobile number for the evening
• Anything the chauffeur should know, such as a step-free entrance or a side door

If plans change during the evening, let your chauffeur know and dispatch will confirm the change. Adding a stop or changing the order is part of an hourly booking.

For a couple, First Class is a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or similar, for 2 passengers. The Luxury Sedan, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, also takes 2 passengers.

For a few friends, the Luxury SUV is a Cadillac Escalade ESV or similar and seats up to 5 passengers. The cars are late-model vehicles, detailed before each ride, and a suited chauffeur handles the doors.

If you drive yourself, parking becomes part of the plan. A few points from the SFMTA:

• Most city parking meters are enforced from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, but hours and rates vary, so SFMTA advises checking the meter.
• Meters also run on Sundays in some areas, including Fisherman's Wharf and the Embarcadero.
• Most meters have a four-hour time limit, and adding money to stay past the limit can bring a citation.
• Some city garages close at night. The SFMTA lists its Civic Center Garage as closing at 10 p.m.

With an hourly booking, you leave the car with the chauffeur between stops. If parking fees come up during the reservation, they can be added to the final charge, as our terms explain.

The California DMV says it is illegal for a driver aged 21 or older to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. The DMV's driver handbook also sets a lower limit, 0.04%, for anyone driving passengers for hire.

With a car booked for the evening, nobody in your group has to drive. The ride home is already on the itinerary, and it ends at your door.

Open alcohol in the vehicle may be restricted or prohibited depending on the vehicle type, passenger age, service type, location and the law. If you hope to bring something along, ask dispatch when you book. Smoking and vaping are not allowed in the vehicle.

Sedan and SUV reservations can be cancelled free of charge at least 24 hours before pickup. You get one flat, all-inclusive quote before you confirm. If the evening changes on the day, with extra stops or extra time, the final charge can change. Gratuity is not included and is optional.

Dispatch runs 24/7 and will confirm your quote, usually within the hour. Reserve your car online, or call (888) 491-3088.