Our Mission is to educate the public on what requirements are needed for a limousine company to conduct business legally, which in return ensures safety. Also to teach consumers how to verify a company’s fleet.

If you want to rent a vehicle to transport you to and from points in Maryland (pick up and drop off in Maryland), that would be considered an INTRA-STATE transaction, which will require the company to be certified by the Maryland Public Service Commission (P.S.C.), who regulates the Maryland transportation industry. 

If you go out of state at anytime during that trip, or drop off in another state, that would be considered an INTER-STATE transaction, which will require the company to be certified by the Department of Transportation (D.O.T.). In addition, they will have to have a Motor Carrier Number (MC#), which grants them operating authority. 

PSC requires a company to do the following:

1.     Drivers have to have a separate license (“For-Hire), issued through PSC, which requires them to undergo a criminal background check and present an acceptable driving record;

2.    Their vehicles have to be inspected twice a year;

3.    They have to carry $300,000 in liability insurance. 

DOT requires the same as above, in addition to the following:

1.     For 1-15 passengers, companies must carry 1.5 million dollars liability insurance; 16 passengers or more, must be 5 million dollars in liability insurance;

2.      Drivers have to be drug and alcohol tested prior to hiring, then CDL drivers, randomly;

3.     Drivers have to present an acceptable driving record annually;

4.     CDL drivers must maintain a current medical card. 

To verify a company has Maryland INTRA-STATE authority, go to PSC’s website www.psc.state.md.us On the right side of the page, go to "Transportation", then in the middle of the page, go to "Search" and click on "Carrier Vehicles". Then click on the drop-down list where it says "All". You can then check a company by Name, PSC number (the most accurate), State, etc.  If it displays the company you're looking for, then click on "Get Vehicle List".  Here you can see their fleet, including the years of the vehicles.  

*To figure out what type vehicle is registered, the end of a tag number will show:

 "LM" = limousines / "B" = sedans, taxi cabs & vans / “P” = charter buses and other for-hire vehicles that seat 10 or more passengers and exceed 35 feet 

To verify a company has INTERSTATE authority, go to http://www.safersys.org/. Scroll down to “FMCSA Searches”. Right below that, click on “Company Snapshot” link. You can then put in the DOT#, MC# or company’s name.  If you get a report, on the right where is shows “Other Information for this Carrier”, click on “Licensing and Insurance”, then click on “View Report”. Click on “HTML”, then you can see if an application is pending or active and how much insurance they have on file.  Remember, a DOT# just identifies the company.  In order to have interstate operating authority, a company MUST have a Motor Carrier (MC) number.

One of the other important things consumers want and expect, is honesty. Even if a company is legal, a lot of them lie about the vehicles they own and the vehicle’s year. Just because you read an advertisement in the Yellow Pages, or on the internet, doesn’t mean it’s true. Anybody can tell you anything. In addition to verifying a company with the appropriate government agencies as stated above, we highly recommend going to see the vehicle. Once you inquired about a vehicle, and a company invites you to see that vehicle (we wouldn't suggest using a company that doesn't invite you out, because if they really have nice vehicles, or own the vehicles they are claiming, they would invite you out; if not, they are hiding something and are just trying to get you to book on low price), write down the information, go to the business and ask to see the vehicle discussed. Confirm this is the vehicle discussed, then ASK FOR THE VEHICLE'S REGISTRATION, which is required by law to be in the vehicle at all times.  Make sure you confirm the year that was discussed and compare the VIN on the registration to the vehicle (located at the bottom of the windshield on the driver's side).   If a company lied to you about the year of the vehicle, what else are they lying about?   

Remember, these are Once-In-A-Lifetime events and you should not have to worry about the transportation you've hired.  Be a smart consumer and make sure you get what you paid for.