Black Car, SUV or Limo: Which Should You Book in the Bay Area?
Booking a car service in the Bay Area usually comes down to one question: which vehicle? A black car sedan, an SUV, a stretch limo or a van can all get you there, but the right one depends on how many people are riding, how much luggage you have and what the occasion is. Here's how to choose.
The Quick Answer
1 to 3 people with normal luggage: black car sedan
Up to 7 people, or lots of luggage: SUV
A celebration with up to 9 people: stretch limo
8 to 11 people, or a group with luggage: van
Black Car Sedan (Town Car)
Our black car sedan is the Cadillac XTS, which seats up to 4 passengers. It's the classic black car service vehicle, and many longtime clients still call it a town car. It's quiet, comfortable and the most popular choice for:
Solo riders and couples
Airport rides to SFO, OAK and SJC
Business travel, client pickups and meetings
If you're traveling alone or with one other person and a couple of suitcases, the sedan is almost always the right call.
SUV
Our SUVs (Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Chevrolet Suburban or Mercedes GL) seat up to 7 passengers. Book an SUV when:
A family is flying out together
You have golf bags, strollers, car seats or several large suitcases
A small group of coworkers is heading to the same meeting
You want a little more room than a sedan
Stretch Limousine
Our Lincoln stretch limo seats up to 9 passengers and has a 5-hour minimum. A limo isn't really about getting from A to B. It's part of the celebration. It's the top choice for:
Weddings
Proms and graduations
Birthdays, quinceañeras and anniversaries
A night out in San Francisco
For an airport run, a limo usually isn't the best fit. A sedan or SUV is better suited to luggage and doesn't have the 5-hour minimum.
Van (Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit)
Our vans seat up to 11 passengers with plenty of room for luggage. They're the easy answer for:
Corporate teams and offsites
Big families flying together
Wedding guests going from the hotel to the venue
Group outings and day trips
One van is usually simpler (and easier to coordinate) than splitting a group between two or three cars.
Which Vehicle for Which Trip?
Solo business trip to SFO: sedan
Family of five to OAK with luggage: SUV
Wedding couple: stretch limo, plus an SUV or van for the wedding party
Prom group of 8: stretch limo
Team of 10 visiting a Silicon Valley office: van
A few hours of errands or meetings with one driver: sedan or SUV through our private driver service (3-hour minimum)
Minimums to Know
Hourly bookings: 3-hour minimum
Stretch limo: 5-hour minimum
Weddings: 5 hours for the stretch limo, 3 hours for sedans, SUVs and vans
One-way airport rides in a sedan, SUV or van are priced as a single trip.
Still Not Sure?
Tell us how many people are riding, how much luggage you have and where you're going, and we'll recommend the right vehicle. Call (650) 921-5188, email limoampm@gmail.com or request a free quote. You can also see photos of our full fleet or read more about our black car and limo services.
American Limo & Sedans has provided black car service and limo service across the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 20 years. We're licensed by the CPUC (TCP-20432-P) and available 24/7.