Frequently Asked Questions — Unlimited Charters

Questions we get on every call. If yours isn't here, submit a quote or call 855-943-1466 — we answer live 24/7.

Pricing & quotes

How much does a charter bus / party bus cost?
Charter bus and party bus pricing varies by vehicle, trip length, day of week, and city. Rough ranges for 2026: party bus $135–$300/hr, charter coach $130–$200/hr, stretch limo $90–$150/hr, sprinter van $80–$140/hr. Most trips have a 4-hour minimum. Submit a quote and we'll send back fixed-price numbers within 60 minutes during business hours.

What's included in the quote?
Every quote is all-in: vehicle, licensed chauffeur, fuel, gratuity, commercial insurance, and confirmed tolls along the route. There are no surprise add-ons. The price you see is the price you pay. Driver overnight lodging (multi-day trips) is itemized separately so you see exactly what's hotel vs charter.

How big a deposit is required?
A 50% deposit is due when you sign your agreement and is non-refundable; it is applied to your trip total. The balance is due 14 days before the trip, and trips booked 7 days or less before the trip date are paid in full at signing. Exact terms appear in your agreement.

What payment methods do you accept?
We accept major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.), cash, certified check, Venmo, Cash App, Zelle and Bitcoin (BTC).

Who operates Unlimited Charters, and how are trips insured?
Unlimited Charters is operated by Stretch LLC. Transportation is provided by DOT-licensed (FMCSA) partner motor carriers. Stretch LLC carries commercial auto liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), commercial general liability ($1,000,000 each occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate), a $3,000,000 umbrella, and workers' compensation (employer's liability $1,000,000). Certificate of insurance available on request.

Booking

How far in advance should we book?
Standard answer: 2–4 weeks for weekday trips, 4–8 weeks for weekend trips. Peak periods (May–June prom/wedding, September–January NFL Sundays, New Year's Eve, Super Bowl Sunday) book 8–16 weeks ahead. Last-minute (within 1 week) is often possible but premium pricing applies.

Do you take last-minute / same-day bookings?
Yes when fleet is available. Call dispatch directly at 855-943-1466 — we don't take same-day bookings through the quote form. Same-day quotes get priority and a 15–25% rush premium.

What if our plans change after we book?
Let us know in writing as soon as you can. Cancellations within 30 days of the trip owe the full trip charge. To move your trip date instead, give us written notice no later than 7 days before the trip; the new date is good for up to 1 year and your non-refundable deposit transfers to it. Moving a date is not a cancellation. Your agreement spells out the exact terms — read the cancellation clause before signing.

Service area

Do you serve [my city]?
Probably yes. We dispatch from 4,000+ pickup cities across all 50 U.S. states through our owned-and-partner network. Submit a quote with your zip code and we'll confirm pickup availability same-day. Routes nationwide.

Do you do interstate trips?
Yes — DOT-registered for interstate operation. Most-requested routes: NYC ↔ DC, Philly ↔ Atlantic City, Chicago ↔ Milwaukee, LA ↔ Vegas, Boston ↔ NYC. Multi-day trips with overnight stays handled via two-driver teams for DOT compliance.

How small a town can you pick up in?
We cover small towns nationwide through our partner-operator network. Pickup at your home, banquet hall, school, church, business — wherever the group actually meets. No "central depot" requirement.

Vehicles & fleet

What vehicle sizes do you have?
Sedans (4 pax), Sprinter vans (8–14 pax), stretch limos (8–10 pax), stretch SUVs (14–20 pax), party buses (14–50 pax), mini coaches (20–35 pax), charter coaches (40–56 pax), motorcoaches (56–61 pax). For most trips we recommend the next size up to allow gear / comfort margin.

Can I see the actual vehicle before I book?
Yes — walkthroughs by appointment at the dispatch depot. Some markets do venue-side showings if you're meeting your wedding venue coordinator anyway.

What if the vehicle breaks down on my day?
We dispatch a replacement from our backup fleet — every operating day we keep 1–2 vehicles on standby specifically for this. Average swap time in the few cases we've had: under 30 minutes.

BYOB, alcohol & smoking

Can we bring our own drinks on the bus?
Yes — every party bus and limo is BYOB-allowed for groups where everyone is 21+. Most include onboard coolers and ice. Drivers don't allow open containers near the driver compartment but the back of the bus is yours. Charter coaches (motor-coach class) are generally non-alcohol per fleet policy.

Is smoking / vaping / cannabis allowed on the bus?
No to all three. Most operators have a fleet-wide no-smoking, no-vaping ban. Cannabis is not allowed on chartered transport regardless of state legality (federal law on commercial passenger transport).

What if someone has too much to drink?
Drivers are trained to handle this. Worst case, the bus stops at a hospital or returns home early. Drivers do not act as bouncers but they do enforce safety. Sleeping it off in the back of the bus is fine.

Drivers

Are your drivers employees?
Most are W-2 employees of the local dispatching operator (vetted partner network). Background-checked, drug-tested, CDL-certified, professionally trained. We don't use rideshare-style 1099 contractors.

Do drivers expect a tip?
No. Gratuity is included in the price, so there is nothing extra to pay the driver.

Will the driver wait while we're at the event?
Yes — that's the standard arrangement. Driver stays with the vehicle, takes their meal break, is available by phone for any unscheduled returns. Pickup time is your call within the booked window.

Day-of operations

What if the driver is late to pickup?
Our internal SLA is 15 minutes early. If a driver is delayed by traffic en route, dispatch calls you proactively. If a driver is genuinely late beyond 15 minutes, you get a credit on the trip (depends on contract).

What if our trip runs long?
Mid-trip extensions are usually possible — call dispatch. Per-hour extension rate is in your contract. Most trips have a 30-minute buffer built in for unexpected delays.

Will the driver drive UP the strip / past landmarks during the trip?
Yes — daytime sightseeing detours along the route are usually free. Significant detours (e.g., adding a 90-min Grand Canyon stop) add to the booked window and are itemized.

Common scenarios

Wedding transportation
Standard package: bridal-party limo (8–12 pax) for getting-ready → ceremony → photos → reception, plus a guest shuttle (20–40 pax) running a continuous loop hotel ↔ ceremony ↔ reception, plus end-of-night return runs (10 PM, 11 PM, midnight). See our wedding transportation planning guide.

NFL tailgate
Bus stages in dedicated stadium charter-bus lot. Tailgate gear unloads from luggage bay. Driver stays through the game. Post-game pickup at same gate. Book the whole season for 10–15% discount + same driver every game. See our NFL tailgate guide.

Atlantic City casino runs
Party bus from Philly/NJ/DE area, BYOB-allowed, driver stays for the night, 3 AM pickup standard. Casinos sometimes comp the charter for 50+ guest groups. Standard 6-hour booking $700–$1,100.

Vegas bachelor/bachelorette
4-day package: drop on Strip, bus + driver stay 4 days for nightly club shuttles, return on day 4. Per person at 25 guests typically $220–$360 depending on lead time. See our Vegas guide.

Prom party bus
Peak season April–June. Books out 8–12 weeks in advance for prime Saturdays. School-coordinated groups get a separate rate sheet — contact dispatch for school-program pricing.

Father's Day / Independence Day / Labor Day / NYE
Peak-demand single days. Book at least 6–8 weeks ahead. See timely guides: Father's Day, July 4th.

Still have questions?

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