Your colleague, client or executive is flying into Vancouver for meetings, and the day has fixed times in it. This guide explains how to book a corporate chauffeur service in Vancouver, from the details to send in advance to the YVR meeting point, the meetings in between and the drive back to the airport.
Choose how to get around
Choose around the traveller's schedule, not only the first ride from the airport. A single trip into the city has several good options. A day with an arrival, two meetings and a dinner is easier to plan when every leg is arranged before the flight.
| Option | Suits you if | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi or rideshare | The traveller is happy to arrange each ride on the day | Where to find the pickup area at YVR, and how each later ride will be booked |
| Canada Line | The traveller has light bags and is staying near a station | The station closest to the hotel or office, and the walk at each end |
| Rental car | The traveller wants to drive between meetings | Rental desk hours, parking at each address and the drop-off before the flight |
| Pre-booked chauffeur service | You want each leg arranged in advance with one written quote | Every address and time, the passenger count and the return flight |
YVR describes its taxi, rideshare and public transportation options on its own website. TransLink publishes SkyTrain schedules and maps, including the Canada Line.
Chauffeur service: our corporate car service in Vancouver is booked in advance. You send the itinerary, receive a flat-rate written quote, and the traveller gets the chauffeur's name before pickup. Dispatch is available 24/7 at 604-992-6999.
Booking a chauffeur service for someone else
Send the whole itinerary in one request, with the traveller's contact details. Many business bookings are made by an assistant, a travel coordinator or a host company. The chauffeur and dispatch need to reach the person in the car, not only the person who booked it.
Include these details in your request:
- The traveller's full name and mobile number
- Who should receive the confirmation, if that's someone else
- Flight number, date and scheduled arrival time
- Domestic or international arrival
- Every pickup and drop-off address, with the time each meeting starts
- Passenger count and number of bags
- Any extra stops, such as a hotel check-in before the first meeting
- Return flight details
Ask for the full trip before confirming it. Your written quote includes applicable parking, tolls, ferry and meet-and-greet charges. If the itinerary changes after the quote, send the new times so the booking matches the day.
Landing at YVR
The chauffeur meets the traveller inside the terminal, not at the curb. For domestic arrivals, the meeting point is at the baggage carousel. For international arrivals, the traveller clears customs and collects bags, then enters the public meet-and-greet area just outside the customs hall, by the two wooden statues.
Complimentary waiting starts from when the flight lands: 60 minutes for international arrivals and 40 minutes for domestic arrivals. Customs and baggage can take longer on a busy day, so avoid booking the first meeting right after the scheduled landing time.
For YVR pickups, Urban Limousine tracks the flight. Give the traveller the dispatch number, 604-992-6999, before they fly, and pass on the chauffeur's name as soon as you receive it. For more on the airport leg, see our Vancouver airport limo service.
A day of meetings
List the stops in order, with the time the traveller must arrive at each one. A downtown office, a client site in Burnaby and a dinner reservation are three separate legs. Give the full street address for each, plus any instructions from the building, such as a lobby entrance or a visitor drop-off point.
Leave time between meetings for traffic, finding the right entrance and signing in at reception. A meeting that might run late is worth mentioning when you request the quote, so the plan allows for it.
If the traveller needs a car for most of the day rather than separate trips, ask about our hourly charter service when you request the quote. For a single ride from the airport to a downtown hotel, our YVR to downtown Vancouver route covers that trip.
Teams and visiting groups
Send the passenger count and the bag count together. A team of four with carry-on bags and a team of four with checked suitcases and presentation equipment need different space. Mention anything large, such as display stands or sample cases, before the quote.
If people arrive on different flights, send each flight separately. They may need separate pickups rather than one shared car. You can view our fleet, but ask which vehicle is available and suitable for your group and date.
Early starts and late finishes
Book early-morning and late-night rides in advance, like any other leg. Dispatch is available 24/7. Pickups between 2am and 6am carry an off-hours charge, included in the written quote, so include the exact time in your request.
A red-eye arrival, a late client dinner or an early flight home all fit into the same itinerary. Send them with the rest of the trip so the quote covers the whole visit.
When plans change
Contact dispatch as soon as a change affects a pickup. Dispatch is available 24/7 at 604-992-6999.
New flight: send the new flight number. Flight tracking follows the booked flight, so a rebooking needs a message.
Meeting running late: tell dispatch the new finish time and the next address. Ask how the change affects the booking.
Extra stop or new address: describe the change and ask how it affects the quote before the ride.
Extra passenger: check that the booked vehicle still suits the group.
Back to YVR
Plan backwards from the airline's recommended airport arrival time. Add the drive from the last meeting or the hotel, and allow for traffic at the end of the working day. Include the return flight in the original request so the outbound and return legs are quoted together.
Keep the last meeting's finish time realistic. If it might run over, choose a later flight or plan to leave the meeting earlier, so there's enough time to reach YVR.
Beyond the city
Send other destinations with the rest of the itinerary. Urban Limousine also serves Abbotsford (YXX), Bellingham (BLI) and Seattle (SEA) airports.
For a client event or team retreat in the mountains, see our YVR to Whistler winter guide. For a meeting across the border, our Vancouver to Seattle transportation guide explains the trip. Passengers are responsible for bringing all travel and identity documents required for their situation. If the traveller is staying downtown, our YVR hotel-arrival guide covers hotel arrivals.
Frequently asked questions
What is a corporate chauffeur service?
It's a car and driver booked in advance for business travel, such as airport pickups, rides between meetings and the trip back to the airport. With Urban Limousine, you receive a flat-rate written quote and the traveller gets the chauffeur's name before pickup.
Is a chauffeur service the same as a black car service?
The two terms are often used for the same thing: a pre-booked car with a driver, rather than a taxi or rideshare arranged on the day. Ask which vehicle is available for your date when you request a quote.
Can I book a chauffeur for a colleague or client?
Yes. Send the traveller's name and mobile number, the flight details and every address. Tell us who should receive the confirmation if it isn't the traveller.
Where does the chauffeur meet the traveller at YVR?
Domestic arrivals: at the baggage carousel. International arrivals: in the public meet-and-greet area just outside the customs hall, by the two wooden statues, after customs and baggage collection.
How much complimentary waiting comes with a YVR pickup?
Complimentary waiting starts from when the flight lands: 60 minutes for international arrivals and 40 minutes for domestic arrivals.
Can I book a car for a full day of meetings?
Send the full schedule and ask about our hourly charter service when you request a quote. Include every address and meeting time.
Can I book an early-morning or late-night pickup?
Yes. Dispatch is available 24/7. Pickups between 2am and 6am carry an off-hours charge included in the written quote.
How much does a corporate chauffeur service cost?
Request a flat-rate written quote with the flight details, addresses, times and passenger count. Your written quote includes applicable parking, tolls, ferry and meet-and-greet charges.