Twelve questions that separate a reliable chauffeur supplier from a risky one, before the contract is signed.
By Yeniece Low · 15 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
A good corporate chauffeur vendor can answer twelve questions clearly: licensing, insurance, driver vetting, pricing rules, waiting and cancellation terms, billing, reporting, safety, backup, confidentiality, response time and references. If a vendor cannot answer them in writing, the risk sits with your company.
This checklist is for procurement, finance, administration and executive assistant teams who are choosing or reviewing a chauffeur supplier in Singapore. Use it to compare providers on the same footing, and to avoid surprises on the invoice.
Ask for the vendor's business registration and the licences that apply to the vehicles and drivers it uses. In Singapore, private-hire and chauffeur operations are regulated, and a legitimate vendor can show its registration details and explain which licences cover each service.
Ask also for evidence of insurance. You want to know that passengers are covered for the type of service being provided, what the cover includes, and who is responsible if there is an incident. Request a copy of the certificate in writing, and check that it is current. If the vendor uses subcontractors, ask whether their insurance is also in place.
Ask how drivers are selected, screened and trained. A good vendor can describe its background checks, licence verification, driving record review and training in route knowledge and etiquette.
Ask whether drivers sign a confidentiality agreement. For companies that discuss sensitive matters in the car, this is essential. Also ask how long drivers have been with the vendor, since a stable team is a good sign of consistent service. Our duty of care guide covers what your company should expect.
Ask for the rate card in writing, and check what is included. At our standard rates, a sedan point-to-point starts from SGD 65 and an Alphard from SGD 90. Airport transfers start from SGD 80 and SGD 110. Hourly bookings start from SGD 65 per hour for a sedan and SGD 90 per hour for an Alphard.
More important than the headline rate is the list of inclusions. Ask whether ERP and parking are included, and what the exceptions are. In our case, ERP and standard parking are included, and extra parking applies only if the customer asks the driver to wait at a specific, unusually expensive location. Ask also how peak season and major events are priced. Ours are quoted separately before you confirm, and the rate is fixed once confirmed. See our chauffeur pricing guide.
Waiting, overtime and cancellation terms decide the final invoice, so get them in writing. Ask what the minimum hourly booking is, how overtime is billed, how much free waiting time applies at the airport and for point-to-point pickups, and what the refund tiers are.
Our terms are as follows. Hourly bookings have a 4-hour minimum. Overtime under 20 minutes is billed as 0.5 hour, and 20 minutes or more as 1 hour. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting after landing. Point-to-point pickups include 15 minutes, then SGD 20 per 15-minute block. Cancellations more than 48 hours before pickup are 90% refundable, more than 24 hours are 45% refundable, and under 24 hours are not refundable. The full text is in our waiting time, cancellation and overtime policy.
Ask how invoices are structured, how often they are issued and what payment terms apply. Finance teams usually want itemised invoices by date, route and vehicle, with a reference field for cost centres.
Ask also whether the vendor is registered for GST, because it affects how you treat the invoice. Payment terms differ between vendors. In our case, Net-30 terms are available to established accounts after review. Our corporate chauffeur account guide describes the setup.
Ask what happens if a vehicle breaks down or a driver cannot attend. A good vendor has a documented backup plan, a dispatcher who can be reached by phone or WhatsApp, and a way to replace a vehicle quickly.
Ask how incidents are reported and how long it takes to receive a written report. Ask whether the vendor tracks flights for airport pickups, since that is a basic service standard. Our drivers track the flight and meet guests at arrivals, with free waiting for 60 minutes after landing.
Ask for the vendor's confidentiality commitments, its response channel and references from similar companies. A vendor that works with other corporate clients should be able to share references, or at least describe the sectors it serves.
On response, ask how quickly the vendor replies to booking requests and how changes are handled. A single WhatsApp channel with a named dispatcher is usually the fastest option for corporate teams. You can reach us on +65 8092 7662.
Finance and administration teams often forget three practical questions. How are disputed charges handled, and how long does the vendor take to respond? Who is the named account contact, and what happens if that person is away? Can the vendor supply a monthly statement or trip log for audit purposes?
A good vendor answers these quickly and in writing. A vendor that hesitates will be slower when a real problem arises.
Score each vendor from 1 to 5 on each of the twelve questions, and weight the categories that matter most to your company. For many firms, safety and billing clarity carry more weight than a small difference in rate.
Ask vendors to answer in writing, and keep the answers with the contract. A vendor that is vague on cancellation terms or inclusions now is likely to be vague when a dispute arises. Make sure the rate card, the terms and the account setup are attached to the agreement, so there is a single reference for your finance and admin teams.
Before signing a long agreement, run a short trial. Book a handful of real trips across different services: an airport arrival, a CBD meeting run and an evening pickup. Check whether the driver arrived early, tracked the flight, kept the cabin clean and communicated clearly.
Then compare the invoice with the quote. If every line matches, you have a vendor that does what it says. If the invoice has items nobody mentioned, you have learned something valuable at low cost.
Several red flags are easy to spot. A vendor that cannot explain its licensing and insurance, quotes a very low headline rate without listing inclusions, refuses to put waiting and cancellation terms in writing, or sends a different driver every time with no briefing should be treated with caution.
Another red flag is a vendor that promises everything, including unlimited waiting, no cancellation charges and fixed prices on peak dates. Real operations have limits. The honest vendor tells you where they are, so that you can plan around them.
Booking terms at a glance
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WhatsApp +65 8092 7662Frequently asked questions
Ask for business registration, the licences covering its services, a current insurance certificate, a written rate card and written waiting, overtime and cancellation terms.
It should be stated clearly either way. Ours are included, with extra parking applying only if the customer asks the driver to wait at a specific, unusually expensive location.
Ask the vendor to quote peak and high-demand dates before you confirm, and to fix the rate once confirmed. This avoids surprises on the invoice.
Yes. Many vendors offer credit terms only to established accounts after a review. Ask for the policy in writing before you sign.
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Article by
Yeniece Low
Yeniece is the co-founder of Veloce Limo and the business lead behind Chauffeur Service Singapore. She drives the company's B2B growth strategy, corporate account development, and digital presence. With a background in business development and a focus on building systems that scale, she ensures every client relationship is backed by operational rigour and commercial clarity.
