Terms and Conditions

At Nightingale Chauffeur-drive® we believe in simple, clear and fair terms and conditions for our clients, whom we regard as our guests.

When you make a booking with us you are accepting our terms & conditions, so please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with them. Thank you.

General comments

For the avoidance of doubt, the person making the booking with us is the Client. Those people who travel with us are ‘Guests.’ A Client may also be a Guest.

‘Us’ / ‘We’ / ‘Our’ means Nightingale Chauffeur-drive®

Nothing in our Terms & Conditions affects your statutory rights

Our Terms and Conditions relate to our Client and Guests. The Client making the booking is accepting our Terms and Conditions on behalf of all Guests who are party to the booking.

Bookings 

Bookings can be made on our website, by telephone or by e mail. 

Payment terms 

All prices shown on our website and booking information are quoted exclusive of VAT, which is charged at the current rate. 

If you have an account with Nightingale Chauffeur-drive® our payment terms are strictly 14 (fourteen) calendar days from the date of our invoice. 

If you do not have an account with Nightingale Chauffeur-drive® we ask for payment to be made on or before the date of travel. Payment can be made by our website or by phone. Our chauffeurs are not able to accept customer payments.

Changes to bookings

We will always try hard to accommodate any changes to your plan ahead of your journey with us. If you make changes to your booking on the day of travel we will agree an additional charge with you before you travel. 

Substitution of vehicle provider 

When you book with Nightingale Chauffeur-drive® you are booking direct with us and our team of Chauffeurs. Occasionally we may need to provide a vehicle and driver from a trusted partner firm, with the same high standards as ourselves, and we reserve the right to do this. If we need to do this, we will tell you in advance of your journey.

Change of vehicle

When you book with us, we will advise you on the type of vehicle we plan to provide, at the time of your booking. Occasionally, if there are unforeseen circumstances, we may need to change the booked vehicle to one of a different specification and we reserve the right to do this.

Cancellations

We understand that your plans can change. 

If you cancel your service with us more than 24 hours in advance of the start of your booking, there is no charge and any money you have paid will be refunded. 

If you cancel your service with us between 12 and 24 hours in advance of the start of your booking, there will be a charge of 50% of the total agreed charge. We will refund the appropriate proportion of any money you have paid in advance. If you have not paid any money in advance, then we will invoice you for 50% of the total agreed charge.

If you cancel your service with us 12 hours or sooner in advance of the start of your booking, there will be a charge of 100% of the total agreed charge. We will not be able to refund any money you have paid in advance. If you have not paid our service full, in advance, then we will invoice you for 100% of the total agreed charge.

Waiting time

We know that travel plans don’t always run exactly to time. 

We usually collect our Guests at a pre-arranged time and we allow a waiting period of 15 (fifteen) minutes after the agreed time. If the waiting period is longer than 15 minutes, we would invoice you for a waiting charge of £40.00 (forty pounds) plus VAT.

If we are collecting you from an airport, we allow 40 (forty) minutes grace period after the flight landing time, to enable Guests to leave the aircraft and collect their belongings. If the waiting period is longer than 40 minutes, we would invoice you for a waiting charge of £40.00 (forty pounds) plus VAT.

Delays

We make every effort to ensure that our Chauffeurs arrive at their booked time. Occasionally there are unforeseen circumstances which cause us to be late and we are not able to accept responsibility for any delays. 

Route management

We always plan the most appropriate route for your journey, taking account of traffic conditions and any known diversions on the route. If you have a preference for a particular route, please let us know ahead of your journey with us, thank you.

Driver performance

We select and retain our drivers on the basis of their successful driving history and experience. All of our drivers are legally and contractually required to drive at a safe speed, based on local traffic conditions, and always to observe the speed restrictions on the section of road on which they are driving.

No smoking policy

Guests are not allowed to smoke or useful artificial smoking (vaping) devices in our vehicles. 

Insurance of items carried

Our vehicles are fully insured for our Guests and third parties. However, Guests need to provide their own appropriate insurance cover for valuables which are transported by us.

Termination of service

We reserve the right to terminate our service to any Guest/s should our Chauffeurs feel threatened in any way for themselves, or other Guests travelling with us. This is a very rare occurrence and we manage this by dropping the respective Guest/s at a safe location, determined by our Chauffeur. 

Damage to and/or soiling of vehicles

This is a rare occurrence but in the event that a Guest damages or soils our vehicle, we would invoice the Guest for the total costs of repairs and valeting required to restore the vehicle to its condition at the moment the hire began. We also reserve the right to take action for any loss of earnings which might arise whilst the damage is being repaired.

The minimum cost for soiling (e.g. sickness in the vehicle) is normally £250.00 + VAT. 

Refusal to transport 

We reserve the right to refuse to transport any Guest/s if our Chauffeur determines they are unfit to travel as a result of alcohol or substances.

Drinks and substances

We do not allow Guests to consume alcohol, drugs, or dangerous and noxious substances in our vehicles. 

Lost property

If we find lost property in our vehicles we will store this safely and return it to our Guest.

Consequential loss

We will use best endeavours to provide the services we promise, however we do not accept liability for losses caused by unforeseeable events; these losses to include, amongst others, loss of earnings, associated business costs, associated travel costs.

Successors and our sub-contractors 

Either party can transfer the benefit of this Contract to someone else, and will remain liable to the other for its obligations under the Contract. 

Online booking portal

Should a pricing error or journey time error occur using our online booking portal, we reserve the right to amend. We will always notify our clients in advance of service.