Newbury Street, Back Bay · Photo: Sharon Hahn Darlin · CC BY 2.0
Hourly Car Service: How “As Directed” Works
Booking a car and driver by the hour: how it works, when it beats booking separate rides, and the days South Shore clients use it most.
3 min read
Hourly car service, also called "as directed" service, means you book a car and a chauffeur for a block of time instead of a single trip. The driver stays with you between stops, waits while you are inside, and goes wherever you direct next. It is the right choice when your day has several stops and timing you can't predict, because you never wait for a new car or rebook a ride.
Here is how it works, and the days when it makes the most sense.
How hourly service works
- You book a start time, a pickup address and an estimated number of hours. Tell us roughly what the day looks like.
- Your chauffeur arrives and stays with you. Between stops, the car waits nearby, ready when you come out.
- You decide the order and the timing as you go. Running late at a meeting or staying longer at lunch is fine.
- The day ends when you are dropped off. If it runs longer than planned, the extra time is added.
Ask for a quote when you book, including how extra time is billed and whether there is a minimum number of hours.
Hourly or point-to-point?
| Your day | Better choice |
|---|---|
| One trip, for example home to Logan | Point-to-point |
| Two trips far apart in time, such as there in the morning and back in the evening | Two point-to-point rides |
| Three or more stops in one afternoon | Hourly |
| Timing you can't predict: meetings, appointments, photos | Hourly |
| An evening out with dinner, a show and the ride home | Hourly |
The rule of thumb: if the car would otherwise drive back to its base and return for you within a couple of hours, hourly is usually simpler. When in doubt, ask us to quote it both ways and compare.
The days our clients book by the hour
A day of meetings in Boston
Office in the Financial District at 9, lunch in Back Bay, a meeting in Cambridge at 3, back to Hingham by 6. The car waits at each stop, and you work from the back seat in between. Companies often book these through a corporate account.
Wedding days
Between the ceremony and the reception, the wedding party has photos to take in two or three places. An hourly booking keeps the car and the chauffeur with them the whole time. See our wedding transportation guide.
Appointments and errands
Medical appointments where you don't know how long you will be, followed by a pharmacy and a stop for groceries. Our guide to rides to Boston hospital appointments covers this in detail.
Wine tours and day trips
A day among the vineyards of Westport, Little Compton and Newport means several stops and a driver who doesn't drink. See wine tours from the South Shore.
Shopping and a night out
A day on Newbury Street and at the Prudential Center, dinner in the North End followed by a game at TD Garden, or a summer show at the South Shore Music Circus: no parking, no time limits on a meter, and nobody stuck being the designated driver.
College visits
Two or three campuses in a day, from Boston to Worcester or Providence. The car carries the brochures and the family, and the schedule bends around tours and info sessions.
What to tell us when you book
- The pickup time and address.
- The stops you already know, in rough order.
- How many passengers and how much luggage, for the right vehicle.
- Any fixed times, such as a 2 p.m. appointment or an 8 p.m. curtain.
You don't need every detail in advance. That is the point of booking "as directed": you can change the plan as the day goes.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Most hourly bookings have a minimum. Ask when you book and we will tell you the minimum and how extra time is billed.
Can we change stops during the day?
Yes. Tell your chauffeur, or call dispatch at (617) 372-5729 (Nour). The day follows your plans, not a fixed route.
Can the chauffeur wait with our luggage in the car?
Yes, bags and shopping can stay in the car between stops. Keep valuables, passports and medication with you.
