An hourly car service in NYC means you reserve a car and driver for a block of time instead of a single trip. The car waits while you're inside, takes you to the next stop and keeps going where you direct until the hours run out. It works well for days with several stops, meetings that may run long or errands in more than one borough. It isn't always the right choice, though. This guide covers when it is, how to work out how many hours you need and what to ask before you reserve with Ready Go by app, phone or WhatsApp.
What is an hourly car service in NYC?
An hourly car service is a reservation where you pay for the driver's time instead of one ride from point A to point B. You set a start time and a pickup address and share your stops. The same car and driver then stay with you for the hours you booked. This is also called booking a car “as directed,” because during the reserved time the route follows your instructions, not a fixed destination.
Ready Go USA takes hourly bookings in a private sedan or SUV across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, including trips to and from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark. For more formal occasions there is also a chauffeur service in luxury vehicles, by the hour or as directed. The price of any hourly booking comes from the app or the phone line, because it depends on the vehicle, the date and the number of hours.
When is booking by the hour better than separate rides?
Booking by the hour usually makes sense in three cases: you have three or more stops in one day, you don't know how long each stop will take, or you can't afford to wait on the curb for a new car after every appointment. Because the car stays with you, your bags, coats and shopping stay inside between stops, and you can leave each place as soon as you're done.
- Back-to-back meetings in Midtown, Hudson Yards and the Financial District, where finding a cab between each one eats into the schedule.
- A day of errands with an older relative: the pharmacy, the bank, lunch with family and the ride home.
- Landing at JFK, LaGuardia or Newark and going straight to one or two meetings before the hotel, while the luggage stays in the car.
- Showing a visitor several neighborhoods in one afternoon, for example Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and the Upper West Side.
- Looking at apartments or visiting schools in more than one borough on the same day.
What these days have in common is uncertainty. When a stop could take twenty minutes or an hour, an hourly booking closes the gap between finishing one thing and getting a ride to the next.
When is a regular ride or the subway the better choice?
For a single trip from one address to another, a regular point-to-point ride is usually simpler. For one person traveling light inside Manhattan, the subway is often quicker and costs far less. Paying for waiting time is only worth it when you actually use the car between stops.
The same goes for airports. If you're flying alone with a carry-on and staying near a subway line, public transit can work well: from JFK, the AirTrain plus the subway or the LIRR; from Newark, the AirTrain plus NJ Transit. A car starts to make sense with heavy luggage, children, a group, a late-night arrival or a plan with several stops. For most arrivals, a one-way ride from the airport is a better fit than an hourly booking.
How many hours should you book?
Add up three things: the driving time between all your stops, the time you expect to spend at each stop and a buffer for New York traffic. Then round up to the next full hour. Finishing early is better than running out of time in the middle of the day.
- List every stop in order, with the address and what you'll do there.
- Estimate each drive with a map app set to the hour you'll actually travel, not the middle of the night.
- Add your time at each stop, and be realistic about waiting rooms, lines and security desks in office buildings.
- Leave extra time for rush hour, bridges and tunnels, especially between Manhattan and Queens or Brooklyn.
- Round up, and ask how extra time is handled if the day runs long.
If your plans have fixed times, such as a dinner reservation followed by a show, you may only need the car to get between them. Share your schedule when you book and ask whether an hourly reservation or two one-way rides fits better.
What should you ask before booking an hourly car?
Before you confirm, ask how the time is counted and what the quote includes. Hourly terms vary from company to company, and these questions help you avoid surprises at the end of the day:
- Is there a minimum number of hours for this vehicle and date?
- When does the clock start and stop: at the pickup address or somewhere else?
- How is extra time charged if I need the car longer than I booked?
- Are tolls, parking or waiting time at the airport included in the quote, or added later?
- How many passengers and suitcases fit in the vehicle I'm reserving?
- Can a stop outside the five boroughs, such as New Jersey, be part of the booking?
Ready Go gives prices through the app and by phone at 212-448-1088 or 917-562-8568. Ask these questions there and get the answer for your specific day. Don't rely on a number you saw online: the rate depends on the vehicle, the date and the hours you book.
Which vehicles can you book by the hour?
For most hourly bookings, a private sedan works for a few passengers with light luggage, and an SUV adds room for a bigger group or more bags. When you book, say how many people and suitcases are coming and ask which size fits.
For business travel, a special dinner or a client you want to look after, the chauffeur service uses luxury vehicles. These are the models offered:
- Luxury sedans: Mercedes-Benz S-Class (S 550), BMW 7 Series, Audi A8 L, Lexus LS 500 and a Cadillac Black Edition sedan.
- Luxury SUVs: Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, GMC Yukon Denali, Chevrolet Suburban, Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz GLS / Mercedes-Maybach GLS.
The exact model is confirmed when you book, because it depends on what's available on your date. If someone in your group uses a wheelchair, mention it when you reserve. Ready Go has wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAV), and dispatch will tell you whether one is available for an hourly booking on your date.
How do you book an hourly car service with Ready Go?
You can reserve an hourly car through the Ready Go app for iOS or Android, by calling 212-448-1088 or 917-562-8568, or by WhatsApp. Scheduled reservations are available Monday through Saturday. Having this information ready makes the quote faster and more accurate:
- The date, the start time and the address where the driver should pick you up.
- Your stops in order, even if the list may change during the day.
- The number of passengers and suitcases, and whether anyone uses a wheelchair.
- The vehicle you prefer: sedan, SUV or a luxury model.
- For an airport pickup, the airline, the flight number and the scheduled arrival time.
Once the reservation is set, keep the dispatch number handy. If a meeting runs late or you want to add a stop, calling ahead is the easiest way to change the plan.
Is an hourly car a good option for medical appointments?
It can be, if you have more than one appointment in a day or don't know how long a visit will last, because the car waits for you and you don't have to find a ride home. Ready Go's non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is transportation only: the driver takes you to the appointment and back, and there is no medical staff on board.
The rider pays Ready Go directly. The company does not bill Medicaid, Medicare or insurance. For a single round trip to one clinic, two scheduled one-way rides may suit you better than an hourly booking.