As-directed hire is the most flexible way to use a chauffeur. Instead of booking separate journeys, you book the car for a block of time and decide the route as the day goes on. The driver waits nearby while you are in a meeting, a shop or a restaurant, keeps your bags safely in the car, and is ready when you call. In central London, where stopping and parking are tightly controlled, having a driver who can circle or wait legally nearby saves a lot of time.
It suits days with several stops, uncertain timings or a mix of business and personal plans. Typical bookings include property viewings, a series of meetings across town, a shopping day in Knightsbridge and Bond Street, a family day out, or an evening with dinner and a show. Bookings are usually priced per hour with a minimum, and the clock normally runs from the agreed start time until the driver is released.
What is included
- A dedicated car and driver for the hours booked
- Waiting between stops at no extra per-stop charge
- Freedom to change the route and order of stops on the day
- Secure storage of shopping and luggage in the car
- Local knowledge of where the car can wait and pick up legally
- Congestion Charge for the day built into the price where it applies
- Option to extend by the hour if plans run late
Who it is for
- Days with three or more stops or unpredictable timings
- Property viewings and house-hunting across London and Surrey
- Shopping trips where you do not want to carry bags
- Visitors who want a driver-guided day around London
- Evenings out combining dinner, a show and a late return
- Older relatives or anyone who needs help between stops
How much does it cost?
As a guide, an executive saloon on hourly hire typically costs about £55 to £90 per hour with a three or four hour minimum, or around £440 to £650 for an eight hour day. Luxury saloons and people carriers usually cost more, and journeys well outside London may be priced as a day rate plus mileage. See our full cost guide.