By MinicabTransfer editorial team · Updated
Hourly chauffeur hire, sometimes called "as directed" hire, gives you a car and driver for a block of time rather than a single journey. You hire from a minimum number of hours, tell the driver where to go as the day unfolds, and they wait wherever you need them. On MinicabTransfer, hourly rates start from £50 an hour, based on time with no mileage charge.
It suits days with several stops, plans that might change, and occasions where you don’t want to think about the car at all. Here’s how it typically works.
How hourly hire works
MinicabTransfer is a fare comparison and referral service. We don’t operate cars or employ drivers. You compare hourly rates from TfL-licensed private hire operators, request a quote from the one you choose, and that operator contacts you directly to confirm the price and arrange the day.
- Choose your hours. You can request quotes for 1 to 24 hours. For longer days, say so in your request.
- Give a pickup point and a rough plan. You don’t usually need a fixed itinerary. A first stop and an idea of the day is enough.
- Direct the day as you go. Tell the driver where to go next, add a stop, skip one, or change your mind, within the hours you’ve agreed.
- The driver waits. Between stops the car usually stays as close as parking allows and comes to the door when you call.
- Ask about extending. Many operators let you run over, subject to availability. Check their rate for extra time.
What to check with the operator
Every operator sets its own terms. Before you confirm, ask:
- Time, not mileage. Hourly fares are billable hours × a flat hourly rate, with hours rounded up to the next half hour. There's no mileage charge. Hourly hire is quoted for pickups in London; for long trips outside London, confirm with the operator.
- Waiting. With hourly hire, waiting between stops is normally part of the hire. Confirm there are no extra waiting charges.
- Extras. Whether the Congestion Charge, tolls, parking and VAT are included in their price.
- Child seats. Whether they’re available and whether there’s a charge.
- Licensing. Every private hire operator, driver and vehicle in London must hold a TfL licence. You can ask for the operator’s licence number.
Hourly prices by vehicle
A guide to hourly rates. The operator confirms the final price:
| Vehicle | Passengers | Rate | 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saloon | Up to 4 | £50 per hour | £200 |
| Estate | Up to 4 | £60 per hour | £240 |
| Executive | Up to 4 | £100 per hour | £400 |
| MPV | Up to 7 | £100 per hour | £400 |
| Minibus | Up to 8 | £100 per hour | £400 |
| 9-Seater Minibus | Up to 9 | £100 per hour | £400 |
| 13-Seater Minicoach | Up to 13 | £200 per hour | £800 |
| 14-Seater Minicoach | Up to 14 | £200 per hour | £800 |
Choose your hours in the form above to compare fares for each vehicle. The operator you choose confirms the final price directly with you.
Example days
A day of meetings in the City and West End (6 hours)
Pickup at your hotel at 8:30am, a breakfast meeting in St James’s, two meetings in the City, lunch in Mayfair, and a final appointment in Canary Wharf. The driver waits at each stop, so you walk out of each meeting and straight into the car.
Shopping in Knightsbridge and Mayfair (4 hours)
Harrods, Sloane Street, then New Bond Street and Mount Street. Shopping bags go into the boot between stops, and the car is waiting when you’re finished.
Private sightseeing (5 hours)
Westminster, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s, Tower Bridge and the South Bank at your own pace, without working out parking or Tube connections between them.
An evening out (4 hours)
Dinner in Chelsea, then a show in the West End. The car can be outside the theatre when the curtain comes down, so there’s no hunting for a taxi in the post-show crowd.
Hourly hire or a one-way transfer?
A simple rule: if you’re going from A to B, a one-way or return transfer is usually best. If you have three or more stops, a long wait in the middle, or plans that might change, hourly hire is usually better value and more relaxed. A return journey with a long gap, such as a dinner or an event, can go either way. You can compare fares for both on MinicabTransfer.
Hourly hire is also a common choice for events. See our guide to Royal Ascot by chauffeur for a race-day example, our executive car hire page for business days, or our events page for weddings, galas and the summer season.
Tips for getting the most from hourly hire
- Share your first few stops in your quote request. It helps the operator plan routes and parking.
- Keep the driver’s number handy. A quick message when you’re ten minutes from leaving means the car is at the door when you step out.
- Hire a little longer than you think. Extending is not always possible on busy days, while finishing early is usually easy. Ask the operator whether unused time is refunded.
- Choose the car for the day, not the first leg. If you’ll pick up colleagues or shopping along the way, an MPV gives you room.
Find out more on our hourly hire page, or choose your hours in the form at the top of this page to compare rates.