What Is a Chauffeur Service?

What Is a Chauffeur Service? A Chicago Guide

Updated September 2026 · Written by the Royal Limo Services™ dispatch team — a licensed & insured Chicago chauffeur company with 10+ years’ experience and 1,200+ five-star rides.

Quick answer: A chauffeur service provides a dedicated, professionally trained private driver — a chauffeur — assigned to you for a trip, an hourly block, or a full day, in a maintained luxury vehicle. Unlike a rideshare or taxi, the same licensed chauffeur stays with you for the whole booking, at a flat, all-inclusive price. Royal Limo Services provides professional chauffeur service across Chicago and every suburb. Call (866) 811-0999.

Chauffeur service at a glance

• What it is: a dedicated professional driver assigned to your booking
• How it’s booked: hourly (as-directed), for the day, or flat point-to-point
• The vehicle: a maintained luxury sedan, SUV, S-Class, or Sprinter
• The driver: licensed, insured, background-checked, professionally trained
• Pricing: flat, all-inclusive — no surge, gratuity & tolls included
• Best for: airport, corporate, weddings, events, and personal travel

“Chauffeur service” gets used loosely, so let’s define it clearly — and separate it from the taxi, the rideshare, and the “limo” it’s often confused with.

What a chauffeur actually does

A chauffeur is a professional driver, not just someone with a car and an app. They’re licensed, insured, and background-checked; they arrive early and dressed for the job; they manage doors and luggage; they know Chicago’s traffic, airports, and hotels; and they hold to a standard of discretion and presentation. In a true chauffeur service, that same professional is assigned to your entire booking — the continuity is the point.

Chauffeur vs. limo vs. taxi vs. rideshare

And “limo service”? The terms overlap — a limousine service and a chauffeur service are usually the same kind of company. “Limousine” points to the vehicle and the business; “chauffeur” points to the professional driver and the level of service. Royal Limo is both: a full Chicago limousine service built on professional chauffeurs.

Types of chauffeur service

• Hourly / as-directed — a chauffeur by the hour for meetings, shopping, or multi-stop days. See hourly service.
• Point-to-point & airport — a set trip, like home to O’Hare, at a flat rate.
• Corporate & executive — business travel with accounts and monthly billing; see corporate service.
• Weddings, events & VIP — weddings, proms, and celebrations, often in an S-Class or stretch.
• Groups — a Sprinter van keeps a team together.

Why people choose a chauffeur service

Reliability (a guaranteed vehicle, reserved in advance), professionalism (a vetted driver and a clean luxury car), predictable pricing (flat and all-inclusive, no surge), and time back (you work, rest, or host while someone else drives). For airport, corporate, wedding, and group travel, that’s worth far more than hailing whatever’s nearby. Learn more on our Chicago chauffeur service page.

Book a professional chauffeur

Reserve online, or call 24/7 dispatch at (866) 811-0999 with your date, itinerary, and pickup address for an exact all-inclusive quote. Book your chauffeur now.

Chauffeur Service FAQ

What is a chauffeur service?

A chauffeur service provides a dedicated, professionally trained private driver — booked hourly, for the day, or point-to-point — who stays with you throughout your itinerary in a maintained luxury vehicle.

What’s the difference between a chauffeur and a driver?

A chauffeur is a licensed, insured, background-checked professional trained in service, safety, and presentation — assigned to your booking — rather than a general or gig driver.

Is a chauffeur service the same as a limo service?

Largely, yes. The terms overlap — “limousine” refers to the vehicle and company, “chauffeur” to the professional driver and level of service. Most limo companies are chauffeur services.

How is a chauffeur different from a rideshare or taxi?

You get one dedicated professional and a luxury vehicle reserved in advance for the whole booking, at a flat all-inclusive price with no surge — instead of a rotating driver, a metered cab, or demand-based pricing.

Can I hire a chauffeur by the hour?

Yes. Hourly (as-directed) service with a short minimum is common for meetings, shopping, and multi-stop days, alongside point-to-point and airport transfers.

Do you need to tip a chauffeur?

With Royal Limo, gratuity is already included in the all-inclusive rate, so there’s nothing to add unless you’d like to.

Who uses a chauffeur service?

Airport travelers, executives and corporate teams, wedding and event guests, VIPs, and anyone who wants reliable, professional transportation instead of a rideshare.

Related Chicago guides

See the Chicago Chauffeur Service page, the Chauffeur Cost Guide, and the Best Limo Service in Chicago Guide.