Hire only Licensed Bus-Limo Drivers

If you’re planning a wedding or other special event, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) reminds you to make sure that if you hire a bus or limo service, make sure it is properly licensed with the state. There are more than 800 licensed limousine companies and more than 200 licensed charter bus companies in the state of Michigan with a combined total of nearly 6,000 vehicles.

Limousine and charter bus operators in Michigan are required to be licensed, carry sufficient liability insurance and undergo annual safety inspections on all their vehicles. Remember that an advertisement in the phone book, newspaper or Internet does not guarantee that the operator is licensed or that their vehicles have passed a safety inspection.

Operators who are not licensed are in violation of state law and subject to fines and penalties.

To find out if the limousine or bus service you plan to use is licensed with the state, visit the MDOT Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdot. On the home page, go to “Rail and Public Transit,” click on “Bus and Limo Licensing,” then select “Current List of Carriers.” If you do not see the limousine or bus service listed, it is likely that the operator is providing service illegally and should not be hired. To help find a company close to you, there is an online option to search by county. (Note that carriers are certified statewide.)

Licensing info also can be obtained by calling MDOT’s Office of Passenger Transportation at 517-241-0679 or 517-241-0680 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.