Booking a limo or chauffeur in the UK
Wedding Car Hire: What to Check Before You Book
8 November 2026
Wedding cars are a special case in UK licensing. A limousine or car with up to 8 passenger seats doesn't need a licence when it's used for a wedding, so a wedding car firm may not hold a private hire licence. Larger vehicles are different, and whatever you book, what's agreed in writing is what protects you.
Quick answer: GOV.UK says limousines with up to 8 passenger seats don't need a licence for weddings and funerals. Vehicles carrying 9 or more passengers for hire or reward still need a PSV operator licence. Before you book, check the exact vehicle in writing, the timings, which seats have seat belts if children are travelling, and the deposit and cancellation terms.
Key Takeaways
Vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats need no licence for weddings and funerals.
A vehicle carrying 9 or more passengers for hire or reward still needs a PSV operator licence.
Children who need a child seat can't travel in sideways-facing seats.
What the firm tells you about the car can become part of your contract.
There's no automatic 14-day cooling-off period, so the booking terms matter.
The wedding exemption
GOV.UK's limousine licensing page says limousines with up to 8 passenger seats don't require a licence for weddings and funerals.
The guidance for stretch limousine operators linked from that page says the same of all vehicles seating fewer than 9 passengers, including stretched limousines, while they're used for a funeral or a wedding.
So a firm with classic cars or small limousines that only does weddings may not hold a private hire licence, and that isn't in itself a problem.
When the exemption doesn't apply
The exemption stops at 8 passenger seats. A larger vehicle carrying 9 or more passengers for hire or reward, such as a big stretch limousine or a minibus for guests, needs a public service vehicle (PSV) operator licence whatever the occasion. Our guide to stretch limo passenger limits explains what that involves.
GOV.UK also says operators hiring out limousines and drivers separately to avoid licensing are breaking the law. If you're offered a vehicle and a driver on two separate contracts, ask why.
Get the details in writing
Under section 50 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, what a trader says or writes to you about its service can become part of the contract, if you take it into account when you decide to book. That's a good reason to get the important details in writing:
the exact car, or cars, you're booking
the colour and any decorations, such as ribbons
pick-up and drop-off times and addresses
how long the car is booked for, and what happens if the day runs late
the total price, the deposit and when the balance is due
If no time for the service is fixed, section 52 says the trader must perform it within a reasonable time. Fixing the times in writing avoids any argument about what reasonable means on the day.
Children in the wedding party
Stretch limousines and some wedding cars have sideways-facing seats. The operator guidance notes that there's no legal requirement to fit seat belts to them, and that no seat belts or child restraints are approved for them. A child who needs a child restraint, meaning anyone under 135 cm tall who's also under 12, can't travel in a sideways-facing seat.
GOV.UK's seat belt rules say you must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in your seat, and only one person is allowed in each seat fitted with a belt. If page boys or flower girls are travelling, ask which forward or rear-facing seats have belts.
Deposits and cancellation
The 14-day right to cancel in the Consumer Contracts Regulations doesn't apply to passenger transport services (regulation 27). Your cancellation rights come from the contract, and the Consumer Rights Act requires its terms to be fair.
Our guide to limo hire deposits and contracts explains which kinds of term may be unfair and how paying by credit card can help.
Questions to ask a wedding car firm
Which car exactly will we get, and can you confirm it in writing?
How many passenger seats does it have, and which have seat belts?
If the vehicle carries 9 or more passengers, what's your PSV operator licence number?
What are the timings, and what happens if the day overruns?
How much is the deposit, and what happens to it if either of us cancels?
If you also need cars for guests, our guide on how to check a limo company is licensed covers the private hire and PSV checks.
For all the rules in one place, see limo hire rules explained.
Does a wedding car firm need a private hire licence?
Not for vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats used for weddings and funerals. GOV.UK says those don't require a licence. Larger vehicles carrying 9 or more passengers for hire or reward still need a PSV operator licence.
What if a different car turns up?
If the car was described to you and you took that into account when booking, section 50 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 can make that description part of the contract. If the right car can't be provided in time, you can ask for a price reduction, which may be the full price where appropriate (sections 54 to 56).
Can I cancel my wedding car within 14 days?
Not as a legal right. The cancellation rules in the Consumer Contracts Regulations don't apply to passenger transport services, so the contract's terms apply.