Limo Coachbuilders...

While the limousine industry is seen as a sophisticated and classy industry because of the appearance and style of its products, this is not always the case.

There are often issues that the limo hire companies and the limo builders face which can in the end effect your safety and choice of limo.

For example, many limousines are ‘stretched’ in the USA from ordinary luxury cars such as Lincolns and Cadillacs. In the USA there is a Gas Guzzler Tax which must be paid by the limo builder when he sells a limousine he has created. Some less than honest limo builders try to skirt the Tax by protesting that the limo they are converting already belongs to someone else.

This issue however, does catch up with them, as when they are audited, they are required to show that they have paid the tax for each limo they have sold. If they cannot show payment, the IRS can then force them to pay. It is unfortunate that there are coachbuilders willing to soil the shiny name of the limo industry.

When testing a limousine for safety, it takes part in a crash test to identify its weak areas. The vehicle is also tested for its brakes, steering and suspension to see how these are affected by its extension.

When limousines are built they may be extended beyond the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) by an uncertified builder. Increasing the weight of the vehicle means that there is too much weight for the braking system to handle effectively and steering becomes more difficult.

To combat this, Lincoln and Cadillac have introduced heavy duty packages for their vehicles. These are only available to Lincoln Qualified Vehicle Modifiers (QVM) or Cadillac Master Coach Builders (CMC) to ensure the quality can be monitored.

The QVM and CMC accreditations are in place to ensure that safety and quality are maintained across the modified products of Lincoln and Cadillac. Buying a stretch limo from a QVM or a CMC ensure you will be receiving a top quality product which will serve you well for many years to come.