Offering Private Trips in Colorado

Colorado regulates luxury limousine service as a limited regulation carrier. A carrier must obtain the appropriate permit before offering or operating this service. Start with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s limited regulation carrier information and review its current rules before applying.

Insurance requirements

A passenger carrier must maintain commercial motor vehicle liability coverage with a combined single limit based on the vehicle’s seating capacity. The minimum is $500,000 for vehicles seating 8 or fewer people and $1,500,000 for vehicles seating 9 to 15 people. Higher limits apply to larger vehicles.

Proof of coverage must be filed with the PUC, generally by the insurer using the required insurance filing. The carrier must also keep proof of liability coverage in each vehicle. Check the PUC’s transportation rules for the full insurance requirements.

Vehicle requirements

A Colorado luxury limousine can be a stretch limousine, a qualifying four-door executive car or SUV, an executive van, or another vehicle that meets one of the PUC’s specified categories. Some familiar SUVs, including the Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Expedition, and GMC Yukon, are expressly listed. Other SUVs may qualify based on their manufacturer or another rule, but an ordinary SUV does not qualify solely because it is an SUV.

Each vehicle must meet the applicable inspection and condition requirements. Luxury limousine vehicles generally need Colorado livery license plates and must display the carrier’s permit number as required by the PUC. Confirm that your particular vehicle qualifies under Rule 6305 before applying.

Application requirements

Apply to the PUC for a limited regulation carrier permit for luxury limousine service. The application requires supporting business and vehicle information, proof of financial responsibility, applicable fees, and a vehicle inspection report that is no more than 20 days old when submitted with a new permit application. The permit is valid for one year.

Luxury limousine trips must be prearranged on a charter basis and documented by a charter order before service. The chartering party has exclusive use of the vehicle for a specified period and directs the trip. A charter order or trip ticket must be carried in the vehicle during the trip. See the PUC’s transportation permit application and transportation rules for details.