More information on insurance April 2, 2011

StarGazer Limousine Service would like to share more information with you about Insurance and permits.
Ask about Insurance and permits. All limousines are required to carry commercial insurance and must be properly licensed in the state of Wisconsin. Unfortunately, the phone book or Internet search engines do not require the same information in order to advertise.

To protect yourself from "gypsy companies" ask for proof of these requirements with your signed contract. Once you  receive the information, call the company to find out it the vehicle is actually insured and that it is commercial insurance. Some companies will have identical vehicles and only insure one of them and make copies to put in the remaining vehicles to make it look like they are insured. Then there are the companies that wait till they receive their certificate of insurance and make copies of it and then stop making payments to the insurance companies, therefore the insurance has lapsed and no longer insures the vehicles.  A Limousine company that has an eight passenger or more (including the seats up front, driver and passengers) must be DOT registered and do electronic filing with the insurance company. Vehicles that are 10,001 GVW or 15 passengers plus the driver, must be at minimum, State inspected. If they have federal authorization to go over the state line, they must also have federal inspections. But all Limousines, vans, buses that have eight or more passengers, must have a DOT number posted on the vehicle and follow the regulations for markings according to statute 390.21. To find out if a company is legal to operate go to http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx Type the company name in the box, and you will see if they are registered. For example, type in Stargazer Limousine service llc, you will see our stats on crashes, claims, and inspections. StarGazer Limousine is required to do electronic filings, State inspections, driver background checks and follow all regulations. We not only protect our company, but we also protect the consumer. For more information go to http://www.dot./wisconsin.gov then click on doing business.