Hire a Private Driver
How private driver tours work, where they make the most sense, and how to choose a driver you can trust.
Get Free Trip QuotesWhy Travelers Hire a Private Driver
When you hire a private driver, the car, the route and the day are yours. Nobody else sets the departure time, there is no coach to find in a crowded car park, and you never have to work out a foreign road sign at a roundabout. Private Driver Tours explains how this kind of travel works, what it suits, how to check that a driver is legitimate, and how the habits differ in the places where travelers use drivers most.
A private driver tour is simple at heart. A licensed driver collects you at your hotel, port or airport, takes you where you have agreed to go, waits while you explore, and brings you back. Along the way you get a local who knows which road is closed for a festival, where to stop for the view, and how long the walk from the car park really is. On a good day it feels less like a tour and more like traveling with a friend who lives there.
It is not the cheapest way to see a country, and it is not right for every trip. A city with excellent public transport rarely needs one. But for winding coast roads, scattered rural sights, wine country, big family groups, travelers with limited mobility, and anyone who simply does not want to drive on the other side of the road, hiring a driver can turn a stressful day into an easy one.
Driver, Group Tour or Self-Drive?
The three ways to see the countryside, side by side, and who each suits.
Private Driver Tours of Ireland
Coast roads, licensing and planning days with an Irish driver.
Private Driver Tours in Scotland
Highlands, single-track roads and distillery days without the car keys.
Hire a Private Driver in Italy
NCC licences, the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany and licensed site guides.
How to Vet a Driver
Licences, insurance, reviews and the safety checks that matter.
Tipping a Private Driver
How tipping customs differ by country, without the guesswork.
How a Private Driver Day Usually Works
- You agree the plan first. Pickup time and place, the stops you want, roughly how long at each, and the drop-off point.
- The driver handles the road. Navigation, parking, tolls and timing are their job, so you can look out of the window.
- You set the pace. Stay longer at a viewpoint, skip a stop that turns out to be crowded, or add a lunch break.
- Know what is included. Fuel, parking, tolls, waiting time and the driver’s meals are handled differently from one driver to the next, so get it in writing.
- Entry tickets are usually separate. Museums, castles and archaeological sites normally charge you directly unless the quote says otherwise.
Where Private Drivers Make the Biggest Difference
Some destinations almost ask for a driver. Coastal roads that twist along cliff faces, regions where the best villages sit an hour apart with no direct train, countries where driving customs are unfamiliar, and places where the day ends with a wine or whisky tasting are all strong candidates. Our pages on Ireland, Scotland and Italy cover three of the places travelers ask about most, and our worldwide page looks at Sri Lanka, India, Morocco, Bali and private drivers for cruise passengers.
Coast Roads
Narrow cliff roads are tiring to drive and wonderful to watch from the passenger seat.
Italy →
Before You Hire a Private Driver
The single most important step is checking that the driver is licensed to carry paying passengers where you are traveling. Every country handles this differently: Ireland licenses drivers centrally, Scottish councils license private hire cars locally, and Italian towns issue NCC authorisations. Our vetting guide walks through the questions to ask about licences, commercial insurance, the vehicle and reviews, and the general travel-safety habits on Travel Is Safe apply on the road too.
Think about the shape of the trip as well. A driver for one or two key days often works better than a driver for the whole trip, especially if the rest of your itinerary is in cities. Book your flights through Airfares for Less and hotels through Rooms Cheap first, then fit the driver days around them so the pickup points make sense.
Free Help Planning Driver Days
A travel specialist can fit private driver days into a wider trip, recommend which legs are worth it, and work out the logistics around flights, hotels and cruise calls. Send a free request through the Official Travel Directory and say where you are going, how many are traveling and what you want to see. For travel ideas and offers by email, join our free travel deals newsletter.
Private Driver Tours is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a trip quote through the Official Travel Directory, a travel specialist plans it with you personally — not a call center. Meet Mister Cruise →
Private Driver Questions
What does it mean to hire a private driver?
You book a licensed driver and vehicle for your party alone, usually by the day or half day or for a set route. You choose the stops and the pace, and the driver handles the roads, parking and timing. Some drivers also guide; others simply drive.
Is a private driver the same as a private guide?
Not always. A driver-guide drives and explains along the way, but in many countries guiding inside museums and archaeological sites is a separately licensed job. Ask which you are getting before you book.
Is it better to book a driver before the trip or after arriving?
Booking ahead gives you time to check licences, insurance and reviews, and to agree the day plan in writing. Arranging something on the spot with an unknown driver is where most problems start.
Can a travel advisor arrange a private driver?
Yes. Send a free quote request with your destination, dates, group size and the days you want a driver, and a travel specialist will plan it with you.
Plan Your Private Driver Days
Tell us the destination, your dates, the size of your group and which days you would like a driver. A travel specialist will send free trip quotes.
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