Written by the Pharaoh’s Transportation dispatch team, 5151 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee. Rated 4.9 from 302 Google reviews; every chauffeur is background-checked, licensed and insured.
Quick answer: To verify a limo or car service before you book, ask for four things and check them: the license or permits the company operates under (and, for trips between Wisconsin and Illinois, its USDOT number, which you can look up on the federal SAFER system); a certificate of commercial auto insurance in the company’s name; how its chauffeurs are background-checked and licensed; and a street address with real reviews. For interstate passenger carriers, federal rules set minimum liability coverage at $1.5 million for vehicles carrying up to 15 passengers and $5 million for 16 or more. A legitimate company answers all four in writing the same day. Pharaoh’s Transportation in Milwaukee does, and this guide shows how to check any company you compare.
Want our documents?
Ask dispatch for our certificate of insurance and license details; we send them in writing.
Key takeaways
- Ask for the license or permits and, for interstate trips, the USDOT number.
- Ask for a certificate of commercial insurance, not a personal policy.
- Ask how chauffeurs are screened and licensed.
- Check the street address and real Google reviews.
- Get everything in writing before a deposit.
In this guide
- The four checks
- Licensing
- Insurance
- Chauffeur screening
- Vehicle safety
- Red flags
- How to compare companies
- Pharaoh’s answers
- How to book
- Why book with Pharaoh’s
- Frequently asked questions
The four checks
What to ask and how to verify.
At a glance
| Check | Ask for | How to verify |
|---|---|---|
| License and permits | The licenses or permits the company operates under | Ask which authority issued them; check airport permits for airport pickups |
| Interstate authority | USDOT number for trips into Illinois or other states | Look it up on the federal SAFER company snapshot |
| Insurance | A certificate of commercial auto insurance | Company name and dates match; call the insurer if unsure |
| Chauffeurs | Background checks, driving records, licensing | The company explains its screening in writing |
Licensing
Local and airport permits
Limo and car service companies need the permits that apply where they operate, and airport pickups usually require a commercial permit from the airport. Ask which ones the company holds.
Interstate trips
Rides between Wisconsin and Illinois cross a state line. For-hire passenger carriers on interstate trips register with the U.S. Department of Transportation and get a USDOT number. Enter it on the federal SAFER system to see the company’s name and status. See interstate limo service.
Chicago pickups
Chauffeurs picking up in the City of Chicago need a City of Chicago chauffeur license; ask how the company handles Chicago rides.
Insurance
Commercial, not personal
A personal auto policy does not cover paid passenger rides. Ask for a certificate of commercial auto insurance in the company’s name, with current dates.
How much coverage
| Vehicle | Federal minimum for interstate passenger carriers |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 passengers (sedans, SUVs, most limos and Sprinters) | $1.5 million |
| 16 passengers or more | $5 million |
These are federal minimums for interstate carriers; many companies carry more. For group and event rides, also ask whether the policy covers the vehicle type you are booking.
Chauffeur screening
What to ask
- Is every chauffeur background-checked before hire?
- Are driving records checked, and how often?
- What license does each chauffeur hold?
- What training do new chauffeurs get?
- Will I get the chauffeur’s name before the ride?
Pharaoh’s answers: every chauffeur is background-checked, licensed and insured, and you get the chauffeur’s name before the ride. See chauffeur service.
Booking a group or a trip to Illinois?
Ask any company for its USDOT number and check it before you pay a deposit.
Vehicle safety
Inspections and maintenance
Ask how often vehicles are inspected and serviced, and count a seat belt for every passenger. See why vehicle inspections matter and Sprinter safety features.
Red flags
Walk away if
- No street address, only a cell number.
- No certificate of insurance on request.
- No USDOT number for a trip to Illinois.
- A price only by text, no written contract.
- Cash only, with a large deposit up front.
How to compare companies
Side by side
Ask every company the same questions and compare the written answers, not just the price. See how to choose a limo company and limo prices.
Pharaoh’s answers
Our details
Pharaoh’s Transportation, 5151 S Howell Ave, Suite D1 & D2, Milwaukee, WI 53207, rated 4.9 from 302 Google reviews. Certificate of insurance and license details on request; every chauffeur background-checked, licensed and insured; every ride confirmed in writing. See about us and our founder.
How to book
Booking takes about two minutes online or by phone.
Step 1: Ask for the documents
License, USDOT number, insurance certificate.
Step 2: Verify
USDOT on SAFER; insurer if unsure.
Step 3: Ask about chauffeurs
Screening, licensing, training.
Step 4: Check the vehicle
Inspections and seat belts.
Step 5: Get it in writing
Then book: book online or (414) 322-3751.
Why book with Pharaoh’s
Proof you can check
Pharaoh’s Transportation is rated 4.9 from 302 Google reviews. The office is at 5151 S Howell Ave, Suite D1 & D2, Milwaukee, about five minutes from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport.
The fleet
11 premium SUVs, an Executive Sprinter for 13, a 14-passenger van and a Mercedes Sprinter for 15. See the fleet.
Safety and service
Every chauffeur is background-checked, licensed and insured. Dispatch answers 24 hours a day at (414) 322-3751, and every rate is confirmed in writing before the ride.
Related guides
- Chauffeur service
- How to choose a limo company
- Interstate limo service
- Sprinter safety features
- About Pharaoh’s
Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Topic | Verifying a limo company |
| Checks | License, USDOT number, commercial insurance, chauffeur screening |
| Federal minimum | $1.5M (up to 15 passengers); $5M (16+), interstate |
| Lookup | Federal SAFER system for USDOT numbers |
| Operator | Pharaoh’s Transportation, Milwaukee |
| Dispatch | 24/7, (414) 322-3751 |
| Office | 5151 S Howell Ave, Suite D1 & D2, Milwaukee, WI 53207 |
| Phone | (414) 322-3751, 24/7 |
| Rating | 4.9 from 302 Google reviews |
Frequently asked questions
Licensing
How do I know a limo company is licensed?
Ask for its licenses and permits and which authority issued them.
What is a USDOT number?
A federal number for carriers on interstate trips; check it on SAFER.
Do I need a USDOT company for Milwaukee to Chicago?
Ask for one, since the trip crosses a state line.
Do Chicago pickups need special licensing?
Chauffeurs in Chicago need a City of Chicago chauffeur license.
Insurance
What insurance should a limo company have?
Commercial auto insurance in the company’s name.
How much insurance is required?
For interstate passenger carriers, at least $1.5 million up to 15 passengers and $5 million for 16+.
Can I see proof of insurance?
Yes; ask for a certificate of insurance.
Does personal car insurance cover paid rides?
No; paid rides need commercial coverage.
Chauffeurs and Pharaoh’s
Are chauffeurs background-checked?
They should be; ask how. At Pharaoh’s, every chauffeur is.
Will I know my chauffeur’s name?
At Pharaoh’s, yes, before the ride.
Will Pharaoh’s send its insurance certificate?
Yes, on request.
Where is Pharaoh’s located?
5151 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, near MKE.
Ready to reserve?
Book online or call dispatch any hour. Rate confirmed in writing before you ride.
About the dispatch team
This guide is written by the Pharaoh’s Transportation dispatch team, who plan these rides every week from the office at 5151 S Howell Ave, Suite D1 & D2, Milwaukee, WI 53207. Dispatch answers 24 hours a day at (414) 322-3751. Related: chauffeur service · about us · fleet · limo prices · about us.
