The getaway car is the photo prop everyone remembers; the guest shuttle is the line item nobody budgets. Together they average $750 nationally, with most couples between $500 and $1,100 and Northeast weddings near $1,500. Here are the real hourly rates, the minimums that quietly set your floor, and the per-guest math that decides whether a shuttle makes the cut.
| Vehicle | Hourly rate | Minimum | Typical booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stretch limo (6-10 passengers) | $75 – $150 | 3 hours | $345 |
| SUV / stretch limo (14-20) | $120 – $300 | 3 hours | $600 |
| Party bus (10-30) | $140 – $350 | 4-5 hours | $840 |
| Charter bus (40-56) | $175 – $300 | ~5 hours | $1,125 (or ~$1,000 base + $200/hr) |
| Vintage / classic car (2-4) | $90 – $500 | 2-3 hours | $300 – $1,100 packages |
The minimums matter as much as the rates. You'll use the couple's limo for maybe two hours of actual driving — photos, ceremony-to-reception, getaway — but the 3-hour floor prices it anyway. That's why off-peak flat packages (some markets run $800 for 4 hours plus 50 miles) can beat hourly quotes outright. Price your own mix in our wedding transportation cost calculator.
WeddingWire's national average is $750, with most couples between $500 and $1,100. The Knot's regional data explains the rest of the spread: Midwest $934, South $1,039, Mid-Atlantic $1,443, Northeast around $1,500. You're mostly paying local labor rates — the same three hours costs the same three hours everywhere.
Three situations make the shuttle non-optional:
The capacity rule: one 30-50 passenger shuttle per 75-100 guests, running loops between the hotel block, ceremony, and reception during peak windows. At the typical 4-hour party-bus minimum ($840) plus an 18% tip across 120 guests, guest transport costs about $8.25 a head — less than the per-plate catering line, and the cheapest hospitality upgrade available. If guests are traveling to reach you at all, pair this with our wedding guest cost calculator to see what the day costs them.
Book as soon as both venues are signed — the same handful of operators serves every wedding in town, and peak-season Saturdays commit their fleets months ahead. If you're still choosing between venues, our wedding venue cost calculator and destination wedding cost calculator frame the bigger decision the shuttle hangs off.
Two vehicles, hourly minimums, gratuity, and per-guest cost — free, no signup.
Open the Transportation Cost CalculatorPlan on $500 to $1,100, which brackets most couples against the $750 national average. One 3-hour limo for the couple runs $225-$450; adding a 4-hour party-bus shuttle for guests takes the day to roughly $1,200-$1,400 with tip. Northeast weddings average about $1,500, Midwest weddings $934.
Standard stretch limos run $75-$150 an hour with 3-hour weekend minimums, so $225-$450 before gratuity. Larger SUV and stretch limos (14-20 passengers) run $120-$300 an hour. Vintage and classic cars span $90-$500 an hour or flat wedding packages of $300-$1,100.
$140-$350 an hour by size and market, with most couples paying $175-$250 for a mid-size bus and 4-5 hour minimums applying. At the typical $210 an hour and a 4-hour minimum, a party bus day is about $840 before tip. Charter motorcoaches price closer to a $1,000 base plus $200 per extra hour.
When the ceremony and reception are more than 15-20 minutes apart or parking is tight, yes — and if the bar is open, a shuttle is the responsible move. Figure one 30-50 passenger shuttle per 75-100 guests running loops; the full transportation day typically lands near $8-$12 per guest all-in.
15-20% of the vehicle subtotal, in cash, on the day — about $180-$240 on a $1,185 booking. Check your contract first: many operators build an 18-20% gratuity into the invoice, and double-tipping is the most common mistake couples make on this line.