If you have never booked a chauffeur before, the process can feel more formal than it is. In practice, it is designed to be simple and transparent from the first click to the final receipt. This guide walks through every step so you know exactly what to expect.
Step 1: Getting a quote at book.fare1.co.uk
Go to book.fare1.co.uk and enter your journey details:
- Pickup address. Street address, postcode, airport terminal, or cruise terminal.
- Drop-off address. Same options.
- Date and time. The date you need the vehicle; the time the vehicle should arrive at the pickup address (not the time you want to depart).
- Vehicle category. Standard Saloon, Executive Saloon, Estate, MPV, Executive MPV (V-Class), Minibus, or Accessible. The page shows the capacity and luggage capacity for each category.
- Passengers and bags. The system will flag if the selected vehicle is undersized for your group.
The fare that appears on screen is a fixed fare — the price you will pay. Not an estimate. Not a starting point. The same figure appears at checkout and on your receipt.
Step 2: Reviewing your quote
Before you confirm, the booking summary shows:
- Journey route and estimated distance
- Vehicle category selected
- Any applicable discounts (5% for a return, additional 15% if the fare exceeds £250)
- The total fare, itemised
If your journey includes stops, you can add them at this stage. Additional stops change the distance calculation and the fare updates accordingly.
Step 3: Entering passenger details and notes
You enter your name, phone number, and email address. This is how the driver identifies you and how the receipt is delivered.
The notes field is important. If you have a flight number (for airport pickups with flight tracking), a cruise line and ship name, a preference for a quiet ride, an infant carrier or accessibility requirement, or any other information the driver should know — this is where it goes. Notes reach the driver before dispatch.
Step 4: Payment
Fare 1 accepts Stripe (credit and debit card) and PayPal. Payment details are entered at checkout.
One point to understand about card payments: Fare 1 uses Stripe's manual capture model. This means your card is authorised and held at booking — the money is reserved but not taken. The payment is captured (actually charged to your account) when the journey is completed, not at the moment of booking. If the booking is cancelled in line with the cancellation policy, the hold is released and nothing is charged.
Step 5: Booking confirmation
After payment authorisation, you receive a booking confirmation by email. It includes:
- Booking reference number
- Journey details (date, time, pickup, drop-off)
- Driver information — name and vehicle details are included once a driver has been assigned, typically a few hours before the journey for scheduled bookings and sooner for ASAP bookings
- In-app tracking link if you are using the Fare 1 app
If you need to make changes — address correction, time change, additional stop — contact the dispatch team via the support channel as soon as possible. Changes are easier the further in advance they are made.
Step 6: The day of the journey
Before pickup: You will receive a confirmation when the driver is on their way and a notification when they arrive. If you booked an airport pickup with a flight number, the driver is tracking your flight and adjusting their arrival accordingly if the flight is delayed or early.
At the pickup point: The driver will be at the address at the time specified in the booking. For airport pickups, the driver will be in Arrivals with a name board. For home or hotel pickups, the driver will be at the door.
Loading. The driver assists with luggage. If you have a large amount of luggage, the estate or MPV categories have larger boot space than the standard saloon.
Step 7: The journey
The driver confirms the destination before departing. If you have added notes — preferred route, quiet ride, music preference — these have already been communicated.
You can track the vehicle's live GPS position through the app. If there are any issues during the journey, in-app chat with the driver is available.
Step 8: Arrival and payment capture
At the destination, the driver assists with luggage unloading. The journey ends when you are out of the vehicle.
The payment is captured automatically at journey completion. The receipt is emailed to the address used at booking, usually within a few minutes of the journey ending.
The receipt is itemised and includes all information needed for expense purposes.
What if something is not right
If there is a problem with the journey — a vehicle that did not match what was booked, a driver behaviour concern, a route issue — the right channel is the support team via book.fare1.co.uk. Contact us within 24 hours of the journey for the fastest resolution.
For first-time passengers, the simplest summary is this: book with the right journey details, put relevant notes in the notes field, and the rest is handled. You do not need to manage the driver, navigate, or track the fare. It is all handled before the vehicle arrives.