Couples are often surprised to see a wide range of pricing when comparing classic car providers for your wedding day — especially when the packages themselves may appear similar at first glance.

In some cases, two companies may both advertise a multi-hour wedding package, a chauffeur-driven classic car, and on-site time for photos and departure. In other cases, you may be comparing a full-day service to a lower-cost “getaway-only” option.

What’s important to understand is that package length alone doesn’t tell you how a provider is built — or what happens when conditions aren’t perfect.

It’s rarely about “just the car”

Some providers structure pricing around minimal presence: a short appearance window, a tightly timed arrival for departure only, and limited flexibility if your timeline shifts.

Others may offer longer on-site packages that look similar in duration — but are supported very differently behind the scenes.

Our base wedding service includes up to six hours on site, allowing the car to be part of your reception atmosphere, available for timeless photography, staged calmly and intentionally — not rushed in at the last minute — and ready whenever you need, rather than forcing the timeline to fit the car.

A classic car isn’t just transportation. It’s a canvas for your photographer, a private space to exhale between moments, an unforgettable part of your wedding decor, and the final memory your guests take with them.

One wedding per car — or multiple bookings?

One of the biggest hidden differences between providers is how many weddings a single car is scheduled for in a day. Some operators book multiple weddings with the same car, tightly stacked timelines, or “getaway-only” appearances that depend on everything going perfectly.

That approach carries real risk: late arrivals, rushed or missed photography, and limited flexibility if your timeline slips (and timelines often do).

We accept one wedding per car, per day — yours. That exclusivity allows early arrival and calm staging, flexibility for portraits, no pressure from another booking waiting behind you, and a smoother experience for your planner, photographer, and most importantly — you.

Preparation, maintenance, and reliability

Vintage cars behave differently than modern vehicles — especially on wedding days. Heat, traffic, long idle periods, stop-and-go driving, and extended on-site time all place stress on classic cars.

Some providers rely on outside mechanics, hobbyist-level maintenance schedules, limited spare parts, and last-minute preparation. We operate differently. Our cars are supported by rigorous pre- and post-event checklists, intensive weekly, monthly, and annual maintenance, in-house expert technicians, and a six-figure spare-parts inventory. This level of preparation isn’t inexpensive — but it makes mechanical issues exceedingly rare.

Since our maintenace team is in-house, we are never beholden to the schedule of an outside mechanic — protecting your wedding day from disruption and delays.

On the very rare occasion a substitution is required, our fleet of 30+ classic cars allows us to protect your experience. Take it from Olivia:

"Renting from Coats Classic Cars was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding! The car we initially booked was having technical problems, but they seamlessly provided a beautiful and nearly identical Rolls-Royce for us as an alternative. I couldn't have been happier! My husband and I absolutely loved the time it gave us to soak in the "just married" feeling on our drive to the reception." -Olivia C., married at The Florentine in Birmingham, AL

Air conditioning

Most vintage cars were not built with air conditioning. We’ve intentionally curated a fleet where many cars feature factory air conditioning, others have had A/C professionally added, and all systems are restored and maintained to function properly.

Comfort matters — especially in warm climates and formal attire. A car that looks beautiful but can’t keep you comfortable and composed may limit how and when it can realistically be used.

Insurance and liability matter more than most people realize

Classic car insurance for weddings is not the same as personal collector-car insurance. Personal insurance policies do not cover weddings, for-hire use, or commercial transportation — even when a car owner believes they are “covered,” and may even state that they are “insured.”

In practice, many part-time or hobbyist operators rely on personal policies because true commercial public auto insurance is expensive, restrictive, and difficult to sustain without a full-time business structure. When that coverage isn’t in place, risk doesn’t disappear — it quietly shifts onto the couple, the planner or venue, and the vendor team connected to the recommendation.

Our pricing reflects the real cost of maintaining commercial public auto insurance and operating within its requirements, so that risk is absorbed by us — not passed along to you.

Our approach to insurance is shaped by real-world experience — including the professional background of our founder’s family — and reflects a deliberate choice to operate safely and legally rather than take chances with your wedding day.

Comparing quotes fairly

When comparing classic car wedding quotes, it helps to ask:

• • Is the car air conditioned — and does it work?
• • Is this one wedding per car — or multiple bookings?
• • Is the provider commercially insured?
• • How long is the car actually on site?
• • Is a professional chauffeur included?
• • Who maintains the cars, and how far in advance are they prepared?
• • What’s the backup plan if something changes?
• • Will the car support photos, staging, and flexibility — or only a short exit?

Lower pricing often reflects fewer safeguards, less preparation, and more assumptions that everything will go perfectly.

The takeaway

The difference in pricing usually isn’t about prestige — it’s about structure.

When a classic car provider is built to absorb risk, plan ahead, and protect your wedding-day experience, the cost reflects that responsibility. When it isn’t, the savings often come with tradeoffs that only surface once timelines tighten, conditions change, or something unexpected happens.

If you’d like help comparing options — or want to understand how we structure our wedding services — we’re always happy to talk.

"I hired Coats Classic Cars to Chauffeur my wife and I on our wedding night. The service was top notch and I can’t recommend the company enough. Our driver, David, was absolutely fantastic. The entire experience was above and beyond what my wife and I expected, and we were both very glad we chose to go with Coats Classic Cars." -Andrew M., married at Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL

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