A fabulouslimousines.ca ago, stretch limos were an emblem of affluence, used only by celebrities and the super-rich. But they became a staple for suburban teenagers on prom night, and a rite of passage to book one for a children’s birthday party or to celebrate a special anniversary. Then came the housing market collapse, a deep recession and the rise of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, which drove up chauffeured black car prices and shifted demand away from stretch limousines.

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In recent years, a series of deadly limousine crashes, including two that killed four women on Long Island and a 2018 crash in Schoharie that killed 20 people, have brought new urgency to efforts to tighten safety rules for the vehicles. Several families of victims have joined lawmakers in calling for lap-and-shoulder belts for all passengers, commercial driver’s license requirements for chauffeurs and stricter vehicle inspections.

As these changes take hold, many limousine companies have shifted focus from the luxury marquee to other forms of chauffeuring, abandoning their old fleets and focusing on SUVs, vans and sedans that can serve the same purpose at a fraction of the price. In fact, the number of stretch limos in service today is less than 1 percent of the total limo fleet, according to industry estimates.

When selecting a limousine company, make sure to consider the size of your group. Most sedan limos can fit 8-11 people and most stretch limousines can seat 14-18. Depending on the occasion, you might also want to consider other features such as entertainment systems, leather seating and TVs/DVD players.