16th December, 2020

What is the difference between a driver and a chauffeur?

Chauffeur opening door for lady passenger.

A driver is any operator of a motor vehicle. A chauffeur is someone employed to look after the needs of the passenger as well as the operation of the motor vehicle. A chauffeur is an experienced, licensed professional.

A chauffeur will serve your every need; from security, to booking reservations, sourcing restaurants, school runs and errands.

Nothing is ever too much trouble for a great chauffeur.

Chauffeur vs Driver

A chauffeur will possess many qualities that drivers do not have. Over the past 15 years at iChauffeur, we have interviewed and worked with literally thousands of chauffeurs. We have found the best chauffeurs excel in the following ways:

A unswerving eye for detail, every part of the journey is planned. Allowing for a plan A, B and C in the case of any last minute changes
An immaculate vehicle, both inside and out
Impeccable appearance
Precise timekeeping
A passion and commitment for customer service
Nothing is too much trouble
A ‘can do’ attitude
A sense of pride and ownership for their work
A desire to constantly exceed expectations
A passion for learning
Completing training courses to improve their skills
Excellent communication skills
Knowing when to speak
Adherence to chauffeur etiquette
Professional at all times.

The role of a chauffeur can be a lot more varied than the role of a driver. For chauffeurs, it is vital that they have the ability to adapt to different roles, and they achieve this through ongoing training and collaboration with the team at their head office and their fellow chauffeurs.

For us at iChauffeur we encourage open communication and we work with our chauffeurs when planning any new projects. Specific journeys often require specialised skills. Ranging from the chauffeur needing to be able to speak French, to more complex requirements. Such as being the lead chauffeur in a convoy of 15+ vehicles.

EQ not IQ

Ability to empathise with people – ability to read situations and know when to step in – a genuine passion for the human race.

Differences between drivers and chauffeurs – A professional chauffeur will provide you with the highest quality of service including:

Executive vehicles, luxurious, comfortable and safe
Impeccable appearance and manners
Dress code – Pressed dark suit, shirt, tie and polished shoes
Trained, professional, experienced and focused
Driver etiquette
Interpersonal communication
Training & experience
Carrying luggage and caring for personal items
A ‘Royal’ treatment
Punctuality & discretion

Chauffeurs provide different types of services to drivers

In addition, chauffeurs offer an array of professional services which a driver would not undertake, including:

Training, training, training

Although chauffeurs and drivers share the requirement of holding a PCO license for both themselves and their vehicles – A driver may not have any further training at all. Here are some of the differences found in a chauffeurs’ training:

Customer safety
Advanced knowledge of the laws and road regulations
Traffic issues
Advanced driving
Specialist knowledge of hotels, landmarks and other city attractions
Specialist knowledge of ongoing events
Car etiquette – Opening doors, entering and leaving the car
Security awareness
Driver etiquette
Geography of cities
Positive attitude and approach

“I’m like a butler on wheels!”

An iChauffeur chauffeur

How would you like to be met at the airport?

To bring this to life we thought we would show you what happens when you are met by an iChauffeur chauffeur at the airport.

A chauffeur will always be early. You will not have to wait for him. Your chauffeur will send you an SMS advising you exactly where he is waiting for you in the arrivals hall. He may offer you your favourite beverage on arrival.

On meeting your chauffeur – he or she will be wearing a dark suit and tie, and will be holding an electronic name-board – so he’ll never be hard to find. The chauffeur will not ask you to pay for parking or ask you to find change for the parking machine.

Your chauffeur will carry all your luggage and pack the boot. He or she will open and close the car doors when you enter/exit the vehicle.

You’ll have a choice of music / entertainment and will be offered sanitising hand wipes / gel, bottled water, newspapers and treats.
As you leave the vehicle your chauffeur will do a sweep of the car, including under the seat and in the boot, to ensure you have not left your mobile phone or glasses or any other personal belongings.

Conclusion

All drivers are not chauffeurs. All chauffeurs are great drivers. A chauffeur has a fine blend of personal and professional qualities which make them ideally suited to cater for their exacting clientele. Their vehicle will be outstanding, as will their personal appearance. A chauffeur does much more than turn the steering wheel in the right direction. A chauffeur’s people skills are every bit the match of their driving skills. The journey is as important as the destination.

If you have time, take a look at a week in the life of a chauffeur so you’ll really understand the difference – our chauffeurs offer a concierge experience. They have an uncanny ability to anticipate and react to challenges on the journey, without you even realising there were any problems.