Full Booking Rules & Policies

🚘 Palmetto State Rides — Booking Rules & Policies

Experience. Comfort. Safety. Every rule below keeps your trip smooth, fair, and on time.

🕒 Booking Windows

Ride TypeMinimum NoticeRecommendedMax Advance
Regular (0–30 mi)2 hrs3–4 hrs14 days
Long Distance (30–75 mi)6 hrs12 hrs30 days
Extended (75+ mi)12 hrs18–24 hrs30 days
Airport (all)24 hrs—30 days
  • Requests inside the window may be accepted with dispatch approval and include a $10 rush fee.
  • Same-day rides depend on driver availability & location.

💵 Fare Structure (Regular Rides)

  • Base fare: $5 minimum.
  • Rate: $1.25 per minute (starts immediately).
  • Short-ride minimum: $15 total.
  • Text-to-wait (optional): $1.00/min when you text to keep the driver waiting (see rules below).
  • Airport rides: follow flat-route pricing on the Airport page.
🧮 Examples (estimates)
  • 5-min hop: $5 + (5×$1.25) = $11.25 → meets $15 minimum → $15
  • 10-min local: $5 + (10×$1.25) = $17.50
  • 30-min trip: $5 + (30×$1.25) = $42.50
  • 45-min trip: $5 + (45×$1.25) = $61.25
  • Add wait-by-text (8 min): + (8×$1.00) = $8.00 extra

Actual totals may vary with route changes, stops, or traffic.

💳 Payments & Confirmations

  • No cash. All fares, fees, and tips are handled through Palmetto State Rides.
  • Stripe pre-authorization happens 24 hrs before pickup; fare charges at pickup.
  • You’ll receive a text + email when a driver is assigned.
  • Round-trip bookings confirm together for easier coordination.

🚗 Driver Assignment

  • Drivers are assigned within 6 hours of booking after payment info is verified.
  • We pair repeat customers with the same driver whenever possible.
  • Drivers handle two rides per hour max to protect quality & punctuality.
  • Any driver change triggers an instant notification.

❌ Cancellations

🚙 Palmetto XL Policy

Palmetto XL rides are our premium SUV service, designed for comfort, luggage capacity, and small groups. Because these vehicles are larger and cost more to operate, the following additional policies apply:

  • Minimum Fare: All XL rides include a $25 minimum charge. This ensures fair driver pay and accounts for fuel and maintenance costs.
  • Short Rides: Any XL ride under 10 minutes is billed at a flat rate of $25.
  • Airport Rides: XL airport trips follow our published flat-rate list for GSP, Clemson, Asheville, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
  • Wait Time: XL bookings include a 5-minute grace period, then $1 per additional minute applies.
  • No-Shows / Late Cancellations: XL trips follow the same rules as standard rides — full fare for no-shows or 50% charge for cancellations within 60 minutes.
  • Extra Stops: Additional stops during an XL trip may incur a $10–$15 fee depending on distance and time.
  • Vehicle Upgrade: If a standard vehicle is unavailable and an XL is dispatched, the XL rate automatically applies.

We appreciate your understanding — Palmetto XL ensures every passenger enjoys extra comfort while keeping pay fair for our professional drivers.

Notice TimeFee
12+ hours beforeFree
Under 12 hours$15 fee
At pickup: cancel after 5-minute grace$10 cancellation fee
No-show$10 fee

Cancel using the same method you booked (online, text, or driver link). Airport & long trips → give 24+ hours when possible.

🕓 Grace, Wait & No-Show

  • Grace period: first 5 minutes free at pickup.
  • Cancel after 5 minutes: $10 cancellation fee applies.
  • Text to keep waiting: ride stays active and bills at $1.00/min (subject to driver schedule).
  • No-show: if passenger is absent and no “keep waiting” text is received after grace, trip may close as no-show with a $10 fee.

🧒 Child Safety

  • SC law requires a proper car or booster seat for children. Passengers must provide one.
  • If no seat is present, the driver must refuse the ride.
  • $5 cancellation fee applies for child-seat refusals to cover driver time.
  • Photo proof may be requested for any child-seat dispute.

🧹 Cleanup & Damage

  • Cleanup fee up to $250 for spills, vomiting, or smoking in the vehicle.
  • Drivers upload time-stamped photos within 1 hour of incident.
  • Fee is charged to the rider’s payment method on file.
📸 Proof & Documentation (tap to expand)
  • Drivers capture map/time-stamps for pickup delays or location issues.
  • Photo/video proof for cleanup or disputes must be submitted within 1 hour; other claims within 48 hours.

✈️ Airport Policy

  • All airport rides require 24 hrs advance booking.
  • Drivers confirm night-before for early pickups.
  • We track flights and adjust timing — no extra wait fee for verified delays.
  • Round-trip discount: book both directions and save $10.
  • Priority Driver Guarantee: book both ways 24+ hrs ahead to keep the same driver when possible.
  • Airport Referral: “Refer a friend, get $10 off your next airport ride. They get $10 off too — everyone wins.”

🎁 Referrals & Loyalty Perks

  • Airport Referral: “Refer a friend, get $10 off your next airport ride. They get $10 off too — everyone wins.” (Applied after your friend completes their first airport trip.)
  • Regular Ride Referral: $5 off your next three regular rides (3 credits; one per ride after their first ride).
  • Loyalty Program: Automatically earn $5 off every 4th ride (across all ride types).
  • Round-Trip Bonus: Book pickup and return together → save $10.

💼 Brand Philosophy

Reliability builds loyalty. Our policies keep drivers prepared, riders informed, and every trip professional from start to finish.

Book a Ride

📞 Contact

Palmetto State Rides
Greenville & Upstate SC
📱 (302) 858-6277
📧 PalmettoStateRides@gmail.com
🌐 facebook.com/PalmettoStateRides

Looking for the short version? View the Quick-Rides Guide →

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