My Car - Doing limos ‘Rite’

Mike Piché, owner of Mr. Rite Limousine Service, says he has the only H2 Hummer limo north of Toronto.

The stretch Hummer, which he purchased five months ago, holds up to 16 passengers. It’s “more rugged looking,” Piché explained, and books well for weddings and grads.

He says clients enjoy the comfort and prestige of the car.

The vehicle has a large bar area with two open chest coolers, a DVD system with 14-inch monitors, twinkle lights on the ceiling, storm lights on the walls and leather seats.

“There was a need for elegant transporting,” Piché says. He opened up his business almost two years ago, starting with one stretch and one town car limousine. He has since added two more stretch limos to his fleet.

The entrepreneur worked in the pulp and paper industry for 30 years, later becoming a school bus driver and trainer for several years.

Owning a limo service can be costly. Piché pays more than $20,000 in commercial insurance per year on his fleet.

He suggests clients should ask limousine service owners if their vehicles are properly licensed and insured before they consider booking.

Piché says any vehicle can be used as a limo as long as it is properly licensed. Every six months, these vehicles must pass a mechanical fitness test in order to continue operating. Licensed vehicles have a yellow dated sticker attached to the window. A City of Greater Sudbury limousine plate is attached to the rear of the vehicle. Piché employs five part-time class B licensed drivers.

For more information phone 522-8699 or visit www.mrritelimo.com.

If you have a unique vehicle you’d like featured in Northern Life, send an e-mail to [email protected] or phone 673-5667 ext. 318.