Simply Driven's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List
Answers to your top questions about Simply Driven’s private wine tours, drivers, pricing, and booking in Napa and Sonoma.
Designated Driver Service FAQs
Do you provide vehicles?
What types of vehicles can you drive?
We can drive any vehicle from a Porsche 930 Turbo to 15-passenger vans and even long-bed F-350 crew cabs. The only exception is RVs, no vehicles with couches, kitchens or bathrooms. Our insurance makes us primary insured in whatever vehicle we drive.
How does your insurance work with our vehicle?
Our insurance becomes primary while we’re driving your vehicle, similar to a restaurant or hotel valet, just with more extensive coverage since we’re carrying people, not just parking cars.
Do we need to add your driver to our vehicle’s insurance?
No. Our insurance makes us primary insured and takes precedence, similar to how a hotel’s insurance covers your car when you give it to the valet.
How many people can you accommodate?
Since we provide a driver for your vehicle, we’re only limited by the number of seatbelts in your vehicle.
What areas do you serve?
We cover all of Napa and Sonoma, including Guerneville, Russian River, Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa, and beyond.
Coming from San Francisco or the Bay Area? No problem. We can drive you into Wine Country as long as we start and finish the day at the same Bay Area location.
Are there additional fees for certain pickup locations?
Yes. Bay Area pickups add tolls, parking, and an additional hour that goes directly to the driver. More remote locations such as Guerneville, Jenner, and Bodega Bay also add one hour to cover travel time. Santa Rosa pickups have no additional fees.
Can you pick us up at the airport?
Unfortunately no. Our drivers need to begin and end their day at the same location. Starting at the airport would strand them far from their vehicle. It’s better to drive to your lodging first and start there.
Can you meet us after our first winery tasting and drive us the rest of the day?
No. We can’t leave our vehicles on winery properties, and our drivers must begin and end at the same location, or they’ll be stranded.
Is your service available for evening transportation?
Yes. We have a 5-hour daily minimum, so our service is perfect for evening events or special wine country dinners.
Are you available for multi-day bookings?
Absolutely! When you book, you can add as many days as you need. Many of our guests book us for their entire wine country stay.
Can you drive vehicles from car-sharing services like Turo?
Yes. All of our drivers have Turo accounts, so you can add them to your reservation. Once we finalize who your driver is, we’ll provide their account information.
Can you accommodate special events?
Of course! Whether it’s a bachelorette weekend, anniversary celebration, or corporate outing, we’ve got you covered. Our only limitation is the 5-hour daily minimum per driver.
How much is your designated driver service?
Our rate is $60 per hour with a five-hour minimum. If you have a large party requiring more than one driver, the charge is $60 per hour per driver.
What is the minimum booking duration?
We have a 5-hour daily minimum.
How do I check availability for a driver?
Visit our booking page: https://simplydrivennapasonoma.com/napa-sonoma-designated-driver/
If you can select a day and add it to your cart, we have availability.
How far in advance should I book?
Book as soon as you know you’ll need us. It’s common for us to have bookings a year in advance, especially during peak season.
What if I need a driver today or tomorrow?
If you need a driver today or tomorrow, it’s best you call us at 707-948-6052.
Are there any dates when your service is not available?
Besides days when we’re fully booked, we block out Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.
Is gratuity included in your rate?
No, driver gratuity is at your discretion. Our drivers work hard to make your day special, and tips are always appreciated but never required.
Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept any US-issued and most non-US-issued magnetic-stripe or chip cards bearing a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or JCB logo. We also love cash.
What’s included in your designated driver service?
A designated driver for your vehicle, along with friendly, professional service from wine industry locals. We also provide water and picnic linens when your day includes a picnic.
Can we bring our dog?
Of course! Since we’re using your vehicle, there are no additional pet fees like limo companies charge. Just let us know in advance so we know your pup(s) will be part of the day.
What is your cancellation policy for designated driver services?
We ask for 48 hours notice to refund your deposit so we can try to reassign your driver. Once we’re fully committed on a day, deposits are non-refundable as we’ve likely turned away other business.
Itinerary Planning | Concierge Service FAQs
What itinerary planning services do you offer?
We offer three options:
- Consultation ($50) – A 30-minute call, web meeting, or Zoom to review what you’re thinking for your day
- Full Itinerary Planning with Simply Driven Driver ($150) – We plan your entire day and make all reservations, and you book us as your driver
- Full Itinerary Planning without Driver ($250) – We plan your entire day and make all reservations, but you’re using your own transportation
What’s the difference between a consultation and full itinerary planning?
A consultation is a 30-minute conversation where you share what you’re thinking for your day and we give you feedback as local experts. Full itinerary planning means we take over: we organize your day, make all winery reservations, coordinate timing, and handle all the logistics.
Do I need to book your driving service to get itinerary planning help?
No. Anyone can book a $50 consultation to review their plans with us. For full itinerary planning, we offer it even if you’re not using us as your driver ($250). However, if you book us as your driver, full planning is only $150.
If I book you as my driver, is the consultation free?
Yes! The consultation is included free when you book our driving service. We do this naturally as part of making sure we have a great day together.
Why is full itinerary planning more expensive if I don’t book you as driver?
The $250 reflects the full value of our 12+ years of wine country expertise, relationships with wineries, and the time investment in creating your perfect itinerary. When you book us as your driver, we discount it to $150 because we’re already working together for your day.
When does each option make sense?
Consultation: You have ideas for your day and want to bounce them off a local expert
Full Planning: You want us to handle all the details and coordinate everything
What does the consultation include?
A 30-minute call, or web meeting, where you share what you’re thinking for your wine country day, and we give you feedback as local experts. You bring your ideas and we help you think through them.
What does the full itinerary planning include?
You’ll fill out a questionnaire about your wine preferences, group dynamics, and budget. Then we’ll have a conversation to really understand what you’re looking for. Based on that, we’ll organize your entire day and make all necessary winery appointments using a credit card you provide for the reservation deposits.
Does full itinerary planning include making winery reservations?
Yes. Full planning includes us making all the winery appointments and handling all coordination.
Can you customize our day to include specific wineries we want to visit?
Absolutely. When we plan your itinerary, we work with your preferences to build your complete itinerary. If there are specific wineries you have in mind, we’ll incorporate them. If you want our recommendations based on your tastes, we’ll suggest places we think you’ll love. For consultations, you bring your ideas and we give you feedback.
Can you help with hotel and restaurant recommendations?
For full planning services, our focus is primarily on wineries, but we’re happy to give recommendations for hotels and dinner restaurants. For consultations, you can ask us anything – we’ve been doing this for 12 years and know the area well.
Can I start with a consultation and upgrade to full planning later?
Yes. If you do a consultation and then decide you want us to take over and do full planning, we can do that. We would simply apply your consultation fee toward the full planning fee.
If I already have a planned itinerary, do I need any of these services?
Nope! If you’ve already planned your itinerary and made your reservations, there’s no need to hire us to do it. Just book your driver and you’re all set.
When do we discuss our itinerary?
For consultations, you schedule a 30-minute call at a time that works for both of us. For full planning, after you pay and fill out the questionnaire, we’ll reach out to schedule a conversation to discuss your preferences and finalize details.
What is your cancellation policy for itinerary planning?
For the $50 consultation, you can cancel or reschedule up to 24 hours before your scheduled call. For full planning services, once we’ve completed the planning and made your reservations, the fee is non-refundable as we’ve invested time and secured your bookings.
