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Picture the scene - you and your seven best friends are holding tickets to a favorite band's concert. You're pretty sure that they're well into their set while you're still at home waiting for your limo. What do you do?

John Cacaccio from Bristol County Coach and Limo in Norton, Tony Mendez from Emerald Square Limousine in Plainville and Bill Andrews from Celebrity Limousine in North Attleboro offer the following tips to help solve issues like that one and keep your special night out smooth from beginning to end.

1. Don't wait until the last minute to rent the limo. For weddings, call the limousine company 10 to 12 months in advance, for bachelor or bachelorette parties, reserve a limousine three months in advance and for proms, reserve a limousine two months in advance.

2. Plan ahead. Talk to the people you're renting the limo with and figure out how much each person will be paying. Plan where you want to be picked up and dropped off, and figure out if you will be picked up as a group in one location or if people will be picked up individually. Share all of this information with the limousine company ahead of time to ensure an on-time arrival on the day of the event.

3. Give your itinerary to the driver and company ahead of time. If you are trying to yell directions from the backseat, the driver will be distracted, and you'll be distracted from the experience that you're paying for. 4. Communicate with the people who work at the company. Employees can help you choose the limo that is right for the occasion. If you need a television in the limo, ask the company if they offer cars with a television. If you want other special features, ask which limos have them.

5. Ask for a contract. It should include times of pick up and drop-off, the type of limo, itinerary, rates, fees and company's liability in the event of breakdowns or no shows.

6. Tips aren't always included in the price. Ask the company beforehand if the tip is included or if you are expected to hand it over to the driver. If it is not included, the standard tip is 20 percent of the total cost.

7. Everything doesn't always go as planned. Make sure to get your limo driver's cell phone number before he drops you off. That way, if he is late you can call to find out why and when he will be there. Also, keep the limo company's number on hand in case the car has mechanical difficulties. Some limo companies have people in the office 24 hours a day so they can help you in case of an emergency.

8. Do a background check. Ask if the company has insurance up to $5 million. They should be able to show you the policy. Also, ask if they own their cars.

"It's very important that the company your dealing with owns the vehicles. If either of those is a no, move on to a different company. Companies may also do a background check on their drivers to make sure they are qualified. You can also ask the company for references and find out if they belong to any limousine organizations," said Cacaccio.

"Don't just talk to them on the phone-go down and meet the people. Find out who you're dealing with and where they are located."

9. Look at the cars to really know what you're getting. You should be able to look at the outside and the inside of the cars to determine which one will work for your outing.

10. Ask about hourly rates. If you're looking to save money, rent Sunday through Thursday or in the winter. Most people want to rent limousines during the weekend for weddings or proms, not during the week. So if you can schedule your occasion during the week the limo company might give you a lower price just to put their cars on the road. They also might have fewer minimum hours that you need to rent the limo for, which will lower the price.

And a final safety tip... "The one thing (passengers) shouldn't be doing is putting their head out of the sunroof. New England has a lot of low bridges," Mendez said. Other than that, limo companies tolerate lots of crazy behavior, but try to be courteous. Many companies don't mind loud music or drinking, that's why you're paying them to drive.