How to Specify Vehicle Class — Avoid "Premium" Ambiguity
IQPD
"Premium," "luxury," and "VIP" mean different things to different suppliers. One company's premium sedan is a 7-year-old Skoda Octavia. Another's is a current-generation Mercedes E-Class. If your booking confirmation says only "premium transfer," you have no guarantee of what arrives.
TL;DR
- Never confirm a booking that says only "premium" or "luxury" — require make, model or equivalent
- Specify model year minimum (e.g. 2021 or newer)
- Ask for substitution policy in writing before travel day
- A supplier who cannot confirm vehicle details in writing is not operating to a corporate standard
Why vague terms cause problems
Corporate travel standards often require a specific vehicle class for C-suite passengers, security reasons, or client entertainment. When the booking confirmation uses marketing language rather than model-level specification, three things can go wrong:
- A lower-spec vehicle arrives and the passenger escalates
- You cannot verify compliance when reconciling travel expenses
- The supplier substitutes a vehicle without notice because "premium" was never defined
How to specify correctly
Executive sedan — correct specification
- Vehicle class: Executive sedan
- Acceptable models: Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 (or equivalent current generation)
- Model year: 2021 or newer
- Colour preference: Dark (if required)
Business van — correct specification
- Vehicle class: Business van
- Acceptable models: Mercedes V-Class, Mercedes Vito Busieness class, Mercedes Vito
- Seating configuration: Captain's chairs / individual seats
- Model year: 2020 or newer
All vehicles: current generation, dark exterior, professional driver, fixed price confirmed in writing before travel.
| Class | Vehicle | Seats | Luggage | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Sedan | Mercedes E-Class / BMW 5 Series | up to 3 | 3 large cases | C-suite, 1:1 airport transfers |
| Business Van | Mercedes V-Class | up to 6 | 6 large cases | Groups, family executive travel |
| Sprinter | Mercedes Sprinter | up to 16 | Large hold | Conference groups, roadshows |
Questions to ask any new supplier before confirming
- What is the exact make, model and year of the vehicle for this booking?
- Can you confirm the vehicle in the booking confirmation document?
- What is your substitution policy if that vehicle is unavailable on the day?
A supplier who cannot answer questions 1 and 2 in writing is not operating to a corporate standard.
Red flags
- Confirmation says "premium car" or "luxury vehicle" with no model specified
- Supplier cannot or will not confirm vehicle details in writing
- Substitution policy is "we'll send whatever is available" with no notice procedure
Related resources
- Luggage & Vehicle Selection Rules: /knowledge/luggage-rules-vehicle-selection/
- Executive Sedan vs Business Van — what actually changes: /knowledge/executive-sedan-vs-business-van/
- Service Standards: driver, discretion, communication, SLA: /knowledge/service-standards/
Confirm your vehicle class in writing before you book
WhatsApp / Phone: +48 662 905 905
Email: info@iqpd.pl
License No 92/2019
Service Areas
Contact
(24/7 Dispatch)
IQPD Sp. z o.o.
ul. Jana Zamoyskiego 81
30-519 Kraków, Poland
VAT ID PL6751452415
KRS 0000384807
REGON 121519100
IQPD — Premium Transport Executive chauffeur services
Social media
© 2026 IQPD Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.