Why Hire a Driver in Napa and Sonoma? Is it Expensive? Is it Worth It?

In the old days, perhaps not good old days, I will admit that I used to drive from winery to winery and sipping way too much. I mean, everyone did this but that was a long time ago back when Napa was country roads and even on a weekend you might only see a handful of random cars all doing the same thing. That’s not to excuse my poor decision making but things were different back then. Heck, even 5 years ago a lot of people would drive drunk in Napa.

Don’t worry, they hired a driver in Napa!

But today it’s too risky to drive yourself when wine tasting in Napa or Sonoma. It’s busy, so if you don’t hurt yourself you might hurt others and no one wants that. So if you don’t drive yourself what are the options?

1. UBER: I know, it seems to work just fine back home but in Napa the cell service can get really spotty once you leave Highway 29 or the Silverado Trail so an Uber might get you there but damn, how are you going to request one to pick you up if your phone isn’t working? Add to that there are not enough Uber drivers anyway so even if you stay in the main area of Napa you are rolling the dice you can get one in time for your next winery appointment.

2. HIRE A DRIVER WHO DRIVES YOUR RENTAL: I work with drivers who claim they can legally drive your rental and this is the cheapest way to go. However you will want to verify their licenses and insurance on your own to make sure you are satisfied with their credentials. There are plenty of drivers who are not doing this professionally and not insured properly so do your own due diligence.

3. HIRE A DRIVER TO DRIVE YOUR ITINERARY: If you know where you want to go you can hire one of these drivers to pick you up and get you to your next stop on time. They’ll typically wait outside the winery but politely tap you on the shoulder when it’s getting close to exit time. PRO TIP: If you don’t know much about wineries and want me to help you plan it out just email me - I do this for free for my readers.

4. HIRE A FULL SERVICE DRIVER: Some of my drivers will not only pick the wineries for you (with your input) but will make the reservations. If you are short on time and just want to make sure your trip to Napa goes perfectly then do this.

5. JOIN IN TOURS: I work with Platypus Wine Tours if you want to just jump in the shuttle and leave all of the details, including lunch, to them. Good for couples, good for groups, even corporate groups or bachlorette parties love this option. FAVOR: They pay me a small commission so please tell them LOCAL WALLY sent you if you book with Platypus.

6. NAPA WINE TRAIN: OK, this isn’t really transportation but they do have train excursions that stop at a few select wineries. Let me know if you’re interested in this as I have discounts I can show you.

YES, HIRING A DRIVER IN NAPA IS WORTH IT - MUCH BETTER THAN A DUI!

You want to have fun wine tasting, right? So why limit your sips hoping you won’t drink too much? And do you really want to toss that super delicious sip of very expensive wine that you just paid for into the spit jar just because you drew the short straw to be the designated driver?

Napa Designated Drivers 2024: What Does it Cost, How to Choose

Do I Really Need a Designated Driver to Wine Taste in Napa?

More and more, people coming to Napa are hiring designated drivers versus driving themselves. And it makes sense - you wouldn’t go bar hopping at at the end of the night jump in your car to drive home, right? With wine tasting it’s VERY easy to drink too much and it sneaks up on you around the second winery.

Some people claim that Uber works in Napa and it could… but doesn’t always. There just aren’t that many Uber drivers in the valley and once you get off the main highway cell service gets pretty spotty. I was visiting wineries to take photos and discovered this the hard way when I was low on gas (like really low!) and my phone couldn’t grab GPS to get me down the hill before I ran out.

Designated Drivers versus Tour Drivers versus Transportation Companies: What’s the difference, what’s the best option?

The cheapest option is to hire a Designated Driver who can drive you in their vehicle. This can be tricky from an insurance perspective so make sure you are comfortable with this arrangement. I work with drivers who have assured me that they have the proper licenses and insurance but you always want to do your own checking.

And you should know that while I have had great success with all of my drivers I take no responsibility for their behavior, their insurance, licenses, etc - basically do your own due diligence and if something goes wrong it’s between you and the driver.

Figure a driver driving you in your vehicle is anywhere from $45 to $55 an hour. Some will even help you pick wineries and make the reservations so don’t be afraid to ask.

Most of my drivers are previous Tour Guides from the large touring companies. This means they know Napa and Sonoma, they know their wineries, and they can give you a bit of backstory throughout the day. They also know the deep dive hidden gems should you want to get away from the usual suspects and explore the side of Napa that locals know. They’ll drive you in their vehicle. All of them take pride in their vehicles which range from standard sedans like a Toyota Corolla to fancier SUVs. One of the drivers specializes in “luxury” tours and has a very nice SUV that will make you feel like a VIP so if that’s what you’re looking for make sure you ask. Expect drivers in this category to be ultra professional and knowledgeable on Napa and Sonoma.

Some of the drivers also have much larger vehicles for groups of 12 or so, perfect for bachlorette parties or corporate events.

Prices for drivers in this category typically start at $65 an hour.

Most of the drivers in the aforementioned categories are independent drivers. The next group are transportation companies who have a myriad of vehicles, from small SUVs to limos to party busses to large corporate event busses. With this category you get less of a tour guide but more options for vehicles. They also are better equipped for things like airport pickups and drop offs. Rates are a bit higher in this category but they nearly always have a vehicle and driver for you so if you are trying to get a last minute driver this is your best bet. Also, rest assured that the companies I work with offer good rates to my readers.

I also work with companies that offer “JOIN IN” tours where you are part of a larger group of perhaps a dozen or so. These are fun outings so if you like meeting people and don’t want to hassle deciding where to go or don’t want to make reservations then this is another good option. Also great for last minute visitors or single travelers. In SF on a business trip and just want to sneak away to experience Napa? This is your best option.

So now you’re in Napa or Sonoma and going out to that special dinner. You want to be responsible so you call an Uber - no problem. Now dinner is over and you want to get back to your hotel. You fire up the app and there are NO UBERS anywhere as they all went home for the night - or worse, you realize that there is no cell service and you can’t even get to the app.

This is why DINNER DRIVING SERVICE has become a big thing in Napa. Use one of my drivers to get you to your restaurant on time and they’ll wait until you are done to get you back. No worries, and good rates too. Better than driving after a bottle of wine, this lets you enjoy your dinner without stressing out.