Hiring a private chauffeur is incredibly important because it means trusting someone with your safety, your schedule and your privacy.
Morgan & Mallet recruits chauffeurs for HNW and UHNW households across the US.
Our co-founder Morgan Richez worked as a chauffeur before starting the agency.
Every candidate we recruit is from amongst the very best in the industry, with proven experience. We interview all candidates for 90 minutes, with driving records verified back five to seven years.
Contact us today to hire a chauffeur who you can trust.
years placing chauffeurs and drivers
minute structured interview for every candidate
years back driving record verification
day replacement guarantee on every placement
What does a private chauffeur actually do?
A private chauffeur handles your driving, your vehicles, and your schedule on the road. But driving is often only half the job.
They keep your cars serviced, insured, registered, fueled, and clean. They run errands. They pick up children from school and activities. They coordinate daily routes with the PA and stay connected with security teams.
Morgan Richez, co-founder of Morgan & Mallet”
“If your boss says ‘be here at 8:00,’ you arrive at 7:30. You make sure the tank is full, there’s water in the back, and you know the route. You can’t pull up to a gas station with your principal in the car. That doesn’t look professional. You have to anticipate everything.”
Then there’s the hours. Contracts say five days a week. Reality says otherwise.
An evening dinner turns into a late night. A Sunday call is part of the deal.
Morgan Richez: “You get a high salary, but you need to be flexible at the last minute. Anytime. That’s the tradeoff.”
What's the difference between a chauffeur and a driver?
A driver gets you from A to B. A chauffeur prepares the car, plans the route, coordinates with your household, and keeps everything confidential.
A chauffeur anticipates. A driver reacts.
Morgan Richez: “The chauffeur takes initiative. Water bottles, magazines, a full tank. If the principal says ‘take me to Tribeca,’ you don’t open the GPS. You know the way. If you’re going to a postcode you’ve never been to, fine, check it beforehand. But if you don’t know the main routes to the places your principal goes every week, you look stupid.”
The way you drive matters too. Your principal is on a call or working on a laptop. Sudden braking and sharp turns ruin that. You accelerate smoothly, brake early, keep your distance.
Morgan said the biggest complaint he hears from principals is chauffeurs who drive like Uber drivers.
There are two types of role. An executive chauffeur works for a company, driving a CEO or senior exec.
In Manhattan, everyone in finance has one. A family chauffeur works for a household, driving parents and kids, coordinating with the nanny, handling whatever comes up.
Some families need both.
How much does a chauffeur cost in the US?
Private chauffeur salaries in the United States range from $80,000 to $130,000 a year, according to Morgan & Mallet’s 2025/26 Household Staff Salaries Annual Report.
Security training pushes it higher. Chauffeurs with military, police, or close protection backgrounds earn more in every market. Same goes for vehicle experience.
Driving a big SUV is straightforward. A Rolls-Royce or a Porsche 911 is a different skill set, and candidates with that experience know what they’re worth.
On top of salary, expect payroll taxes (FICA), workers’ comp, and typically health insurance. Live-in roles pay a lower base but include accommodation and meals worth $20,000 to $40,000 a year.
If you want to calculate the salary of a chauffeur in your area, try our household staff salary calculator.
Should you hire a chauffeur yourself or use an agency?
You can try. You’ll get hundreds of applications. Most won’t have private household experience.
Morgan Richez: “For every 100 applications we receive, maybe two or three are top-tier. It’s so easy to apply now through Indeed or Google Jobs, you just press a button. So we receive a lot of applications, but 90% have never worked in a private household.”
The screening alone is a full-time job. Driving record checks, reference calls, employment law. And the one thing you probably can’t assess on your own is discretion.
A chauffeur is in your car every day. They hear business conversations, family arguments, financial details. One hire who talks can do real damage.
We test for this in every interview. We watch how candidates talk about former employers. If they’re name-dropping or sharing details about a previous principal’s life, we know they’ll do the same in your household.
What should you look for when hiring a chauffeur?
Driving style. Ask the candidate to drive you for an hour. Smooth acceleration, early braking, composure in traffic. Your principal is working in the back seat. Comfort comes first.
City knowledge. In New York, they should know Manhattan without Waze. In LA, it’s freeways and distance between counties. Morgan Richez: “The airport is the most complicated part. Last-minute departures, rush hour. A good chauffeur anticipates the timing. They never miss a flight.”
Vehicle experience. We verify what cars each candidate has driven and for how long. If you own a Bentley or a performance car, you need someone who has handled that weight and power before.
Security awareness. In Los Angeles, many families want a chauffeur with a security background. Military or police experience helps. Your chauffeur should notice their surroundings, spot things that seem off, and know when to change a route without being asked.
Discretion. The rule: never initiate conversation. Wait for the principal to speak first. Never comment on anything you overhear.
Laurine Mallet our other co-founder: “Let’s say you love football and your boss is on the phone talking about the match from yesterday. It’s not because you love football that you jump into the conversation. You stay in your place.”
What should you expect in the first 90 days?
Most placements that fail go wrong in the first three months. The problem is usually communication, not the hire.
Your chauffeur might not know if they’re doing well because nobody told them. They might not understand your preferences yet because nobody explained them. That’s what our check-ins are for. We stay in touch with both sides during that period.
Morgan Richez: “Principals often say it’s going to be a 9-to-6 job. But that’s not realistic. You need your chauffeur there before you leave. If there’s an evening dinner, they stay. It’s important to explain that honestly from the start so the chauffeur knows what they’re signing up for.”
We help with contracts, payroll setup, and connecting you with employment lawyers in New York, California, Florida, and other states.
90-day replacement guarantee. If it doesn’t work, we find someone new at no extra cost.
Where can you hire a private chauffeur in the US?
Morgan & Mallet places chauffeurs in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and anywhere else our clients have homes.
New York is the busiest market. It seems like almost everyone in finance has a chauffeur. Traffic, parking, and the pace of the city don’t make it practical to drive yourself if you need to get anything done between meetings.
Los Angeles comes second. The issue is distance, not gridlock. A principal’s day might cover three counties. Entertainment industry families also need chauffeurs who understand privacy.
Miami demand is seasonal. Families who split time between the northeast and South Florida need chauffeurs who can relocate for the winter. San Francisco demand comes from tech entrepreneurs. A lot of them run electric fleets, so EV charging logistics are now part of the job.
Morgan Richez: “Finding a great chauffeur in New York or Los Angeles is easy. We have many candidates in those cities. Where it gets harder is smaller cities, or when the client needs someone who can handle very specific luxury sports cars.”
For the Hamptons, Greenwich, Aspen, or Palm Beach, searches take longer. You may need to offer a live-in arrangement or a higher salary to get the right person out there.
Frequently Asked
Questions About Hiring a Chauffeur
How long does it take to hire a chauffeur?
Two to four weeks for most roles. If you need someone with luxury vehicle experience or security training, it can take longer.
Can a chauffeur also provide security?
Some can. Candidates with military, police, or close protection backgrounds bring that awareness to the role. We can search specifically for this.
Do you place chauffeurs outside major cities?
Yes. The Hamptons, Greenwich, Aspen, Palm Beach, anywhere our clients have homes. Smaller markets take longer and sometimes need a live-in arrangement to attract the right person.
What about employment law for chauffeurs?
It varies by state. New York’s Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights covers overtime, days off, and notice periods. California has its own rules. Chauffeur contracts need to account for the long and irregular hours that come with the role. We connect you with lawyers in every state where you’re hiring.
Can a chauffeur manage multiple vehicles?
Yes. Many of the chauffeurs we place look after entire fleets. Service appointments, insurance, registration, seasonal storage. If you have four cars and need one person keeping them all maintained, that’s standard.
What vehicles should a chauffeur be able to drive?
At minimum, large luxury SUVs and sedans. If you own performance or classic vehicles, we verify the candidate’s specific experience during our interview and reference checks.
Hire a Chauffeur
Call Morgan & Mallet on (646)965-2308 or email contact@morganmallet.agency.
New York
office address
260 Madison Avenue, 8th floor, 10016, New York, NY - United States
phone
+1 (646)965-2308
opening hours
Monday - Thursday : 9AM - 6PM
Friday : 9AM - 5PM
Saturday & Sunday : Closed
Miami
office address
1555 NE 121st ST #104 FL 33161, North Miami - United States
phone
+1 305 710 3380
opening hours
Monday - Thursday : 9AM - 6PM
Friday : 9AM - 5PM
Saturday & Sunday : Closed
Los Angeles
office address
895 Dove St, Newport Beach, CA 92660, United States
phone
+1 305 710 3380
opening hours
Monday - Thursday : 9AM - 6PM
Friday : 9AM - 5PM
Saturday & Sunday : Closed