Funeral transport is a vital part of a funeral to organise, and finding reliable providers of transport that arrives on time is a must. Within this guide we address each of the practicalities involved with funeral transport, whilst also covering topics such as the average costs to be expected, in addition to the ways in which even this element of a funeral can be personalised to pay homage to the deceased, whilst providing mourners with a moment to pause and remember as they take their loved one’s last journey.
Key questions to be asked
Do you want to stick with tradition, or choose funeral transport that’s more unique?
Traditionally the deceased are carried in a standard hearse, with a chauffeur–driven cortège limousine(s) that follows; more unique options include: a horse-drawn hearse, a motor cycle hearse, or even something that’s personalised (it’s worthwhile noting at this point that there is no legal requirement that defines what form of transport the deceased may or may not be carried in).
Less conventional hearse options then include: a VW hearse, flat-bed lorry, decorated bus, simple horse and cart (as opposed to a grand horse-drawn hearse), or a vintage fire engine – the possibilities are truly endless.
How many people will you need to consider?
The size of the Funeral Cortège will be defined by how many ‘principal mourners’ there are (which is generally immediate family only, who travel within the chauffeur–driven cortège limousine). You may also need to consider whether these people have any accessibility needs, such as needs for wheelchair access or help into and out of the vehicle.
What route will you take?
You’ll obviously need to let any company know about where the departure and destination points will be, however it’s also becoming increasingly common for a procession route to factor in personalised locations. You may want to briefly stop outside of the person’s home or favourite outside spot, or you may like to drive past an old local pub, workplace, school or church.
Funeral transport: An idea of costs
The following prices have been based upon research on average funeral costs undertaken by WhatPrice.co.uk.
- Hire of Hearse or Limousine - £275 per vehicle
- Transfer of deceased to place of burial - £120
- Horse Drawn Carriage for Deceased - £1000
Ready to search out quotes from providers? Once you’ve decided upon the details, it’s then time to contact a number of providers to get an exact idea of costs.
At the Funeral Services Guide, we seek out reliable providers who each have a reputation that proceeds them; in this respect, we’ve often done much of the leg work for you and within our pages you’ll find providers of hearses, horse drawn carriages and limousine hire.
Search for funeral transport providers
Ready to book a funeral transport provider?
Each of the provider types listed it in this article can be booked either directly (with the providers themselves), or via your funeral directors (this may warrant an additional surcharge outside of any package you may have purchased from the funeral directors).