Chauffeur is a powerful WordPress vehicle booking plugin that lets customers easily reserve rides directly from your website. It integrates with the Google Maps API to calculate real-time distances and routes, automatically generating accurate pricing based on your custom fare rules, vehicle types, and trip details. With support for multiple service types like distance, hourly, and fixed routes, Chauffeur provides a smooth, professional booking experience while giving administrators full control over pricing, availability, and booking management from the WordPress dashboard.

Setup Guide

Follow these steps to configure the Chauffeur Booking plugin after activation.

1. Install and Activate the Plugin

– Upload the plugin folder to /wp-content/plugins/chaufb/ or install it using Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
– Activate it via Plugins → Installed Plugins.

1. Add a Google Maps API Key and Map ID (Required)

– Open the WordPress dashboard.
– Go to Chauffeur → Settings → Google API.
– Create an API key and Map ID in the Google Cloud Console:
https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/
– Enable the following required services:
– Maps JavaScript API
– Geocoding API
– Directions API
– Places API (or Places API – New)
– Routes API
– Static Maps API
– Create a Google Map ID in the Map Styles section of the Google Cloud Console.
– Enter both the Google API Key and Google Map ID on the Google API settings tab and save.
– The booking form will not function until both values are correctly configured.

1. Add the Shortcode to a Page

– Create a new WordPress page (for example: “Book a Ride”).
– Add the shortcode:
[chaufb_booking_page]
– Publish the page. This page will display the booking form.

1. Add a Vehicle

– Go to Chauffeur → Vehicles.
– Create at least one vehicle and configure details such as:
– Capacity
– Minimum hours
– Pricing
– Vehicle description and image

1. Configure Basic Pricing

– Go to Chauffeur → Vehicles and click on the vehicle you created.
– Scroll to the Distance Pricing section.
– Enter:
– A Starting Price (base charge before distance calculation).
– A Price per km / mile depending on your distance setting.
– The distance unit (kilometers or miles) can be set under:
Chauffeur → Settings → General → Distance Unit.
– Pricing will not calculate until at least a Starting Price and per-distance rate are configured.

1. Add Optional Extras

– Go to Chauffeur → Extras.
– Add optional items or services such as:
– Child seats
– Luggage items
– Meet-and-greet services
– Additional upgrades or surcharges

1. Email Notifications

– Go to Chauffeur → Settings → Emails.
– Enter the email address where booking notification emails should be sent.

1. Test the Booking Form

– Visit the page where you added the shortcode.
– Complete a full test booking to confirm:
– The Google Map loads correctly
– Distance and pricing calculations are accurate
– Vehicle and extras selection works as expected
– The booking notification email is received

Once these steps are completed, your booking system is ready for customers.

External Services

This plugin connects to Google Maps Platform services in order to provide mapping and booking functionality.

The following Google services may be used:

• Geocoding API
• Maps JavaScript API
• Directions API
• Places API / Places API (New)
• Routes API
• Maps Static API
• Google Map ID

What is sent and when:

• When the booking form is used, the pick-up and drop-off addresses entered by the user are sent to Google in order to geocode them and to calculate distances, routes and travel times.
• When map previews are displayed in the admin or on the front end, the map coordinates and configuration are sent to Google to render the map tiles and markers.
• No other personal data is intentionally sent to Google by this plugin.

These services are provided by Google. Use of Google Maps Platform is subject to Google’s terms of service and privacy policy:

• Google Maps / Google Earth Additional Terms of Service: https://maps.google.com/help/terms_maps/
• Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy