PROM. Terrifying, right? The cost, the danger of having your son or daughter out into the wee hours of the morning-it's enough to drive a parent crazy. When my daughter first approached me about going to prom with her boyfriend, I at first balked at her suggestion to rent a limo. I figured New York limo rentals would be extravagant and unnecessary. But then I did some research, and in the end, it wasn't so bad. In the process, I discovered that hiring a limo service was the best way to keep my daughter happy and safe on her special night. I have boiled down what I learned into 10 simple tips. These should not only help other parents decide whether or not to rent a limo, but also show them how to do it.

Renting a limo = built in chaperone! An implied benefit of renting a lime is RENTING A DRIVER! Who wouldn't want an extra adult around your children on prom night?! They can help to make sure the prom is good CLEAN fun for your son or daughter.

It's easy. Just type "new york limousine" or "nyc limo" into Yodle Local or Google and you're barraged with a whole bunch of potential providers. It's easy to compare prices and amenities if you're persistent in clicking.

If your kid can scrounge up a lot of friends, it's pretty cheap. Trying to convince my daughter to invite her friends wasn't hard at all, and that way, they all split the price. Other parents were excited to go in with me on the price because it meant their kids would be safe.

However, you should have a say in who is invited. If one kid pukes in the car or breaks the stereo, the credit card holder is charged! Make sure both you and your kid trusts all the invites.

Renting a limo means renting an adult, professional driver. There was NO WAY I was going to let my daughter be driven by her boyfriend at night, no matter how much I like him. Just think of how many irresponsible drivers are on the streets on Prom night. I felt much safer knowing there was a licensed professional at the wheel.

Don't overfill the limo! When a limo company says that their load capacity is 10, that means 10 MAX. Remind everyone that they will be all dressed up, and they won't want to sit on each other and ruffle up their flowing dresses and tux tails, especially when they're trying to look pretty.

Be sure to get a contract. If you don't have one, there is no way to insure that your limo will actually show up.

Call early! Keep in mind that it's Prom season. A lot of kids will want to rent limos. Call early for the best deals. Pricing is available. There are all different kinds of limo services out there. Some have stretch Hummers and some have old jalopies. It all depends on the image your kid wants to project.

Your kid will be happy. This is their night. Usually, it's their last real blow out before their childhood is effectively over (unless they go to college). You're guaranteed to make it a night they won't forget if you're flexible on their transportation there. It's all the details that go into making an incredible experience.

And after you've braved the New York limo rentals waters for your child's prom, consider renting a limo for yourself! There are tons of New York limousine tours that you could get info on-to casinos, around town-pretty much anywhere!

Megan Herrold is a copywriter for Yodle, a local online advertising company offering practical and innovative solutions to advertising in the 21st century. Find local businesses or promote your own at yodle.com.