Jim Jones -- Too Baller for Public Transportation

You'd think Jim Jones would suck it up and buy a Metro Card after losing his license earlier this year -- but no ... the rapper plunked down for a chauffeur.

Jones pled guilty to driving on a suspended license after his arrest in March -- but Jones tells TMZ, it's no big deal ... because now his driver takes him everywhere he needs to go ... guy even drives Jim's kid to school.

The "Love & Hip Hop" star says the cost of hiring the driver is worth it because he doesn't want to end up in jail for another driving violation -- and he feels he's too famous in NYC to take public transportation.