tbourner Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 No I'm not getting a Skyline! I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about becoming a taxi driver? I know there are 2 types, the ones who are 'hailed' and generally work for the local council? And the private hire firm ones. Basically I'm looking for something I can do part time with reasonably low start up costs. I looked at doing driving instruction but it's quite pricy to get started (need a newish car, expensive lessons/testing etc.) and there's a lot of competition! With a taxi I'm thinking the competition is less because there are more customers available and each fare is a shorter 'job' than with instructors. So how much does it cost to get licensed? I know there are rules for the car to buy, like it must have at least 4 doors and have a certain amount of boot space etc. but I assume they can be as old as you like as long as they pass safety tests and regular MOTs etc.? Also, can I become licensed as a taxi and then just go out and cruise around whenever I want or do I have to be employed by an authority or anything? If I choose the minicab route I'll need to work for a local company or try to start up my own - so do most companys allow you to choose your hours? I guess there's like a rent you have to pay to work for them so I'd have to make sure I do enough hours to cover that? Failing that, any other ideas for cheap part time work I can do evenings and weekends? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 My mate left last year to be a Private hire taxi driver in Leeds. It was quite cheap for him to do as his uncle owns a taxi firm. He had to go through several tests (unknown of cost) Buy a car. (only had the wifes one) Insurance he said is a killer at £3.2k per year (he is only 24, passed his test less than 12 months) He has to rent out the little gizmo that gives you the jobs which is £90 per week. Then fuel and running costs. He does during the day and is kept moderately busy. You also have to learn the basics, like cutting people up, doing a U-turn in busy traffic, smell of BO and have wodden seat covers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 sell your ass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 My mate has just become a taxi driver. He's a private hire on the Wirral. He had to do a knowledge test Get a Criminal Records Bureau check (took 6 weeks) To get him started up, he enlisted with a local firm, who charge £90 for a radio and he's renting a car from a local Private Hire taxi supplier (Settle cars I think they're called). They're about £90 a week to. He's putting in abotu 45-50 hours a week and after all his payouts, he's earning around £400 (minus fuel). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Where abouts it Hampshire are you? I did some taxi driving when I lived in Southampton as I had a few mates doing it. If you do 'private hire' you work for a company and they give you your jobs, some will hire you a fully equiped car which you can keep if you work fulltime or just pick up on weekends. You are not allowed to cruise the streets and just pick up anyone, if you get caught you risk losing your licence. The other is 'hackney carriage' these are the ones that can pick up anyone but those guys pay a lot of money for their licence and all own their own cars. Get your licence through eastleigh and there is a medical and that's it, no tests at all! If you want any more info, pm me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 One thing to bear in mind.... drunk weekend yobs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 One thing to bear in mind.... drunk weekend yobs... I would hate to have to chauffeur drunken me home after a few... and I'm nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullyd Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 no better job man i've been a taxi driver for the past 8 years and love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I think it depends on where want to do the mini cabbing, in London you have quite a expensive setup like all the fees etc. I use to get dropped off by cab when I use to work some evenings in the office & have been told that there is not a lot of work in London as due to the recession a lot of people who have lost jobs have gone into Cabbing. Might be different story outside of central London though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 I'm thinking of ways to be able to buy a second car and have a part time job to pay for it - so I wouldn't be hiring one of their cars either way. I also would want some freedom to choose when I work so the main thing is whether a PH firm would request certain hours or times from me? The Hackney carriage taxis need more doing to them I assume, like having an 'available' light on top. So far I'm thinking I can spend about £2k or less on a car, and either work for a PH firm and hire the radio and stuff - I need to find out what they expect in payment and what I get to keep. Otherwise become a normal taxi - I have even less info on how that works, just wait in taxi ranks all day until someone comes along? The job I think I'd be OK at, same as the instructor idea, the only thing I fall down on with taxis is not knowing road names around my area (Portsmouth), so I'd need to do some homework on that and sat nav would be a must. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I'm thinking of ways to be able to buy a second car and have a part time job to pay for it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 The job I think I'd be OK at, same as the instructor idea, the only thing I fall down on with taxis is not knowing road names around my area (Portsmouth), so I'd need to do some homework on that and sat nav would be a must. With Private Hire companies you do not need to know the street names as all your jobs are pre booked, so all you need is satnav. Council taxi drivers (like the black cabs in Edinburgh) have to sit a test to show how well they know the area as they can pick up jobs off the street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 With Private Hire companies you do not need to know the street names as all your jobs are pre booked, so all you need is satnav. Certainly not the case in Wirral or Sefton councils mate. You are given three routes and you have to take the quickest/cheapest one for each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Certainly not the case in Wirral or Sefton councils mate. You are given three routes and you have to take the quickest/cheapest one for each. I know in Edinburgh PH companies you do not need to know routes, or in Leeds as my mate got his licence for PH and did not need to do any routes. I guess it will be down to individual Burgh's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I know in Edinburgh PH companies you do not need to know routes, or in Leeds as my mate got his licence for PH and did not need to do any routes. I guess it will be down to individual Burgh's Quite possibly so mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 sell your ass? Yeah Mike will be able to give you some advice on this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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