Taxi Driver Online :: View topic - Advice needed please!

I am considering doing The Knowledge and becoming a taxi driver. Basically, before I decide, I want to have a decent idea of what I would earn. I would be very grateful if people could email me, or reply to this, giving me a fair idea of what I could expect to make on a typical weekday, or weekend evening/night. Also, an idea of outgoings, insurance costs etc. etc.

But this will probably mean quite long and unsocial hours, most Friday and Saturday nights, for example, so if you like the pub at the weekends then forget it.
You certainly won't be earning a fortune working school hours, and of course you don't get 3 months holiday a year.
Then there's the drunken, abusive, threatening and occassionaly violent customers you have to put up with.

Yes, I appreciate that entirely. It's just a bit daunting to try to decide whether or not to make a major career change without having any idea what to expect earnings-wise. I'm not thinking of changing because of money, but for the flexibility of hours, and not being too fond of my current job (teaching). I think my best bet might be to start on the Knowledge, and talk to people about it when that is well underway.

Thanks,

David

I think my best bet might be to start on the Knowledge, and talk to people about it when that is well underway.

Thanks,

David

Wizann online is at:

http://www.wizann.co.uk/

Good luck.

Author:	d_brewis [ Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:15 am ]
Post subject:	Advice needed please!
I am considering doing The Knowledge and becoming a taxi driver. Basically, before I decide, I want to have a decent idea of what I would earn. I would be very grateful if people could email me, or reply to this, giving me a fair idea of what I could expect to make on a typical weekday, or weekend evening/night. Also, an idea of outgoings, insurance costs etc. etc.

Author:	Sussex [ Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:46 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Advice needed please!
d_brewis wrote: I am considering doing The Knowledge and becoming a taxi driver. Basically, before I decide, I want to have a decent idea of what I would earn. I would be very grateful if people could email me, or reply to this, giving me a fair idea of what I could expect to make on a typical weekday, or weekend evening/night. Also, an idea of outgoings, insurance costs etc. etc. Drivers don't really like discussing money to those not already in the trade, but you will earn what you need to, and if you are a grafter, a little bit more. The prices of motors and insurance are all taken care of in the fare review, but London cabs basically cost a bomb to buy and to run, but not to insure.

Author:	d_brewis [ Wed Apr 27, 2005 12:49 pm ]
Post subject:
Yes, I appreciate that entirely. It's just a bit daunting to try to decide whether or not to make a major career change without having any idea what to expect earnings-wise. I'm not thinking of changing because of money, but for the flexibility of hours, and not being too fond of my current job (teaching). I think my best bet might be to start on the Knowledge, and talk to people about it when that is well underway. Thanks, David

Author:	Sussex [ Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:30 pm ]
Post subject:
Whatever you do, good luck. But don't forget London cabbies best friends are those recently licensed London Private Hire.

Author:	TDO [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:09 am ]
Post subject:
Depending on what level of teaching you're at, you could probably double your earnings at least. But this will probably mean quite long and unsocial hours, most Friday and Saturday nights, for example, so if you like the pub at the weekends then forget it. You certainly won't be earning a fortune working school hours, and of course you don't get 3 months holiday a year. But if you want flexibility and self-employment then it could be for you. On the downside, the KOL is clearly quite a daunting prospect, and the thought of driving around London doesn't really appeal to me personally, in fact having done the job for a few years driving anywhere kind of loses its appeal. Then there's the drunken, abusive, threatening and occassionaly violent customers you have to put up with. But since you're a teacher you'll probably be used to that anyway. But I doubt if the average London black cab customer is that bad anyway, in fact probably a lot better than the rabble in the provinces.

Taxi Driver Online http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/

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Author:	steveo [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:33 am ]
Post subject:
TDO wrote: But this will probably mean quite long and unsocial hours, most Friday and Saturday nights, for example, so if you like the pub at the weekends then forget it. You certainly won't be earning a fortune working school hours, and of course you don't get 3 months holiday a year. Then there's the drunken, abusive, threatening and occassionaly violent customers you have to put up with. sounds a right crap job !! an old college mate of mine went in to teaching and like you got fed up with it over here. he's recently gone down under and is now teaching in sunny Perth (the ozzy one!) for a lot more money too.

Author:	JD [ Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:57 pm ]
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d_brewis wrote: Yes, I appreciate that entirely. It's just a bit daunting to try to decide whether or not to make a major career change without having any idea what to expect earnings-wise. I'm not thinking of changing because of money, but for the flexibility of hours, and not being too fond of my current job (teaching). I think my best bet might be to start on the Knowledge, and talk to people about it when that is well underway. Thanks, David A friend of mine took the opposite route. He went from driving a Cab to become High School Teacher. He doesn't regret the move one bit. You will probably find you have more freedom of movement driving a cab and if you intend to drive in London then the earnings are probably one of the highest in the country but so is the cost of living. Regards JD

Author:	GBC [ Mon May 02, 2005 1:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Advice needed please!
d_brewis wrote: I am considering doing The Knowledge and becoming a taxi driver. Basically, before I decide, I want to have a decent idea of what I would earn. I would be very grateful if people could email me, or reply to this, giving me a fair idea of what I could expect to make on a typical weekday, or weekend evening/night. Also, an idea of outgoings, insurance costs etc. etc. You earn what you put in. If you work 10 hours a day, 7 days a week you will be a very rich individual, and believe me some do work these hours. I, like most, don't! I work about a 4 day week (8 hours night) incorporating at least a Fri or Sat in my quota. As for drunks and problems, easy, keep the doors locked until you sus out the people. Piszed, Pizza, 'someone will pay you at the other end', sick on them, etc etc, No thanks. As for the daunting knowledge, trust me, i've seen some thicko's get through, its not rocket science, for someone from an education background I forsee little problems ahead. Or you could buy a previa and tout from Charing Cross road on a Saturday?

Author:	GBC [ Mon May 02, 2005 2:09 pm ]
Post subject:
d_brewis wrote: I think my best bet might be to start on the Knowledge, and talk to people about it when that is well underway. Thanks, David Contact Dean Warrinton at WizAnn Knowledge school, one of the best I hear. Or look at WizAnn online on the www.

Author:	GBC [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:17 pm ]
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Wizann online is at: http://www.wizann.co.uk/ Good luck. (There you go Alex, it worked!!)

Author:	Sussex [ Mon May 09, 2005 8:20 pm ]
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greenbadgecabby wrote: Wizann online is at: http://www.wizann.co.uk/ Good luck. Can't see Kings Cross to the A22 on there. Three bleeping hours.

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