Taxi Driver Online

Hi
I am new here and looking for advice, Here's my questions and my situation
Can part time pay?
Does the insurance come down after the first novice year has gone?

I have a job that now has been reduced to 16hr a week, I get £8.50 an hour for this so don't want to give it up, however it don't pay the bills. This job has shift work as such, one week I start at 7 the next 4 in the afternoon with alternate weekends chucked in.
I want a job which works round this so I have decided to turn my car into a taxi
I have passed my written knowledge test, and DSA driving test, eye test is done. I have got my driven route test coming in a couple of weeks time. This lot alone has cost me £167. I am leaving my CRB check and medical to last as these time out after 3 months in case I fail the driven rout test.
I own my car, its a Vectra SRi estate 2008 plate 65,000 miles on clock and no finance, one operator has told me they can kit it out for £150. I have not tried hard yet at finding insurance, I expected about £2500 the one quote I got was £3100 (nearly died)
I have had two job offers part time.
So can it work????

Possibly, it depends where you are. Good luck. In my part of the world even full time cabbing won't pay all the bills.

To put a cab on the road will cost around £250-£300 per week (rents, insurance, fuel etc.). The amount will vary of course depending on the firm and whether or not it's PH or HC but I'd say that figure is about average.

Again income will vary depending on area, could be as low as £40 some days and £150+ on a busy shift so even at the busiest times you're looking at 2 days work just to cover expenses. I'd say you're not going to make much (or anything) putting your own car on part-time. Best bet is either drive for someone else on a split bag or drive yourself part time and rent the car out the rest of the week when your not using it.

To be honest unless your going to be working in a busy area you'd be better off doing something else on minimum wage at least then you're guaranteed £6.31ph, some days cabbing I don't even hit £5ph - and then I've got the runnung costs to take out

It generally pays if you drive someone else's taxi/PH. Not a lot, but better than nothing.

Yes insurance does come down the longer you stay claim free.

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IDFIMH

Part time as a DRIVER might work, but not as an owner with plate fees, insurance, etc, etc

Get your badge and offer yourself around

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I've worked part time for years, it pays fine if you choose your hours well. That said you did say your other job has alternate weekends so you may struggle a little. Things will get easier as your insurance costs go down and if you save for next years expenses etc.

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I've worked it part time for 3 years now, first 2 as split bag for someone else, last year as own HC and my Friday night pays for the car bills and other nights I want to work are mine....

All depends on your area, how many on your circuit etc... Probably best to drive for someone else first and at least earn your licence cost back then when you know how it all works see if you want to put your own cab on.....

Two nights don't make a week.

I am too old I wouldn't get more than I fiver!!

thanks for the advice

I would be able to do every other weekend on the drunk runs, one week early morning runs then the other the tea/evening runs. I would hope to do at least 25hr a week more if I could as I am used to doing a 40/50hr week.
I have failed to find any job that fits with the one I have, most are 9-5. Supermarkets are open later but I couldn't stand them to be honest, full-time at minimum wage is not an option as I get that wage now for doing 16hr. . My options just got thinner and thinner. I would much prefer unsociable hours as I would be at work when someone is in the house (I have dogs) Luckily I have no mortgate/rent now.

One firm was advertising last week for drivers in my licensing area, and one just outside so seems to be demand.
yeah gods, isn't it a pain in the ass when you want to make money and cant find ways of doing it.

Some days in my area we're lucky to earn £40 between 2 of us!! Like last Saturday!!

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Some days in my area we're lucky to earn £40 between 2 of us!! Like last Saturday!![/quote]
Is that during the early hours as well?
Also have the fares gone down, when I last had a taxi home from our town centre (Chesterfield) at about 2am it used to cost me £12-£14 for the 3.5ml journey home, this was about 6yr ago. My daughter now pays £8
Has competition battered prices down, or has the pay extra after midnight concept gone

If your on 16 hours there is always tax credits available

Not neccesarily. In most cases you have to work at least 24 hours and in some cases 30.

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Grandad,

I have just one daughter who turned 18 this year as she is only doing a part time uni course. The tax credits stopped in August this year. Its just me and her no other wage but mine