As a Taxi Driver, can I be available on a booking app and work for a dispatch operator simultaneously?

The main ways for a taxi driver to get customers in Ireland is by signing up to a booking app or working for a dispatch operator. The two options are advantageous, and a taxi driver can be available on both at the same time while operating.

Working for a dispatch operator guarantees a driver with jobs as they will be contacted on the radio by the operator once there is a call from a customer. A taxi driver must pay a weekly fee to the dispatch operator and sometimes a commission on the journeys provided. If a driver does not work in a certain week, they still have to pay the fee to the operator.

On the other hand, signing up to a booking application provides taxi driver with more flexibility as they only pay a fee per journey to the company that owns the app. They do not have to pay any monthly or yearly fee. Apps usually generate a great amount of work, especially in bigger cities, as many customers opt for ordering a taxi through an app. Most apps have very good software, which means that they are handy to operate.

Taxi drivers can also stop at taxi ranks or pick passengers up on the streets, but only in the counties where they have passed the Area Knowledge SPSV Exam. Standing or plying for hire in counties where they have not passed the test can incur a fine of €200. However, acceptance of pre-booked journeys from counties where drivers have not passed the Area Knowledge exam is allowed.

Posted by Taxischool on 26/05/2023