Embarking on a career as a taxi driver offers more than just a job. It’s a path to a decent income, with the average salary standing at £28,000 and the potential to exceed £40,000 for experienced drivers. If you enjoy driving and helping people, this could be the perfect career for you.
While on the surface, it might seem easy to get into, there are some things you should be aware of before committing to making this your new career.
DBS Checked
One of the key requirements for all taxi and private hire drivers in the UK is an enhanced DBS check. This is not just a formality but a crucial step in ensuring the safety and security of the passengers you’ll be responsible for. The DBS, or Disclosure and Barring Service, is a criminal record check that assesses your suitability for the role. If you have any concerns about this check, it’s important to address them before pursuing this career.
Insurance
As a taxi driver, you’ll need to have the right insurance. This is different from standard vehicle insurance, as it needs to cover the time you spend on the road and the activities you’ll be involved in, such as accepting paying passengers. It’s also important to understand the difference between private hire, which involves pre-booked vehicles, and public hire, which refers to black cabs that can be flagged down on the street.
You will also need to understand whether you will be paying for the insurance yourself or if the company you drive for will be paying it to ensure you know your costs and expenses.
Vehicle Cost
Not all drivers use their own vehicles or even own their own vehicles, meaning they need to find finance or other options for cars specifically for taxi services. Vehicles need to meet certain standards to be considered roadworthy for the purpose of commercial driving.
Suppose you are going to be a self-employed driver (some taxi companies pay for the vehicle and can take control of all expenses related to this). In that case, you need to consider whether you can afford taxi finance options to help you get the right vehicle on the correct terms and payment schedule.
options to help you get the right vehicle on the correct terms and payment schedule.
Irregular Income
Driving a taxi isn’t a guaranteed money-spinner, nor is it always profitable. There might be a surplus of providers in your local area, you might not be able to work at the busier times, i.e. evenings and weekends, and you might find that this causes your income to be pretty irregular if you are not working for a company on guaranteed salary. Each day will be different, and demand will fluctuate day to day, so it is essential to appreciate that you might not always be able
Driving a taxi can be to make the type of income you want or need.
extremely advantageous, especially in terms of flexibility. However, there are some important considerations to make, especially if you’re considering going as a self-employed driver.