Taxi Driver Online

More confusion, great

I can't say any more than that at this moment but rather than you running off and remortgaging your house to buy a licence plate and all that.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

I await an announcement with trembling anticipation.

It might have nothing to do with me on this occasion but I don't think anyone has considered the implications of the Council refusing the licence applications of 35 individuals.

It's the what happens next scenario?


I believe the last time plates were refused they were entered onto a waiting list.

_________________
All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Thanks for the help guys, your opinions are greatly appreciated.

Skull, you are obviously knowledgable and opinionated about the trade. What is your honest opinion on this and what are the specific reasons for your opinion?, you hint at diffrent factors in all your replies but don't follow it up with specific information. If you can be specific on any of what you say it would be a great help to me.

Thanks Again

Craig

Ask yourself a few questions

What is it I am really buying?

How do I quantify ownership?

What return can I expect on my investment?


In my opinion you are buying the opportunity to become the finance manager of a taxi. Where you become solely responsible for all the finance for the vehicle and the plate, while having to maintain, service and man the vehicle to make it pay.

It is not a business as such what you are proposing to do is to buy yourself a job and not much more than that.

You don’t own the plate its public property what you are really buying is a long term loan of a public licence and the best you can expect is to pay off your investment with the view to sell it on with hopefully some appreciation. The problem being is that you must sell the plate to realise your investment. Nothing wrong in that if you had total autonomy of your trade, regulating tariffs, vehicles, controlling costs etc. The fact is you don’t. The whole taxi trade is at the mercy of the council and what they will do next, the trade have very little control of anything. The council amounts to a benevolent dictatorship where cabby's go for hand outs as long as they don’t challenge the council on any issue.

There are exceptions however such as mechanics and garages who become multi vehicle owners because of there ability to cut costs, making them more economic to run with less risk and greater profit margins.

If you want to have a taxi at your door and you can get yourself a good driver then why not, just don’t expect anything by way of a return on your plate. At best do your sums work out how long it will take to pay it off and hope you get the opportunity to sell it and invest the money into property or something a bit more stable than the cab trade?


The taxi trade and the people driving within it will change beyond belief in the next 3-5 years. Technology is not waiting for the taxi driver and the future doesn’t need the trade the way it is.

The choice is yours?


If you want to know more about the trade consult with TDO and JD on where the derestriction issue lies.

Councils are dropping like nine pins down south. I believe we only have a few years at best before derestriction is up here. The internet is making it all to easy for people to get information and challenge councils on whatever matter.

Look at Dundee?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"