Taxi Driver Online

This is my first post on this forum I just thought I would have a gander on here and see what I can find out about it, basically I have been unemployed for a little over 6 months now and my previous job was based at BT where I was a 999 & 100 call handler.

I passed my test just over a year ago now on the 5th of feb last year, my license is clean and I have decided I want a driving job and feel that a taxi driver is the way to go.

So my question is how do I go about it, how much should I expect to earn etc all the usual questions really, if I was to pursue this as a career I would also need to lease/rent a taxi as well.

So does anybody on here have any pointers for me, I'm based in Nottingham as well by the way.

Contact your local council's licensing department, or the area you want to work in. They will point you in the right direction, and send you everything you need to get started.

As for how much money you can earn, well the more you work the more you will earn. Work 9.00am to 5.00pm five days a week and you will struggle. Work weekends and nights and you should do ok.

But get your license first before start spending any money.

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IDFIMH

I love it.

As Sussex said, you get out what you put in. No one will be able to tell you exactly how much you'll earn because each area, each day and each person is different.

Have a natter with some local cabbies and they may well give you some pointers about the best way to get started there.

Good luck.

[Anyone on here in Nottingham??]

Another thing I'd like to know is would I be better off going PHV or HC?

Just wondering as I've noticed that Metrocab's are fairly cheap to buy...

I would suggest you get your license and then drive someone else's car, be it HC or PH, for a while.

Some like one side of the trade, some like the other, some like a bit of both.

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IDFIMH

Your starting to spend that money.

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IDFIMH

Nah just wondered whether it would be cheaper to buy a Metrocab or Fairway outright rather than renting.

As it goes though I'd prefer a saloon/hatchback though something that I can work with whenever I want but something that will double as a family car during the day. I do need a car to be honest whether it be a taxi or a little runaround but I have been looking at the Skoda Octavia, VW Passat and also the Toyota Avensis...but if I can rent one then I think I would prefer it TBH

I would certainly try before you buy if that's possible. You might not like the job and if you have committed yourself it's a bit late to back out

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

Yeh I don't want to rush into things but I think taxi driving is probably the better job for me as I am known to be a people person and I do like to talk to people which we didn't really have time for on 999 calls.

At the minute I am finding it so hard to find out all the information that I need and don't have a clue where I'd find out how to rent a taxi I do know that a local taxi company (Nottingham Cars) rent their cars out to their drivers, but I don't know how I'd go about getting a job there, I mean do I phone their number and just say "have you got any jobs going?" or what?

As mentioned earlier in this post you need to go to your licencing dept first as you need a licence. Any taxi company worth it's salt will be able to point you in the right direction for that. Once you have your licence then you can find a vehicle. Some companies do all in with car, radio settle, insurance etc and some don't so shop around. There maybe adverts in the licencing dept for hire of vehicles etc but there is no point until you actually have a licence

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

Right so is it a case of another driving test or is it just go into the licensing dept fill in an application and then they hand your plates over 8 weeks later or what...I've spoken with a few taxi drivers but most of them round here all seem a little bit tight-lipped on how to do it.

Talk to their drivers before you talk to the company.
Times are tough everywhere so expect the drivers to be a bit negative, they don't want more competition. The company will tell you everything is rosey and that their rental charges represent value for your money.

The truth will be somewhere between the two.

Do your own research.
Have a look at the local ranks and see how many cabs are waiting at different times and how long for.

Definitely do not buy a cab (or a plate if your area is restricted) until you have done the job for a while and can see for yourself if it's a viable proposition.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

They vary according to local requirements

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

When it comes to buying my plates how much will they cost roughly?

Anything from zero to £70k, depending on whether they are limited and demand.
That cheap metrocab may be a little more expensive than you thought

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/