Help to become taxi driver

T

Tranquillity

Registered User
Messages
2
Hello.
I reached a point in my life in which I would like a change, and I would like to leave office work to become a taxi driver.
Can I have few suggestions?
I understood I have to get a psv licence, rent a taxi from a company and pay another company to be added to the radio. Is that correct?
If I work 8 hours a day, in the afternoon/evening, would I be able to pay all the fees, adding to the rent and my expenses?
I am a very quiet person and I don't need much money per month: the minimum wage, maybe something more would be enough for me. I would say 20/21.000 per year (including taxes). Would I be able to earn it?
Another question, if I am during my turn and I have no calls, can I freely go to the airport and pick up customers? Or should I pay a fee?
Thank you very much for all your answers.
 
You might find this site useful

http://www.psv.ie/taxi-unions.html

I'm aware of one taxi driver who couldn't make a living by working 12+ hr days (at weekends) and who has left the business - I'm sure there are more.

Airport services require an additional permit (as far as I recall), and as any taxi driver will tell you, the hardest part of airport work is the long wait (certainly in Dublin - there's a taxi compound where they queue)
 
You'll probably have to work more than 8 hours per day. Most likely 12 to 14.

Also, to address your other question, there is a pick up fee for the airport, if you do it officially.
 
It depends on the hours you do.

I have an uncle who works three nights a week taxiing. But those are three 14 hour nights, from 6pm til 8am, thursday night, friday night, saturday night. He doesnt work at all between sunday and thursday.

Its a dirty messy business working nights only, there is enough work for him to do it but he really deals with people in the worst of conditions, he has been threatened, attempted assault, robbed, taxi vomited on and in, people passed out etc...

The competition is fierce since deregulation (He drove a taxi prior to deregulation). He claims over and over that its a young mans job, but he still does it. He doesnt have to work past his assigned hours because he owns his taxi plate and car so not working to pay rent to someone. The down side of this is that he pays all costs on maintenance of the car. I dont think he is with a radio company either - as far as I remember he doesnt bother because he only works nights.
 
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