Taxi Driving

Danmo

Registered User
Messages
318
My husband may be made redundant and is considering driving a taxi as an alternative. He does not really want to do late night work and we were wondering if he would make enough (i.e. 500 a week or so after tax) by just working daytime i.e. airport runs etc. Has anybody got any advice?? How much does a taxi plate cost these days? Any tips wd be appreciated..
 
My husband is just about to finish driving a taxi this week (got another job). He only did days, and never worked weekends. We weren't completely dependent upon his income, which is just as well. He didn't have his own plate (a plate costs about €6,300) so he rented it and the radio at a total of €150 per week. Taxi insurance is very expensive. Ours was over €2,000 so we paid it by the month. Weekly it came to €50. The petrol was usually about €80 per week (sometimes more). Some days were good, some days were bad. But on average (working 6.30 am to 2.30 pm) he took in about €100 a day. So, €500 a week less €150 rent less €50 insurance less €80 petrol left us with an average of €220 per week. Not a lot really. If he had worked another couple of hours (say up to 5 pm) he would have made approx another €250 per week, so that would bring it closer to the net figure that you want, but that's a long day. It's not as easy as it sounds to get airport runs etc. It's pot luck. If you go out to the airport and wait there, then of course there are lots of customers. HOWEVER, taxis have to wait and queue in something called "The Kesh" which is an area that they have to queue in. I've heard of a taxi being there for a couple of hours before getting to the top of the queue. I don't think it's worth it. Don't forget, you go to the end of the queue again when you finish your first run. Let me know if you need any more info. If your serious about it, then buying the plate is probably best (saving you at leats €150 per week), and you can always sell it again in years to come, so it's not wasted.
 
if you're willing to get a wheelchair accessible car then the plate is only a couple oif hundred isn't it?
 
I think the wheelchair accessible licence is only €130 (previously IR£100)
Vehicle is more expensive as well as insurance and they are all high litre engines, hence more petrol/diesel.
I was thinking of doing it and was advised against getting the wheelchair plate. I suppose its all relative.
Put the work in and you'll get the rewards. Even since the de-regulation I havent seen many taximen struggling. Possibly will in the future though.
 
Check the evening papers and you will see 'complete' taxi for sale. This will be car, meter and plate and you should be able to buy for between 10 to 12k. Insurance costs makes it prohibiting to do part-time as was said above but a Saturday would be rewarding to add to your working week. Regarding the Kesh it would take about an hour to get out on average plus you may only get a run to Ballymun. The only lucrative airport runs are 'to the airport' due to the wait. Another thing that is essential if doing day work is a radio which can be up to €80 a week but worth it if full-time and good company. Good luck but its quite a stressful job not to mention not great for keeping weight normal.
 
-tell him to buy complete deal cost less than 10000 E and if it does not work out he can sell on the plate, if u do the hours you will kame a living up to u but I would not wait in a Q drive around u will get lucky more times than not try what does he have to lose