Quality Advice for New Taxi Drivers

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If you love driving and love people, then being a taxi driver could be the perfect role for you. Granted, it comes with its stresses and there will be days where you simply don’t want to put up with the drunken lout in the back at 5 am, but it wouldn’t be a job if there wasn’t something to complain about.

However, when you look past that, you’ll spend your time filling people with joy and zip-zap-zooming them around. If you’re considering becoming a taxi driver or are just finding your feet, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled the ultimate list of tips to help budding taxi drivers navigate the harsh world of taxi services.

Taxi Insurance

Before you hop behind the wheel and start serving clients, you need to make sure you have the best taxi insurance you can find. To get the best deals and see all of your options laid out in front of you, you should head over to Quotezone.co.uk to compare taxi insurance. By punching in a few details, they will be able to compare quotes and find the right deal for you. No matter where you are or what sort of taxi licence you hold, they’ve got you covered.

Passenger Advice

You’re going to spend your days and some of your nights getting the public from A to B, and the chances are you’re going to come across some rotten eggs along the way. You mustn’t let rude passengers get you down because they’re just an extremely small minority. Along the way, you will have regulars and can even wind up making some good friends (this doesn’t mean you need to be overly friendly). If you find yourself in a difficult situation, remember to remain professional and polite. The best way to avoid friction is to keep your personal opinions to a minimum and just agree with the customer because they always know best.

Providing excellent customer service is at the forefront of being a reliable taxi driver. To set yourself above the rest, you need to engage with your customers but appreciate that some people just want to be left in peace. Further, you need to reach for the stars and go the extra mile which means opening the door for them, asking if the temperature is adequate, and being charismatic. Make sure that you’re not going to be mugged off by making passengers past 11pm pay before their journey.

A Clean Machine

On the topic of customer service, the majority of people make first impressions within the first 10 seconds of seeing something. Therefore, it is vital that you keep your vehicle clean, tidy, and smelling fresh – it also helps if you look fresh. On top of keeping the interior and exterior of your car spotless, you need to make sure that it’s maintained under the hood. The last thing you want is for your vehicle to break down in the middle of a job and result in you losing the repeat custom.

Live Your Life

Sure, you can earn a very good living as a taxi driver, but for that income you can expect to work extremely long hours and rack up an enormous number of miles. That’s why it’s vital that you remember not to become a slave to the job, because you’re a human being as well that has needs of their own. At the beginning of the week, you should set a schedule and stick to it – making sure that you squeeze in plenty of time for exercise. You should only aim to work no longer than 7 hours at a time and, if possible, try and avoid the night shift. Making time for yourself, friends, and family is imperative to avoid burning out and losing out on work.

On the Roads

Whilst on the roads, you need to maintain professionalism, know the local area like the back of your hand, and make sure you are reliable and honest. Even though you need to provide a fast and effective service, you’re also responsible for the lives of others, so please drive carefully. For your safety and that of the customer, you should install a dashcam just in case anything happens. Having a dashcam could end up saving you a lot of aggravation in the face of accidents and disgruntled customers.

Being a taxi driver is a stressful job that is rooted in quality customer service and a high standard of vehicle maintenance. Make sure that you keep up to date with the latest comprehensive insurance deals so that you can spend less money carrying out the job. You need to be an ambassador of customer service and road safety, keeping your personal opinions to yourself and remaining calm in the face of adversity. The last piece of advice you can have is to enjoy your job, but don’t become a slave to it.