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How to maximise your earnings as a Private Hire Driver
17 March 2023

As a PCO driver (private hire driver), there are several ways to maximize your earnings:

Drive during peak hours: peak hours are the times of the day when demand for rides is high. Driving during these hours can help you earn more money per hour than driving during off-peak hours. Peak hours vary depending on your location, but they are typically during rush hour in the morning and evening. A price surge may apply in busy areas, and this is the best way to maximise your earnings. Try to drive in the mornings outside the city area as customers try to go into the central area and the traffic is way worse than outside this area. Try to use always motorways or main roads without traffic lights so you can maximise your earnings as you will drive faster and can do the journeys much quicker. Evening traffic from the central to the outer zones is always heavy, so try to stay in one area that you are familiar with and feel more at ease in. Try to plan your journeys by thinking about how many minutes it will take to finish the ride and how much money you will get. Try to get pre-book jobs and be on time; they are usually more money than normal jobs, and they may use your service again if you are a good driver.

Offer exceptional customer service: Providing excellent customer service can lead to repeat customers and positive reviews, which can help you attract more business. Make sure to be friendly, professional, and courteous to your passengers. Provide charging cables for all types of phones, always have some water bottles inside your car, have some sweets in case someone needs sugar and have some empty bags in case customers don't feel well. Always switch off the radio and keep it quiet in case customers want to talk to someone over the phone or have a chat with you. Not all customers like music inside the car, and they may have different types and styles of music. Be professional and always help the customer with the luggage or shopping bags. Offer an umbrella if it is raining; they will tip you for sure. Try to drive smoothly and safely as you keep a safe distance from other cars. Don't talk over the phone if it is not an emergency. Don't touch your phone while driving as you may get reported; use the Voice Decline app to keep yourself safe from fines or reports. Never argue with any other driver if he cuts you off or makes a dangerous manoeuvre, and try to never use your horn as much as possible. Try not to over-speed or make dangerous turns in front of the cars just to get faster. Customers always want to feel safe. If they request to drink, eat, or smoke inside the car, please tell them kindly to not make a mess and that smoking is not allowed by the law. Customers often need to eat or drink, and you may get a low star rating if you completely tell them that they are not allowed. Kids may be very loud, so it is good to have earplugs in case of baby crying or kids making loud noises at the back so you will feel more comfortable and concentrated on the road.

Keep your car clean and well-maintained: Maintaining a clean and well-maintained car can make a big difference in the level of service you provide to your passengers. It can also help you attract more business and earn more money. Keep your car clean from the inside and outside as much as you can. All customers look inside the car rather than outside. Make sure your car is serviced well and everything works inside the car, including the following: belts, radio, AC, heating, lights, and windows. If customers have a child at the back, please put a safety lock on the doors immediately for their safety.

Find areas with high demand: By understanding the demand for rides in your area, you can focus your driving efforts on areas with high demand. This can help you earn more money by reducing the amount of time you spend driving without passengers. Learn which areas have a lot of requests when it is off-peak so you can drive on a daily basis in that area and keep earning, as when you have customers you earn money. Stay close to hotels, stations, concerts, hospitals, and other places without good public transport. Do not stay more than 15 minutes in the area without making a job request. Try to move 2–3 miles in any direction. Try to avoid schools as roads often will be closed for pedestrian use only and the area will be busy with many cars dropping off their children. Do not wait at airports with long queues or with fewer flights. You can try to always wait for 15–30 minutes. If no request comes, you should leave the airport, unless you want to wait for a longer period of time to relax or if you are looking to get a long trip request. Try to not do more than 40 miles of travel outside the area for which you can get a request, as any dead mileage goes to your servicing and you'll lose time getting back into the area. Always look for round trips.

Learn to navigate efficiently: Knowing the best routes and shortcuts in your area can help you save time and maximize your earnings. Invest in a good GPS device or use navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze to help you find the best routes. Use the routes that customers tell you to take, even if they are longer than expected. They will be happy, and you may get tips, and they usually know their way better. In cases of road closures, let the customer know that you have to take another route. They like to be informed.

Never offer customers discounts or say that you can take them for cash. You will lose your licence right away. Do not put any suitcases on the front seat or any other back seat, as this is dangerous and not allowed by the law; if you get stopped by a TFL officer, you will lose your licence.

Overall, maximizing your earnings as a PCO driver (Uber private hire) requires a combination of excellent customer service, efficient driving, and a willingness to adapt to changing market conditions. By following these tips, you can increase your earnings and build a successful PCO driving business.

Driving safe at night
Combat tiredness

Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Even if we fall asleep for just one second, we can pose a threat to ourselves and our passengers. When you have difficulty keeping your eyes open, or you yawn repeatedly, maybe it's time for you to stop picking up new jobs and take a break.

Here are some more easy ways to stay awake while driving:
- Get 7+ hours of sleep
- Stop every 2 hours to rest
- Stay hydrated
- Get a cup of coffee / chew gum
- Keep the windows down to let in fresh air

Use your lights properly

As a taxi and private hire driver, you already know it's illegal to drive without fully functioning lights. It's also important to turn on the lights when necessary — and check if they are working properly. Use high beam lights only when you are unable to see the road ahead with no vehicles nearby. Fog lights should be used only when visibility is reduced to 100 meters or below. You may also want to look away from oncoming lights to avoid glare.

Clean your windows and mirrors

Private hire customers love clean cars for sure. And wiping your windows and mirrors down regularly can make sure you have good visibility at night. Now that's a win-win!

Drop your speed

There is no excuse for speeding. Pay attention to the road signs if you are driving to unfamiliar places. Be prepared to slow down, as you need more time and space to judge speed and distance at night.

Be a defensive driver

Last but not least, defensive driving is crucial when talking about night-time driving. Being a defensive driver generally means using techniques to drive smoothly and make your passengers feel comfortable and safe. Some common strategies include keeping a safe distance between cars, checking the mirrors regularly, and reducing driving distractions like mobile phones.

Drive safe!