using my e-class for private hire work

[courtwick]

Hi, I am an E-class owner now retired at 60 and would like to use my car for private hire work.ie; airport work etc. I am in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, has anyone any experience of this work? Thanks. David.

 

[Spike]

Yes, I did it whilst studying a couple of years back to supplement my income.

I worked in London so as yet they need not be licenced to operate, although the situation is changing.

The work itself, day shifts are mostly ok with shopping trips and airport runs etc with generally quite civilised folk but there wasnt much money to be earnt - due to lack of work and traffic but that would largely depend on the firm you worked for.

The night time work, well all I can say is that you can earn some quite good money. I used to do Friday and Saturday nights only and I would generally be unhappy with a £100 night after fuel and deductions. On occasions I cleared three times that in a shift.

Now for the bad news. The problem with working nights is that people are often appaulingly behaved after they have had a drink or two - regardles as to their background. I used to go to work knowing that at some point during that night I would be involved in some kind of 'incident' These ranged from being attacked or robbed, have my car vandalised (I actually had one chap who deliberately put his head *through* my windscreen...from the inside as well), have someone puke in the car, get people doing a runner on you without paying...err and of course the most common was verbal abuse of people who think they know it all and they are somehow better than you because you are driving a cab.

I might add that the majoity of people are fine, but in any one night I may have up to 200 people get in and out of my car and it only takes a small percentage of people to completely change your night.

My advice, stick to days and find a very upmarket company doing corporate work doing airport runs and the like. Preferably, do it in their car not yours as yours will get trashed over a very short time.

 

[courtwick]

Hi Spike, Many thanks for your information on using my E-class for private hire work, night work sounds ghastly!!!!! Dave.