Fixed prices vs metered fares: how our pricing works
Why is our price fixed before you travel, and what does it include?
When you book with FindCab, you see the price before you confirm, and that is the price you pay. People sometimes ask how that works, and how it compares with a metered fare. This post explains it simply.
Private hire and metered vehicles
In England there are two main kinds of licensed vehicles for hire.
- Hackney carriages can be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank. They usually charge by a meter, using rates set by the local council.
- Private hire vehicles, like ours, must be booked in advance through a licensed operator. They can't be hailed in the street or wait at a rank.
Private hire firms set their own prices. Many, including us, give a fixed price for the journey when you book.
How a meter works
A meter adds up the fare as you travel. It charges for the distance driven, and usually for time spent waiting or moving slowly in traffic. There may be different rates at night, on Sundays and on bank holidays. The fare isn't known until you arrive.
That is not a bad system. It is fair in its own way, because you pay for what you use. But it means you don't know the cost in advance, and a traffic jam on the M60 costs you money.
How our fixed prices work
When you enter your journey in our booking form, we work out the route between your pickup and your destination. The price is calculated from things like:
- the distance and the expected time of the journey
- the vehicle you choose
- any extra stops you add
- any extras, like meet & greet
We show you that price before you book. Once you confirm, it is fixed. If you sit in traffic for an extra half hour, the price doesn't go up. If the roads are clear and you arrive early, it doesn't go down either. You and we both know where we stand.
No surge pricing
We don't put prices up because it is busy, raining or late on a Saturday. Some app-based services raise their prices when demand is high. Ours are based on the journey, not on how many people want a car at that moment.
The same at night
Our price for an airport run is the same whether you travel at 4am or 4pm. Early flights and late arrivals don't cost extra just because of the time.
What is included
The fixed price covers the car, the driver, fuel and the route you booked. It also covers:
- child seats and booster seats, which are free
- normal waiting time at the airport, because we follow your flight
Airports, bridges and some roads have their own parking, drop-off or toll charges, and these change. We'll tell you before you book if any of them apply to your journey.
Meet & greet is a separate £5 extra, and it is shown in the price before you book.
What can change the price?
A fixed price is fixed for the journey you booked. If the journey changes, the price may change too. Examples:
- adding a stop on the day
- changing the destination
- bringing more passengers or luggage than the car can take, so we have to send a bigger vehicle
- asking the driver to wait much longer than planned at a pickup that isn't a flight
If anything like this happens, we tell you the new cost before we carry on. You won't get a surprise at the end.
Why we do it this way
Most of our work is airport transfers and pre-booked trips. People planning a holiday or a business trip want to know what it will cost. A fixed price lets you budget, compare options and book without worrying about traffic. It also means there is nothing to argue about at the end of the journey.
Comparing prices
If you are comparing us with other options, compare the full cost of each. For an airport run, that might include:
- drop-off or pick-up charges at the airport
- parking for the length of your trip
- fuel
- train or tram fares for everyone in the group
- the cost of getting from the station to your door
A fixed-price car is not always the cheapest option, especially for one person travelling light. For families, groups and anyone with luggage, it often compares well.
Paying
We take card only. You pay online by card when you book. Contactless and phone payments are fine. We don't take cash.
Common questions
Is the price per person?
No. The price is for the vehicle and the journey. Two people or eight people in the same minibus pay the same fare for that minibus.
Does the return cost the same as the outbound?
Usually it is similar, because the route is the same. Each leg is priced separately in the booking form, so you can see both before you confirm.
What if my flight is delayed?
We follow your flight, and normal delays don't change the price. You don't need to call us from the plane.
Why might another quote be lower?
Prices vary between firms. When comparing, check whether airport charges, waiting time and tolls are included, and whether the vehicle fits your luggage. A low starting price can grow by the end of a metered trip.
Booking ahead is the law for private hire
Because private hire cars must be pre-booked, every journey goes through a licensed operator who records the booking. That gives you a record of who drove you, when and where, which is one more reason many people prefer to book in advance for airport runs and late journeys.
Getting a price
The easiest way to see what your journey costs is to put it into the booking form. You will see a fixed price for each vehicle that fits your group. There is no obligation to book. Online bookings need at least eight hours' notice. Get your fixed price now.
