8 Taxi Apps You Can Use Instead Of Uber

Uber has lost its London licence for a second time, Transport for London has confirmed, leaving millions of Londoners wondering how they are going to get home from Soho when they’ve had three pints and are too lazy to take the Tube.

The company has 21 days to appeal against the ruling, which came after TfL found 43 drivers had faked their identities. In response, it revoked the probationary license it granted Uber two months ago.

Fortunately, there are a number of taxi-hailing app alternatives for all the times walking, cycling or catching the bus or a Tube don’t feel doable. And most of them offer reasonable fares, too. Here are a few to consider.

Bolt

From the same company as the now-deceased Taxify, Bolt is the relaunch born of a year’s consultations with TfL to get a license and it arrived in June this year. The rates aren’t too bad – £2.50 base fare, plus £1.25 a mile and 15p a minute – and it’s got more than 30,000 drivers registered in London.

ViaVan

Bouncing around London in a van doesn’t sound particularly flash, but Via’s team-up with Mercedes-Benz is altogether a more attractive proposition than hopping into a Transit. It’s more like a personal bus service, or an expanded Uber Pool. It’s been in London for more than a year now, and in that time ViaVan says it’s saved three million kilometres of journeys by stopping users travelling solo.

Gett

This black-cab booking app, available on both iOS and Android, came to London in 2011. Unlike Uber, there’s no surge-pricing during peak times and because of its recent focus on taxi sharing, fares are often reasonable. In a new collaboration with urban travel planner Citymapper, ‘Gett Together’ will offer a new fixed-route taxi service through the city for a flat fare of £3. And if you don’t live in London, Gett is also available in cities outside the capital, including Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds and Birmingham.

Addison Lee

This car service was around long before Uber, but it is widely regarded as being the more expensive alternative. However, some updates to its app mean its now easier to use than ever, with the option to book taxis at a chosen times as well straight away. It also provides a courier service and airport transfers in the capital.

Kapten

This French company launched in London in May and claims to save you money on each trip because it covers the congestion charge on behalf of its drivers, chipping off, it says, about £2 per ride. It’s not quite as big as Uber yet, so you might struggle to get hold of one in some areas – it’s got somewhere north of 15,000 drivers compared to Uber’s 45,000 – but it’s got a loyalty scheme which can get you free rides and offers 50 per cent off first rides.

Kabbee

Kabbee claims to be 65 per cent cheaper than an average black cab and with over 10,000 cars in London, there’s no shortage of them. Users can book from five minutes to months in advance and the company only works with licensed partners.

MyTaxi

Formerly known as Hailo, this black cab app operates in over 50 cities across Europe. It aims to “bring the driver to you” and gives users the option to pay in cash or online with the receipts emailed to the passenger. The company has already responded to the Uber news by offering up to 50% off fares in London. The app can be downloaded for free on iPhone and Android.

BlaBlaCar

This carpooling service is popular across Europe, but it isn’t a taxi-hailing app as such. Instead, registered users of BlaBlaCar can carpool with people who are already making a journey by connecting people with drivers who have empty seats. It could be a cheap alternative to getting the train.

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