Black Cab Fixed Fare Fleet
A fully optional fleet, designed to bring you more demand and more money!
More work. More choice. Still 100% your call.
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What does the subsidy cover?
It’ll cover 100% of:
- Application costs
- Tuition fees
- Exam costs
- Licensing costs

How to apply
Tap below to fill out the subsidy application form.
We’ll review your application
- We’ll send you an email to let you know if you meet the requirements and info on the next steps
Who can apply?
You must be registered as a PHV Driver on the FREENOW app.
You must have completed at least 50 trips in the last 12 months before you apply.
You must have a driver rating of 4.6 or above at the time of your application.
How to keep your subsidy
You need to complete at least 30 trips per month via the FREENOW app (including your first month).
You need to be an active student at the Knowledge school
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- More earnings
Higher fares and premium corporate jobs
- On-cab advertising
Additional incentives for advertising FREENOW on your cab
Learn more
- More earnings
Higher fares and premium corporate jobs
- On-cab advertising
Additional incentives for advertising FREENOW on your cab
Learn more
Other benefits
- Use of bus lanes
Get from A to B easier & quicker
- More choice
Option of street hailing passengers & taxi ranks
- More freedom
With more choice you get more freedom & a better work-life balance
- Iconic trade
Be a part of an iconic trade with a strong union & community
- Use of bus lanes
Get from A to B easier & quicker
- More choice
Option of street hailing passengers & taxi ranks
- More freedom
With more choice you get more freedom & a better work-life balance
- Iconic trade
Be a part of an iconic trade with a strong union & community
What other support will you get?
We’ve been working closely with one of the leading Knowledge schools; WizAnn. Thanks to this collaboration we’ll be hosting regular sessions to make sure you always get the support and info you need.
Our partners
Wizann
The WizAnn school started in 1996. Since then, it’s led the way in making the Knowledge more accessible and advanced by introducing state-of-the-art app and online class systems. WizAnn was the first to introduce a specific software to help study maps.
With WizAnn, you get:
- Access to all WizAnn digital products. This includes:
- A Gold Plan subscription to the website with all online videos
- WizRuns app: This gives access to all the books written for the app
- WizPoints: Daily questions live in the app with the most up-to-date & accurate info that are being asked currently by examiners
- WizAnn Team support.
…And more.
What are Fixed Fares and when are they offered?
Fixed Fares are pre-agreed prices offered to passengers before they book. These are currently enabled for jobs that start outside Central London and are designed to increase demand by giving passengers price certainty.
Do I have to accept Fixed Fare jobs?
How can I opt out of Fixed Fares?
You can:
Use the opt-out form here
Contact support and request removal from Fixed Fare offers
- Visit the FREENOW office during operating hours
Will rejecting Fixed Fare jobs affect my acceptance rate or account standing?
If you’ve opted out of Fixed Fares, you won’t receive those jobs, so they will not impact your acceptance rate at all.
However, if you are opted in and regularly reject Fixed Fare jobs, they will count towards your acceptance rate. If you find you are not accepting many of these trips, it may be better to opt out entirely to avoid affecting your metrics.
That said, if you are engaged and choosing the jobs that suit you, there’s no need to worry. Our acceptance rate targets are set low on purpose, so you can still qualify for the highest priority level while keeping the flexibility to work the way you want.
!Top tip - toggle between busy/available and adjust your maximum pickup distance in the app to ensure you receive only the most suitable offers.
Why should I travel empty for a Fixed Fare trip?
We get it! Travelling too far empty to reach a job isn’t worth it, especially if the fare is fixed. That’s why we’ve already taken steps to reduce approach distances for Fixed Fare trips, and we’re continuing to tighten them further.
The goal is to make sure these jobs are worth your time, with pickup points that are much closer to your location. If a trip doesn’t make sense, you shouldn’t be seeing it — and we’re actively improving our filters to make sure that’s the case.
We’ll keep adjusting based on your feedback to ensure Fixed Fares work on your terms.
Are airport jobs included in the Black Cab Fixed Fare fleet?
No, airport jobs are now fully excluded from the Black Cab Fixed Fare fleet.
Originally, we had excluded most airports as an origin point, but not as a destination.
Based on driver feedback, we’ve now updated this so that any job either starting from or going to an airport will not be offered as part of the Black Cab Fixed Fare fleet.
Airport trips will continue to appear as Fixed Fare jobs under the standard Black Cab fleet, using our existing airport pricing.
Can I still see the route and the fare before accepting a Fixed Fare job?
Yes! The app shows you the fixed fare and destination before you accept.We have aimed to make the fixed fare details clear to both Cabbies and passengers throughout the booking process
Are waiting times included in Fixed Fares?
No, currently waiting time is not accounted for separately in the fixed fare amount. We are reviewing this based on driver feedback.
As the Fixed Fare fleet is still in the test phase, we have not yet formally communicated detailed expectations to our passenger base. However, given the concerns raised, we are now planning to introduce educational messaging to inform passengers about expected behaviour during pickup, including the importance of being ready on time.
This will help ensure a fairer experience for drivers and reduce unpaid delays.
Why don’t passengers just pay the metered fare? And why are Fixed Fares sometimes lower?
Passengers are given both options: metered fare and Fixed Fare. Many choose Fixed Fare because it offers a guaranteed total price upfront, especially in busy or unpredictable traffic conditions.
Fixed Fares are designed to sit within the estimated pricing range of a typical Black Cab fare. In some cases, passengers are actually quoted more than the meter, especially when a driver takes a faster or more efficient route than mapping tools predict.
This reflects the expert knowledge and real-world experience of licensed Black Cab drivers, something no algorithm can fully replicate. Importantly, passengers will never be charged more than the metered fare. If the meter runs lower than the quoted Fixed Fare, the passenger only pays the meter price.
That said, we acknowledge we got some Fixed Fares wrong, and that in certain cases they were set unacceptably low compared to the meter. We’ve heard you loud and clear. We’re actively correcting these issues and have already made adjustments based on driver feedback. Further internal testing and pricing reviews are ongoing to ensure fares are fair, sustainable, and reflect the true value of the service you provide.
What testing is being done on Fixed Fares?
Our local operations team has been actively testing Fixed Fares by booking real Black Cab trips across London each day. These tests are carried out at different times of day, covering peak and off-peak hours, across a range of tariff types and routes.
The goal is to compare the quoted Fixed Fare with the actual metered fare at the end of the journey.
What have we found so far?
After excluding trips where the Fixed Fare exceeded the meter (since we always cap the passenger charge at the meter), we found that the average Fixed Fare is currently around 7% below the meter.
We’re using these results to fine-tune pricing and reduce instances where fares fall too far below expectations.
Why am I receiving Fixed Fare jobs in Central London?
You shouldn’t be. Fixed fares are intended for journeys starting outside Central London. If you receive otherwise, please report it via the Help Centre or directly through the app, we’re investigating these cases.
Will I receive fewer jobs if I opt out?
You may receive fewer job offers where Fixed Fare is preferred by passengers. However, you will continue to receive metered fare jobs as normal.
How is “Central London” defined for Fixed Fare eligibility?
We originally aligned the zone with the Central Activities Zone (CAZ), which is commonly used in planning and transport definitions. However, based on driver feedback, we’ve expanded and adjusted the boundaries to better reflect real-world conditions and expectations. We’ll continue refining the zone and welcome further input from drivers.
Why has the green banner been removed from Fixed Fare offers?
This change is part of a broader redesign of our offer card layout, which has been in development for some time. It’s not related to the launch of the Fixed Fare fleet.
We understand the removal of the green banner may take some getting used to. That said, we’ve taken steps to ensure the Fixed Fare amount is clearly displayed in the new offer card template, and we’ll continue monitoring feedback to improve visibility.
All Black Cab Fixed Fare offers will have the following differences:
- Instead of a range shown on the offercard you will see a number eg: £25 instead of seeing £22-£28
- Alongside the amount will be the word MAX to demonstrate that this is the maximum price the customer will be charged.
- At the bottom of the screen BLACK CAB FIXED FARE will be shown for extra clarity.
Do high demand fees apply to fixed fare jobs?
No, high demand fees do not apply to fixed fare jobs.