Secrets of a cabbie - from most expensive times to travel to the passenger question he hates most

Sky News

19-05-2025

If you've ever spent your morning commute daydreaming about starting afresh with your career, this feature is for you. Each Monday, our Money blog speaks to someone from a different profession to discover what it's really like. This week we chat to Mark White, who has been a London cab driver for 33 years...
Our salaries have fallen £15,000... Pre-pandemic, a full-time London cabbie could earn around £35,000-£45,000 net. These days, with rising operating costs (weekly lease for an electric taxi alone can exceed £300) and increased competition from app-based private hire vehicles, many are earning significantly less. A driver's take-home can now be closer to £25,000-£30,000 unless they work long hours, and even then it's unpredictable.
Uber has... fundamentally changed the industry, not because of innovation, but because it exploited regulatory gaps. Many cabbies see Uber drivers as pawns in a wider system that undercuts standards. It's not personal: most understand that those drivers are trying to earn a living, too. But there's frustration that private hire vehicle drivers can operate with far fewer requirements, while taxi drivers face intense regulation with no enforcement parity.
One of the biggest challenges is... running a compliant, electric cab in a city that lacks adequate charging infrastructure. I would like to see proper EV support - charging access, grants, scrappage schemes that actually help. I would also like taxi access to all bus lanes and areas to be restored.
To do this job you need... to complete The Knowledge. It's a three to four-year process, covering over 25,000 streets in a six-mile radius of Charing Cross. You're tested regularly in person. It's not just about navigation - it's judgement, memory, and mental resilience. The most important skill? Patience. Both behind the wheel and in life.
I used to say I would retire at... 65 but who knows now? With costs rising and pensions shrinking, many of us work well into our seventies. My plan is simple: stay healthy, stay behind the wheel while I can.
The most expensive day and time for someone to get a taxi is... anytime we're stuck in traffic - London's the most congested city in the world. But the meter is regulated, so unlike surge-pricing apps, passengers always know what to expect.
I love a good natter but... I can tell pretty quickly if someone wants silence. The question I wish people would stop asking? "So, do you use a sat nav?"-I spent four years doing The Knowledge. Of course I don't.
I only refuse fares for... legitimate reasons. If the passenger is aggressive, drunk and disorderly. But if I'm working, and they're safe, I'll go anywhere.
Some of the best things I've overheard in my cab are... a couple breaking up. Midway through a row, she calmly asked, "Can I get out now?" He said: "Not till you hear me out." They were still arguing when I pulled over. Also overheard a guy rehearsing his marriage proposal. Practised it four times. He tipped well.
I have met plenty of famous people over the years... One of the best was Sir Ian McKellen. He was polite, warm, and tipped generously, and Ken Bates - the old Chelsea chairman.
The biggest tip I ever got was from a... city gent. He gave me £100 on a £25 fare. He'd just landed a big deal and said I reminded him of his old man. Can't argue with that!
I have chased a fare dodger once... I chased him through Soho before realising how ridiculous I looked. These days, you call the police or write it off. It doesn't happen often now with contactless payments, but it still stings when it does.
My worst experience with a passenger was... one who threw up in the back and then legged it without paying.
And my best was... a young lad going to a job interview. He was nervous, told me his whole story. Six months later, he flagged me down again in the same suit, now working, and wanted to say thanks.
I have felt unsafe at work... a few times, especially late at night. Once, a group tried to pile in drunk and rowdy. I locked the doors and drove off. Mostly, you get good instincts - and having a CCTV helps.
The best perk of the job is... freedom. You're your own boss. You meet people from all walks of life. And when you help someone get home safely, or pick up an elderly passenger who hasn't been out in weeks, it feels like more than just a job.
On a typical day, I work for... eight to 10 hours, depending on trade. Some work split shifts, others nights. You start early, check your cab, hit the ranks or roam, maybe take a break mid-afternoon, then back on for the evening rush.
It does make me hate driving in my personal life... a bit. I avoid Central London on my days off. But outside the M25, with no traffic, radio on, it's actually relaxing.
The worst habit of British drivers is... lane-hogging. And not signalling. In London, the worst is cyclists jumping red lights and scooter riders weaving without warning. It's chaos sometimes.
The most memorable moment on the job was... taking a WWII veteran to the Cenotaph. He told me stories all the way there. I didn't charge him. He cried. So did I, a bit.
To save money on cab fares, you should... travel outside peak times. Avoid heavy traffic areas. And always ask if there's a quicker route - that might save a few quid. Also, share a cab if it suits your journey.
The meter... works out what to charge people. It's regulated by TfL and based on time and distance. There's no guesswork. What you see is what you pay.