The Truth that no one talks about
Many minicab and private hire drivers in London sign up for multiple platforms such as Uber, Bolt, Wheely or Ola. On the surface, it sounds like a good strategy. You can choose the best jobs, avoid dead time and increase your overall earnings. But does it really help you maximise your income, or could it be hurting your performance without you realising?
What the Ride Sharing Platforms Do Not Tell You
Ride-sharing and private hire apps rely heavily on algorithms to decide which drivers receive the best jobs. These systems look for one thing above all: reliability.
If a driver accepts jobs and completes them on time, the system sees them as dependable. But if a driver frequently cancels trips, accepts jobs but does not show up, or delays too often, they may be pushed down in the system. This means fewer jobs, lower earnings, and eventually even deactivation in some cases.
Uber tracks how fast you respond and whether you complete accepted trips. Bolt monitors cancellation rates and acceptance behaviour. Wheely is particularly strict about service levels and driver reputation. If you are switching between apps, you might not even notice how your ratings and visibility are slowly dropping.
Why Multi-App Driving Can Backfire
Many drivers think they are being smart by jumping between apps to chase the best fares. But when you do this, you risk damaging your reliability scores across all platforms. The result? You get fewer high-quality job offers, fewer bonuses, and lower weekly earnings overall.
Customers are also affected. Long wait times, missed pickups, and unreliable service can result in poor reviews. This again affects your ranking in the system and reduces your chances of getting premium rides.
Reliability Pays Off
At Carrot Cars, we have seen this pattern many times. Drivers who remain committed to one platform, especially ours, consistently earn more. In fact, those who focus only on Carrot Cars can earn up to 40% more than drivers who try to juggle multiple apps.
Our dispatch system is driven by an algorithm that is carefully monitored by real humans. It looks purely at how reliable a driver is. If a driver accepts a job, we expect them to complete it. That commitment is rewarded. We regularly send out high-value jobs based on trust, not who happened to be free at the time.
Some drivers try to pick and choose only the pre-booked or high-paying jobs. However, those who do not take advantage of this often miss out on the constant flow of high-quality, last-minute bookings we receive every day. If a driver is only available for a few set jobs, they will not even be considered for the rest.
A great example is a driver who recently accepted a Heathrow trip from E14. He kept his finishing time open and stayed available. Right after that job, he received an offer to take a passenger to Wales for £876. These jobs go to the drivers who are ready, trusted and flexible, not to those who cancel or cherry-pick.
How to Maximise Your Income as a Minicab Driver
To really maximise your earnings in London’s ride-sharing and private hire market, consistency and reliability are key. Here are the most important things to focus on:
- Choose one platform that offers quality work and stick to it
- Keep your acceptance and completion rates high
- Be available beyond just pre-booked slots
- Avoid cancelling jobs unless absolutely necessary
- Keep your customer ratings high through good service and punctuality
Trying to be clever by switching between apps all day may seem like the smart move, but it often leads to lower income and fewer job offers.
The Bottom Line for all London Drivers
If you are a London minicab or ride-sharing driver looking to boost your weekly income, consider a long-term approach. Reliability is what every platform values. Whether it is Uber, Bolt, Wheely or Carrot Cars, the drivers who get the best trips are the ones who can be trusted to complete them.
Multi-app driving is not always a bad thing, but doing it without a clear strategy can seriously reduce your chances of success. Sometimes, trying to be smart is not actually the smartest thing to do.
Stick to the basics, stay committed, and you will see the rewards build up over time.
