Why is taxi and private hire vehicle ‘MULTI-APPING’ controversial?
Updated: Dec 1
“Multi-apping” is a practice increasingly common among private hire and taxi drivers, where they simultaneously use multiple ride-hailing or taxi booking apps to maximise their earnings and flexibility.
In essence, drivers log into several platforms—such as Uber, Bolt, FREENOW, or others—at the same time, waiting to see which app offers the first or most lucrative fare at any given moment. Once they receive a booking from one app, they should temporarily go offline on the others, but some will stay online to accept more appealing jobs than the one they originally accepted.
Why Do Drivers Multi-App?
Drivers might cite economic pressures as the main reason. With rising fuel costs, platform commission fees, and variable demand, they argue that sticking to a single app can result in a smaller pool of work opportunities, more down time and reduced income. Multi-apping allows them to:
Minimise idle time by staying available on multiple platforms
‘Cherry pick’ higher-paying fares over low-value job offers
Balance different working conditions, such as incentives or surge pricing on one app versus another.
Criticism and Challenges
While multi-apping can boost driver earnings, it isn’t without its critics. Platforms discourage the practice, arguing it undermines reliability with higher cancelled jobs from drivers, and increases passenger wait times.
It also poses safety concerns, as drivers may feel pressured to toggle between apps while on the road.
For passengers, multi-apping can occasionally lead to longer pick-up times if drivers prioritise more profitable trips over their initial booking. Nonetheless, the practice reflects broader tensions in the gig economy, where workers often feel the need to game the system to maximise earnings.
What is the Controversy Around Unpaid Time?
There’s also controversy around the ongoing debate over how drivers should be compensated for their time, especially in the context of the gig economy. Central to this is whether drivers should be also paid for the time they are logged into an app and available for work, even if they have other apps running simultaneously.
Drivers often log significant hours on apps waiting for ride requests, particularly during quieter periods. The vast majority of platforms, however, only pay drivers for completed trips they run, meaning the time spent logged in available, but idle, remains unpaid. This issue becomes very contentious when drivers multi-app, as platforms argue that they are not exclusively available to one service.
Many drivers and unions argue that this model unfairly shifts the financial burden onto workers. They contend that being logged into an app and available for jobs, even if running multiple apps, constitutes working time. This argument is bolstered by recent legal challenges, such as cases in the UK where courts have ruled that drivers are “workers” and entitled to rights like minimum wage and holiday pay.
