Why London cabbies should be hoping for Jump’s taxi app success — even if they never use it
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Competition in the taxi industry often creates a divide between what’s good for passengers and what benefits drivers. Cheaper fares might keep punters happy, but they often come at the cost of reduced income for the drivers providing the service. When it comes to booking apps, commission rates have long been a point of frustration for drivers. Most major platforms take a sizable cut from every job, often without much room for negotiation.
That could be about to change.
A new player in the market, Jump, is looking to shift that balance. The app, backed by Taxiworld, offers a booking solution with no commission charged to drivers. Instead, drivers using the app only pay the credit card processing fee, just as they would for any normal card payment taken from a street hail. It’s a simple, transparent setup — and one that could cause a ripple effect across a sizeable pool of cabbies within the trade .
At present, there is one restriction: drivers need to use a Taxiworld-supplied payment terminal to accept bookings through Jump. That means scrapping any existing card payment equipment and making the switch. This requirement may limit the app’s initial uptake, as not every driver will be keen or able to switch terminals.
Even so, the app’s success should be something all drivers keep an eye on — and not for the reasons you might expect.
If Jump gains a solid foothold in the market, its low-cost model will likely put pressure on existing platforms to rethink their own fee structures. The presence of a viable, commission-free alternative could make it harder for other apps to maintain — let alone increase — their own commission rates. In fact, it could push them in the opposite direction.
Booking platforms rely on driver coverage to offer consistent service to passengers. If drivers start moving to a lower-cost alternative, or even just threaten to do so, larger platforms could be forced to reduce their fees to avoid losing market share. That shift would not just affect Jump users — it could benefit drivers across the industry, regardless of which app they’re using.
This kind of market pressure is how change often starts. Even if you never register with Jump, and even if you stick with your current payment terminal, the app’s presence in the industry could still improve the deal you get from whichever platform you’re on. It sets a benchmark — one that others may be forced to match or beat.
It also raises an important point about long-term sustainability. For years, drivers have been squeezed by rising operating costs, regulatory demands and in some cases overly aggressive commission models. A platform like Jump, if it proves successful, could provide a much-needed counterbalance.
