Book a ride in three steps.
Free on iOS and Android. Create your account in under two minutes. No subscription required for riders. Just download and go.
Enter your destination and see a fixed price before you book. No surge pricing, ever. What you see is exactly what you pay, guaranteed.
Track your driver live. All idle drivers are fully licensed, DBS-checked and rated by the community. Rate your ride when you arrive.
The maths that changes everything.
Hold a valid private hire licence? That's the main requirement. No hidden barriers, no complex onboarding, no lengthy waiting periods.
One flat fee unlocks the full platform on any day you choose to drive. No subscription on days off. No lock-in contracts. No minimum hours.
Accept rides, complete journeys, receive the fare. idle withholds 0% commission. The only deduction is the standard Stripe card fee (1.5% + 20p per transaction), so virtually every pound is yours.
Everything included. Nothing hidden.
- Lost property management (InPost integration on the way)
- Earnings dashboard and trip history
- Community Driver WhatsApp Group access
- No minimum hours, no penalty for days off
- Flexible working - 24 hour access starts at a time to suit you
Got questions? We have answers.
Do I really keep 100% of every fare from idle?
idle takes 0% commission. We never take a cut of your fares. The only deduction is the standard card-processing fee (1.5% + 20p per transaction) charged by Stripe, our secure payment provider, which applies to any card payment anywhere. idle earns its revenue solely from the flat £7 daily subscription.
Do I pay the subscription on days I don't drive?
No. The £7 subscription only applies on days you actively choose to drive on the platform. There are no minimum hours, no lock-in periods, and no charges for days off. You're in control of your own schedule entirely.
What licence do I need to drive with idle?
You need a valid private hire vehicle licence issued by one of the councils idle operates under: Sefton Council or Liverpool City Council. idle operates as a licensed hire operator under both authorities.
Is there surge pricing for riders?
idle does not use algorithmic surge pricing. We do apply peak rates at traditional times such as late nights and rush hours, in line with standard taxi industry practice. These rates are fixed and transparent, not dynamic. The price you see when you book is the price you pay.
What is the peak and off-peak pricing model?
idle applies a small peak rate increase during traditional high-demand periods, such as late nights and morning or evening rush hours. The rate structure stays consistent every day. There are no algorithmic price spikes, no surge multipliers, and no hidden increases based on real-time demand. Peak rates are published and predictable.
What is the Wellbeing: Beyond the Wheel resource hub?
It's idle's driver wellbeing resource hub, recommending mental health support, financial guidance, physical health and community connection. Driving can be an isolating, high-pressure job. We have suggested resources that treat drivers as whole people, not just vehicles for revenue generation.
What happens if a rider leaves something in my car?
idle has a dedicated lost property system. At present, contact us directly and we will coordinate the return of any lost items. A dedicated InPost locker integration is on the way, which will let drivers log items and generate prepaid shipping labels without ever sharing their home address. Drivers are never given the rider's address.
Ready to ride or drive?
Download the idle app to book your first ride, or apply to drive and start keeping almost all of your fares, 0% commission, from day one.
The numbers behind the case.
Every commission and earnings figure on this page is drawn from independent research and idle's own pricing. Figures are indicative and compiled from third-party sources; full citations are available on request.
- 1Platform commission rates. Uber's standard UK rate is around 25% of the fare, and Uber's own updated UK driver terms confirm a per-trip service fee of between 3% and 49%; Bolt charges 15–20% depending on city. Effective deductions climb higher once VAT, waiting time and surcharges are added. See the Fairwork Project, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford (fair.work), corroborated by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and independent driver-earnings analyses. Sources: company driver terms & published rates.
- 2Card-processing fee (1.5% + 20p per transaction). Stripe: published UK pricing. This is the only deduction from a driver's fare; idle never takes commission.
- 3Illustrative earnings examples. Based on idle's own pricing (0% commission, 100% of fare to driver from idle, £7/day); worked examples assume the stated daily fares and ride counts.
- 4Oxford University research on platform commission and algorithmic pricing. New Oxford research reveals Uber's algorithmic pricing leaves drivers and passengers worse off. Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford. Read the full paper.
