Working a Licensed Taxi or a Private Car on Ride-Hailing Apps: Earnings and Legal Status Compared

If you are deciding whether to drive for ride-hailing apps in your private car or in a licensed taxi, the biggest differences are commission, running costs and legal status. A licensed taxi is already licensed to carry paying passengers and can pick them up from the street as well as from apps. A private car used for app rides has to meet the licensing rules for these services, and gets its passengers only through the app. On Taxi Masr, which works only with licensed taxis, the commission is 5%, so you keep 95% of every fare and 100% of tips.

This comparison is written for drivers and car owners. The figures are illustrative: what you actually earn depends on your hours, your area and your car.

The real question: what is left in your pocket?

The fares you collect are not your income. Out of them come the app's commission, fuel, maintenance and wear, and licensing and insurance costs. The order matters: the commission comes off the top before you have paid for anything else.

1. Commission

On EGP 1,000 of fares, Taxi Masr takes EGP 50 (5%), leaving you EGP 950 before costs. On an app that takes 25%, EGP 250 goes to the company and EGP 750 is left. That is a difference of EGP 200 on a single day, or about EGP 5,000 over 25 working days. Tips are separate: on Taxi Masr they go 100% to the captain.

2. Running costs: fuel and maintenance

Many taxis run on natural gas, which usually costs less per kilometre than petrol, while most private cars run on petrol. A private car worked for long hours also loses value faster, and its parts can cost more. Do not rely on someone else's numbers: for one week, write down what you spend on fuel and maintenance and divide it by the kilometres you drove.

3. Legal status

A licensed taxi is licensed to carry passengers for a fare, and its driver holds a professional driving licence. Using a private car for paid app rides is regulated by a 2018 law on ride-hailing services, which sets licensing requirements for the car and the driver; working without them exposes you to fines. Rules and fees change, so check with the traffic department before you start.

4. Where your passengers come from

A taxi can take app requests and street passengers in between. A private car only gets passengers through the app. On Taxi Masr you choose when to go online, and when you are offline the street is yours as it always was.

Side-by-side comparison

What Taxi Masr offers captains

• 5% commission: no monthly subscription, and tips are never commissioned.
• A clear fare: the passenger sees the meter fare before requesting. You accept it or send an offer up to 20% lower; you are never asked to go above the meter.
• Cancellation fees: a passenger can cancel free within two minutes of you accepting; after that, or once you are on your way, a fee is charged according to the stage of the ride, and your share is credited to your wallet.
• Clear settlement: electronic fares are credited to your wallet and settled weekly; you collect cash fares directly, and the 5% on them is recorded in your wallet.
• Fair ratings: a captain is warned below 3.5 and suspended below 3.0 only after at least 10 ratings, and reinstatement is reviewed by the team with a written reason.
• Your hours: go online when it suits you and receive nearby requests.

How to join Taxi Masr as a captain

1. Register your interest: email support@taximasr.app with the subject “Captain sign-up”. We are currently taking on taxi captains in Mansoura.
2. Create your account when the captain app launches: sign up with your Egyptian mobile number.
3. Upload your documents from the app: your national ID and driving licence are required, and you can add your taxi licence and a photo of the plate.
4. Wait for the review: the Taxi Masr team reviews the documents by hand, and once your account is approved and your taxi is registered to it, you go online and start receiving requests near you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I join Taxi Masr with a private car?

No. Taxi Masr works only with licensed taxis.

Do I have to work full time?

No. You go online when you want and offline when you are done.

How do I get paid for rides paid electronically?

The fare, minus the 5% commission, is credited to your wallet in the app and settled weekly. Cash fares you collect directly.

What happens if a passenger cancels after I set off?

Once you are on your way to the pickup, a cancellation fee is charged, and it is higher if you have already arrived. Your share goes to your wallet. Cancelling is free only within two minutes of you accepting, before you set off.

Where does Taxi Masr operate?

In Mansoura and the area around it.

How much will I earn per day?

It depends on your hours and how many rides you take. What the app changes is the commission: 5% instead of 20% – 25% means EGP 150 – 200 more for you on every EGP 1,000 of fares.

Before you spend your car's life on a quarter-commission app, do the sums. If you drive a licensed taxi in Mansoura, register your interest with Taxi Masr and keep 95% of every fare.