Does anyone know about running a gypsy cab?

[Manuel_OKelly]

I was wondering how they work. Do they exist at all? Is my carpool a gypsy cab if I ask for gas money? How do you build a client list?

[Bill Brasky]

I was wondering how they work. Do they exist at all? Is my carpool a gypsy cab if I ask for gas money? How do you build a client list?

Hang at airports and bus terminals.  Put a few dimes in the metered parking.  Tell people verbally  who are waving down cabs "psst, gypsy cab, I'll cut you a good fare, where you going?"  As soon as someone thinks they're getting a good deal, and you appear to be a decent looking non-ax-murderer, you'll probably hook up before your dimes run out.  Know your area, so you can quote a price on the spot.  Think in terms of gas mileage, and tell them so.  "It would cost me $4 in gas to run you there, so we'll call it $14 for the ride."  They'll probably give you fifteen or twenty if you help with bags, and you talk nice during the ride.  

Not all cabs have medallions, thats just NYC and some other big cities.  Mostly, cabs are cars rented to the drivers under the taxi agency, who are compliant and licensed with local DOT-taxicab regulations.  For example, where I live you arrange with the taxi company to rent one of their cars with the meter and inspection for a 12 hour shift, if they agree it'll cost you $125 plus gas.  Then they give you fares in rotation over the radio.  The meter is total bunk, only to keep fares aware of the price.  The driver keep all of it, the taxi company already made its money from the $125 fee the driver paid.  

After the driver makes his nut, the $125, he's now operating in the black.  They don't pay any taxes they don't want to report.  Usually they'll report some  of their worked days, to appear legit and write down expenses that become operating deductions.  A busy driver in town can make about $50 per hour with an efficient dispatcher, who doesn't send him out into the woods with no return fare.