01
Tell us where
Enter your pickup location, destination and journey requirements.
Choose your date, time, passengers and luggage.
Your local taxi.Just got smarter.
One app. Many local operators. Book your local taxi in seconds.
Why ring around different taxi companies hoping someone can help? WhyDrive brings participating independent local taxi operators together through one smart, easy-to-use booking platform.
Get it onGoogle Play
iPhone app coming soon · or book online
- Quick booking
- Local operators
- Clear fares
- Safe & trusted
Starting in Bude & North Cornwall, growing area by area.
Example journey
- From
- Summerleaze Crescent, Bude
- To
- Exeter Airport (EXT)
- Distance
- 62.6 mi
- Time
- 1 h 22 min
- Fare
- £150.00 fixed
The WhyDrive customer app
-
01Journey quotePickup, destination, date, passengers and luggage, with your route and fare. -
02Driver on the waySee your driver approach and the estimated arrival, when tracking is available. -
03My BookingsConfirmed bookings, driver and vehicle details, messaging and booking controls. -
04My AccountYour details, verified mobile and account settings in one place.
Illustrative example screens. Names, vehicle, registration and booking details are fictional. Fares depend on the journey, date, time and vehicle. Map and route data © OpenStreetMap contributors; routing by OSRM.
Local taxis. One smart booking system.
Smart technology
The intelligence behind every journey.
WhyDrive is built on Vamalio's transport technology. The software does the heavy lifting, so passengers get answers faster and local drivers spend more time driving.
AI booking assistant
Dispatch tools turn messages, voice notes, handwritten notes and photos into structured bookings, ready for dispatch staff to check and confirm.
Fair dispatch In pilot
Automated allocation weighs availability, vehicle, pickup position and recent workload.
Route-aware pricing
Fares calculated from real road routes and the applicable pricing rules, shown before you book.
Live journey updates
Booking status, driver details and arrival alerts sent straight to your phone.
The problem we solve
Stop ringing round. Start booking.
Finding a local taxi often means calling one company after another, hoping somebody has a car free. WhyDrive puts participating independent operators behind one simple request.
Customers can request journeys, view fare estimates, see their routes, receive booking updates and communicate with their assigned driver — all through WhyDrive.
WhyDrive is a shared technology platform, not a replacement for independent local taxi businesses. Your journey is provided by a participating licensed operator.
The old way
- Taxi firm oneNo answer
- Taxi firm twoFully booked
- Taxi firm threeCall back
The WhyDrive way
- One request, one app
- Route and fare shown first
- Live updates as it progresses
The easier way to book local taxis
No endless phone calls. No unnecessary hassle.
02
Find your local taxi
See your journey route and estimated price. Request the journey through WhyDrive, which connects you with suitable participating independent taxi operators.
Booking availability and confirmation are subject to a suitable driver accepting or being assigned.
03
Stay connected
Receive booking updates, see your assigned driver and vehicle details, and message your driver through the app.
See the vehicle's live location when tracking becomes available for your booking.
Everything in one place
Smart technology. Simple booking. Local drivers.
The tools you expect from a modern ride-booking app, working for independent local taxi operators.
Book now or in advance
Request a journey for today or plan ahead for a specific date and time.
Journey maps
See your route on a map before you request your journey.
Clear fares
Fixed fares where a route has one, or a clearly labelled estimate, before you book.
Driver & vehicle details
Know who is coming and which vehicle to look for.
In-app messaging
Message your assigned driver about your booking without swapping numbers.
Airports & longer journeys
Airport transfers, rail stations and longer trips, with flight and booking notes.
Scan to book
Point your camera. Book in seconds.
Scan the WhyDrive code with your phone's camera to open the booking app instantly — no searching, no ringing round.
- Works with the camera on iPhone and Android
- Opens the secure WhyDrive booking app
- Taxi operators: download it for cards, posters and vehicle windows
Scan to book a local taxi
Safety & trust
Know who's coming. Keep your details private.
Every booking shows your assigned driver and vehicle so you can check them before you get in.
- Check the vehicle and registration match your booking. If they don't, don't get in — report it in the app.
- Message your driver through WhyDrive instead of sharing personal numbers.
- Cancel, report lost property or request a receipt from My Bookings.
- Each participating operator is responsible for its own licensed vehicles and drivers.
In an emergency, always call 999.
Born in North Cornwall
Local roots. Smarter journeys.
WhyDrive started in Bude, built around how local taxis really work in rural and coastal communities — and it's growing area by area as more independent operators join.
For taxi operators
Your taxi business. Your customers. Our smart technology.
Join a growing network of independent operators. Keep your business, your brand and your licences — and gain access to extra booking opportunities through WhyDrive.
Stay independent
Fair, automated allocation
Less empty mileage
£39 per vehicle per week early adoption rate
£39 per vehicle per week is fixed for 3 months. 7 days’ cancellation required.