What is taxi dispatch software? A plain-English guide.
Definition, core features, pricing models and when a small fleet actually needs it.
Key takeaways
- Takes bookings from web, phone, app and WhatsApp in one place
- Assigns jobs to the best-placed driver, manually or automatically
- Gives drivers an app and passengers live status updates
- Handles pricing, payments and invoicing
- Reports on revenue, utilisation and driver performance
What does dispatch software actually do?
At its simplest, dispatch software replaces the radio, the spreadsheet and the phone call. A booking comes in, the system calculates a price, and a dispatcher or an automatic rule sends the job to a driver. The driver accepts in an app, the passenger sees progress, and the system records the trip, the payment and the commission or driver pay.
For pre-booked limo and chauffeur work, the system also holds future reservations, sends reminders, tracks flights for airport pickups and issues invoices to corporate accounts.
Core features to expect
- Online booking engine with live quotes
- Dispatch board or map with driver status
- Driver app with job offers, navigation and proof of completion
- Passenger app or booking links with status notifications
- Payments, invoicing and driver payouts
- Reporting on trips, revenue and no-shows
How dispatch software is priced
| Model | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat monthly | One fee for the platform | Check what is excluded (apps, modules) |
| Per vehicle / per driver | Fee scales with fleet size | Cost grows as you add cars |
| Per trip or commission | Fee on each booking | Hard to forecast; rises with success |
| One-off build + monthly | Setup fee then a small monthly fee | Confirm what the setup covers |
Does a small fleet need it?
If you are handling more than a handful of bookings a day, or you lose jobs to double-booking and missed pickups, software usually pays for itself quickly. Owner-operators with a few regular clients can sometimes manage with a calendar, but customer-facing booking and automatic confirmations are hard to replicate by hand. See our guide on whether you need dispatch software yet for a simple checklist.
How Limozoft fits
Limozoft is built for small fleets. Booking websites run from $399 setup plus $10 a month (Starter). The Team dispatch plans, from $499 setup plus $149 a month (up to 5 chauffeurs), include the dispatch platform, branded passenger and driver apps and unlimited reservations, with no booking commission.
Frequently asked questions
What is taxi dispatch software?+
It is software that takes ride bookings, assigns them to drivers and tracks each job through to payment, replacing radios, spreadsheets and phone calls.
Is dispatch software the same for taxis and limos?+
The core is the same. Limo and chauffeur operators lean more on pre-booked reservations, flat-rate pricing, corporate accounts and flight tracking, while taxi operators lean more on street and rank work and meters.
How much does dispatch software cost?+
Prices range from a small flat monthly fee to per-vehicle or per-trip charges. Limozoft publishes booking websites from $399 setup plus $10 a month and dispatch with branded apps from $499 setup plus $149 a month (Team 5).
Do I need an app for my drivers?+
In practice yes. A driver app is how jobs are offered, accepted and completed, and it feeds live status to passengers and dispatchers.