Between tests, costs and simply feeling like they have ‘bigger prospects’, most young people are not interested in becoming taxi drivers. 

According to mobility and ride-sharing app Bolt, the average age of an Irish taxi driver is now over 50.

Meanwhile, the National Transport Authority (NTA) reported two years ago that most drivers are aged between 50 and 69.

Bolt spokesperson Aisling Dunne told reporter Josh Crosbie for The Pat Kenny Show that Ireland is “completely out of step with the rest of Europe” when it comes to the “ageing” taxi driver population. 

“We’re worried where that leaves us in 10, 15 years,” she said.

She said there are “several significant” barriers to becoming a taxi driver in 2024, including costs and tests.

Prospective taxi drivers in Ireland must still take a ‘local area knowledge test’ - something most European countries have simplified or scrapped completely.

Ms Dunne said the rise of GPS and online maps means the test is not as necessary as it once was.

She called for it to be simplified to improve the current 37% pass rate.

Becoming a taxi driver

One current taxi driver told Josh there are significant financial costs nowadays. 

“The problem with going into the taxi industry now is that if you go in now you need to go in with electric,” he said. 

“What 21, 23, 25, 27, 29-year-old is going to get the bank to cover that?” 

New taxi drivers must also make their cars wheelchair-accessible, which can cost €70,000 upfront. 

Another man who has been driving a taxi for 10 years and said it’s not hard to get a taxi – but equipment and insurance costs deter new drivers.

“I don’t think young people want to drive taxis,” he said. “They all want to be lawyers.” 

Taxis parked in Dublin City Centre on New Year’s Eve in Dublin. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

One young man told Josh his grandfather was a taxi driver in Dublin for over 20 years. 

He wasn’t too enthusiastic about following in his footsteps, however. 

“I’m in university – so I kind of have bigger prospects than that,” he said. 

“But if it paid well, I would definitely see the appeal of it.” 

Taxi drivers speaking to Josh weren’t too concerned about the ageing population of taxi drivers. 

One pointed out young immigrants coming to Ireland often become taxi drivers, while another said many people become taxi drivers later in life anyway – so a massive shortage is likely not on the horizon. 

Young taxi drivers

One of the youngest taxi drivers in the country is 21-year-old Abi Mar, who followed in her father’s footsteps and got on the road two years ago.

“I thought I had nothing to lose,” she said. 

“If I want to book a holiday tomorrow, I can book it tomorrow and not have to tell anyone,” she said. 

“If I wake up feeling a bit sick, I can choose not to work.” 

She told Josh that most customers are more surprised she is a woman than about her age.

@abimarr5 ? #taxi #taxidriver #dublin ♬ Tututututurururu - Nay

Ms Mar said she feels safer as a taxi driver than in her previous job as a delivery woman as she has more control over her hours and where she drives. 

"I didn't have a choice in where I went and whose house I was knocking on," she said.

"With taxis, I get way more of a say in what I do... I work on the apps, it's all pre-pay, it's pretty safe."

As a driver, she said she sticks with the "same kind of crowd" of customers during the day and in the evening.

She advised other young people to “go for it” and pursue a career as a taxi driver – and noted even though she failed the test twice, once you pass, it’s “for life”. 

Main image: 21-year-old taxi driver Abi Mar. Photo: Josh Crosbie/Newstalk