Taxi Auction Dispatch Software for Flexible Driver Allocation
Auction dispatch is a job allocation method where drivers bid the amount they want to take home, and the bid that meets your reserve price wins. CabZen includes it as a third dispatch mode alongside manual assignment and auto-dispatch.
Send selected jobs to a timed driver auction so available drivers can bid their take-home price while your team controls reserve and dispatch settings.
Last reviewed August 21, 2026 by the CabZen product team.
CabZen in numbers
The cost and commitment questions operators ask first, answered before you read any further.
| Starting price | £35 per month |
|---|---|
| Plans | Starter £35 (5 drivers) · Business £70 (20 drivers) |
| Commission per ride | None. Flat monthly fee only |
| Free trial | 14 days, no credit card required |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel anytime |
| Extra drivers | £4 per driver, per month, up to 50 vehicles |
| 50+ vehicles | Quoted individually on dedicated infrastructure |
| Dispatch modes | Manual, auto-dispatch and job auction |
| Driver app | Native iOS and Android, included free |
| Included emails | 1,000 per month |
| Setup | Self-serve, or done-for-you for £30 one-off |
Who this page is for
Operators with hard-to-cover journeys
Fleets that need a better way to handle long-distance, out-of-area, or awkward timing jobs.
Transfer-focused businesses
Airport and chauffeur operators that want margin-aware allocation for pre-booked work.
Teams testing driver-led acceptance
Companies that want a structured alternative to ringing drivers one by one.
Operational coverage
Auction workflow
Best-fit scenarios
Control model
Putting it in place, and what to ask
A realistic order to set things up in, and the questions worth putting to any supplier before you commit.
Implementation playbook
Vendor decision checklist
What it costs
Every feature on both plans. The only difference is how many drivers you need. No commission on any ride, on either plan.
5 drivers included. Extra drivers £4 each per month, up to 50 vehicles.
20 drivers included. Same features, more capacity.
Optional add-ons: extra booking platforms £15/month, branded driver app £350 one-off, CabZen X priced to your fleet. See the full pricing page.
How does a job auction actually work?
You send a booking to a timed auction with a reserve price. Drivers receive it and bid the amount they want to take home for that job. A bid that meets or beats your reserve wins and the driver is assigned automatically.
What is a reserve price?
The most you are willing to pay a driver for that job. It can be a fixed amount or a percentage of the booking value, so on an eighty-five pound fare you might set a reserve of fifty-five pounds and keep the difference.
Do drivers need the app to bid?
No. Drivers receive an email with a magic link and can place a bid straight from it, with no app login required. That means drivers who are not currently on shift can still bid on work that suits them.
Can auctions start automatically?
Yes. Auto-auction can fire the moment a booking is confirmed, so jobs go out without anyone in the office pressing anything. You can also launch auctions manually for individual jobs where you want more control.
What if nobody bids, or all bids are too high?
Nothing is assigned and the job stays on your board. You can extend the auction, lower the reserve, close it early, cancel it, or assign the job manually instead. You are never forced into accepting a bid above your reserve.
Do I always know my margin?
Yes. Because the driver bids their take-home figure against a fare you already set, you can see the gap between what the customer pays and what the driver takes before anything is accepted. The margin is visible up front rather than worked out afterwards.
Can I use auction for only some jobs?
Yes. Auction is set per vehicle type alongside manual and auto-dispatch, so you might auction long airport runs while auto-dispatching short local work. You can also send an individual job to auction regardless of the mode set for its vehicle type.
Is this fair on drivers?
Drivers choose which jobs to bid on and name their own figure, rather than being handed work at a rate set for them. Operators using it tend to find drivers self-select the runs that suit their location and shift.
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