Phone or tablet?
A phone is cheaper and goes everywhere with the driver; a tablet is easier to read and tap on a dashboard mount, which suits fleet-owned cars where the device stays in the vehicle. The TaxiDex driver app runs on Android 7 or newer, on phones, tablets and car head units, in portrait or landscape.
See the driver app.
What makes a good in-car setup?
A firm mount in the driver's line of sight that does not block airbags or view, a charger that keeps up with navigation and screen-on all shift, a data plan with good coverage in your area, and a device with enough memory to keep navigation and the driver app running together.
What still needs separate hardware?
Anything your licensing authority or payment provider requires in the car: a council-approved taximeter where one is required, a card reader if payments are not taken in the app, and roof or door signs. Outside London, a private hire vehicle fitted with a taximeter may only be used for hire if the council has tested and approved the meter; in London, licensed private hire vehicles must not be fitted with a taximeter at all.[1][2]
More: what an MDT is and taxi meter apps.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a rugged tablet for taxi dispatch?
Not usually; a mid-range Android phone or tablet in a good mount works. Rugged devices make sense if the device stays in the vehicle on long shifts in hard conditions.
Does the TaxiDex driver app work on iPhone?
Not yet. It runs on Android 7 or newer, on phones, tablets and car head units, in portrait or landscape.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.