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London taxi drivers face 20% Freenow by Lyft commission charge from September as platform announces pricing increase
- Perry Richardson
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Freenow by Lyft will increase the commission charged to London black cab drivers to 20% including VAT from 14 September 2026.
Drivers are being informed of the change by email today, beginning a notice period before the new commission rate takes effect. Freenow said the additional revenue would support further investment in product development, driver benefits and passenger marketing.
Drivers participating in Freenow’s on-cab advertising programme, or those who sign up before the end of 2026, will remain on their current commission rate. They will also continue to receive the other benefits attached to the advertising scheme.
The arrangement links a lower commission rate to drivers carrying Freenow by Lyft branding on their taxis. It could encourage more drivers to join the advertising programme as the operator seeks greater visibility across the capital following Freenow’s acquisition by Lyft.
Several driver service changes are also being introduced. Freenow said a new 24-hour support feature would assist drivers dealing with urgent issues during trips, while Gold, Silver and Bronze drivers will receive access to instant cashout.
The cashout service allows eligible drivers to withdraw earnings on demand instead of waiting for the platform’s standard payment cycle. Freenow has not disclosed whether drivers will be charged a fee for using the feature.
Passenger booking channels are also being expanded. A 24-hour Black Cab telephone line has been introduced, allowing customers to speak to a UK-based agent and book a taxi journey that is then dispatched to a Freenow driver.
Freenow told TaxiPoint it is also working towards integrating its London supply with the Lyft app in the coming months. The company said North American visitors arriving in the UK would be able to request journeys through the Lyft app, with bookings routed directly to Freenow drivers.
The integration could bring additional airport, hotel and longer-distance work onto the platform, although no launch date or expected booking volumes have been announced.
For drivers using Freenow, the commercial test will be whether any increase in demand and service improvements offsets the higher commission deducted from completed fares.
