Taxi & Private Hire | Clara — AI Receptionist

Does this sound familiar?

When you're driving, you can't always answer the phone. Most taxi calls need an immediate response. An ASAP pickup, an airport transfer, a booking for tomorrow morning. When someone calls and nobody picks up, they move on to the next firm. Clara makes sure every call is answered, every detail is captured, and every booking reaches you — even when you're on the road.

Every unanswered call to a taxi or private hire firm is an immediate loss. Someone needs a ride, they call, nobody picks up — they open an app or call the next number. There's no follow-up, no recovered booking. The fare is gone the moment the call ends.

For private hire businesses competing with app-based services, the phone is the loyalty channel. Regular customers who call rather than use an app are often the most valuable — they want a known driver, they tip well, they refer friends. These are the callers who'll hang up after a few rings without leaving a message. Losing them to voicemail doesn't just cost the fare; it nudges them toward an app habit that's hard to reverse.

Drivers can't answer when they're carrying passengers — legally or practically. A dispatcher handling another booking can't take a third call simultaneously. After-hours and weekend demand spikes are exactly when staffing is thinnest. Research from Invoca puts the average small business missed call rate at 25%, but for taxi and private hire where every call is an immediate booking with no conversion funnel, the revenue impact per missed call is direct and instant.

ASAP pickups

Advance bookings

Airport transfers

Corporate accounts

School run enquiries

Accessible vehicle requests

Long-distance journeys

Late-night & weekends

When customers call, Clara can...

Ask for the pickup address and destination
Confirm whether it's ASAP or advance
Check passenger numbers and requirements
Collect their name and contact details
Confirm the booking has been logged

Hi there, you've reached City Cars. I'm the virtual assistant, how can I help you today?

Hi — I need picking up from Heathrow Terminal 5 on Thursday. My flight lands at 2:15pm.

No problem at all. Where would you like to be taken to once you've landed?

The Marriott in Reading. And I'll have two big suitcases so I'll need a decent-sized car.

Noted — I'll make sure they send a suitable vehicle. Can I take your name?

Alan Matthews.

Thanks Alan. And a mobile number in case there are any changes on the day?

Yeah — 07700 900 890.

Got it. And do you have the flight number? Just so the driver can track the landing time.

Oh, um — hang on... it's BA 726. I think.

Perfect, I'll log that. Is it just yourself travelling, or will there be other passengers?

Just me.

Great. I've got everything I need. The team will confirm your booking and send you the driver details before Thursday. Is there anything else?

No that's all, cheers.

You're welcome, Alan. Have a safe flight and we'll see you Thursday!

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Solo

Recommended

£49.99

/month 7-day free trial

One person. Every call covered

Answers calls 24/7

20+ natural-sounding voices

Call summaries, transcripts, and recordings

Spam filtering and urgent flags

Make and receive calls, all in one place

Call forwarding, keep your number

Live chat support

Teams

One business, multiple people, total coverage.

Everything in Solo, then:

Multiple users on one account

Shared phone numbers

Call routing to the right person

Web dashboard

Call summaries sent to email

Priority support

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Clara take bookings while I'm driving?

That's exactly what she's built for. Clara answers calls, captures the full booking details, and sends them to you so you never have to touch your phone on the road.

Will Clara know what questions to ask about taxi bookings?

Clara is configured to ask the right questions: pickup, destination, time, passenger count, and any special requirements. You can customise these at any time.

Can Clara handle airport transfers?

Yes. Clara asks for flight numbers, landing times, and terminal — giving you everything you need to plan the pickup.

Does Clara work after hours?

Clara answers 24/7, 365 days a year. Late-night callers, early-morning airport pickups, and bank holiday bookings are all captured without you needing to be awake.

Will callers know they're speaking to an AI?

Clara sounds natural and conversational — most callers won't realise. You can choose whether Clara introduces herself as an assistant or simply answers on your behalf. It's up to you.

Do I need a new phone number?

No. Clara works with your existing business number. Just set up call forwarding and Clara starts answering when you can't pick up.

Does Clara work for multi-driver firms?

Yes. Clara captures every booking and sends the details wherever you need them — whether you're a sole operator or running a fleet.

What about regular account customers?

Clara can note the account name or number and log the booking alongside the account details for easy invoicing.

What if someone calls about something Clara can't handle?

Clara will take a message and flag it for you. She won't try to bluff her way through something she's not set up for — she'll just make sure you get the details and you can call back.