Key Cars Bedford

Key Cars Bedford: private hire taxi service across Bedford and nearby villages

Key Cars Bedford is a private hire taxi operator based in Bedford, England. The company states that it has provided customer service since it was established in 1962 and that its current management took over in October 2006. It presents itself as a local firm covering the whole Bedford area and offers telephone and online booking, a dedicated mobile app and fixed-price journeys to airports and other destinations.

Coverage across Bedford and surrounding villages

The service area listed by the company includes Bedford itself and the villages of Sharnbrook, Moorend, Bletsoe, Radwell, Harrold, Chellington, Pavenham, Milton Ernest, Oakley, Clapham, West End, Stevington, Bromham, Biddenham, Kempston, Gibraltar, Keeley Green, Wootton, Elstow and Kempston Hardwick. The firm describes itself as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Booking channels and dispatch technology

Bookings can be made by phone or through the company's own smartphone application, which is offered as a free download. Key Cars states that it uses an automated booking and dispatch system that sends customers a text or ring-back when a taxi is dispatched and another message when the vehicle is outside, including the taxi details. The same system includes GPS tracking, which allows the operator to follow vehicles throughout Great Britain. The company also mentions voice recognition technology and an online booking system as part of its service.

Fares to airports and major cities

The website lists indicative prices for journeys from Bedford. The published rates include Milton Keynes at £30, Luton Airport at £37, Heathrow terminals 1 to 5 at £80, Birmingham at £120, Stansted Airport at £75, Gatwick Airport at £140 and London at £120. The company notes that these prices are quoted from its head office, that charges may vary in other areas, that airport charges are excluded and that car parking and waiting-time charges may apply when collecting passengers from airports. It also refers to a barrier charge and a congestion charge.

Drivers, licensing and customer service

According to the company, all Key Cars drivers are CRB cleared and fully licensed and regulated by Bedford Borough Council. It states that drivers are well presented and courteous and that vehicles are clean and tidy. The firm summarises its customer-service approach with the acronym M.O.T.: meet and greet customers, offer help and assistance, and thank them and say goodbye. It also refers to a team of office staff and a management team supporting a 24-hour operation.

Reputation as presented by the company

Key Cars describes itself as Bedford's favourite private hire taxi firm, a claim it attributes to its clients rather than to an independent ranking. The company presents reliability and customer satisfaction as central to its service and states that its office staff are trained to answer questions and handle comments and suggestions.