TaxiBuddy Tutorial: How to Use the "Check Taxi" Feature for Safe and Informed Rides

The TaxiBuddy app is designed to make managing your taxi contacts in Eswatini safer and more efficient. One of the most powerful tools for informed decision-making is the Check Taxi feature.

This tutorial will guide you through using Check Taxi to quickly verify driver details, ratings, and your personal history before you book your next ride.

🇸🇿 What is the TaxiBuddy "Check Taxi" Feature?

The Check Taxi feature acts as a quick-reference lookup tool within the TaxiBuddy ecosystem. It allows users to search for any taxi driver saved in their contacts (or recently interacted with) using their name or phone number.

Instead of just seeing a name, Check Taxi instantly pulls up a comprehensive profile, including:

Community Ratings: What other users think of the driver.
Common Routes: Areas the driver frequently services.
Call History: Your personal history of interactions with this driver.
Your Personal Notes: Any private notes you saved about the driver (e.g., "Always on time," "Drives a white sedan").

Keywords for Eswatini Users

Taxi driver verification Eswatini
Check taxi rating Mbabane
TaxiBuddy driver lookup
Verify Eswatini taxi driver phone number

🚦 When Should You Use Check Taxi? (Crucial Use Cases)

Using Check Taxi proactively ensures you have the best possible experience and maintain safety standards.

Scenario	Recommended Action	Benefit
Before Calling a New Driver	Always search their number before making the first call.	Instantly see their community rating and reliability score.
When Someone Recommends a Driver	Get the recommended driver's number and search it immediately.	Confirm the driver is known and trusted by the broader TaxiBuddy community, not just your friend.
Reviewing Past Experiences	Search the driver's name before calling them for a repeat trip.	Review your personal notes (e.g., "Charged too much last time" or "Very friendly").
Safety Check	If you are sharing a driver's details with a friend, quickly check their profile first.	Ensure you are passing on details for a highly-rated, reliable contact.

🔍 Step-by-Step Guide: How to Search Using Check Taxi

Accessing the Check Taxi feature is fast and straightforward, designed for quick use when you're on the go.

Step 1: Access the Feature

Open the TaxiBuddy app on your smartphone.
Look for the "Check Taxi" button or tab, usually located prominently on the home screen or in the main navigation menu. Tap it.

Step 2: Enter Search Criteria

The Check Taxi screen provides two primary methods for searching:

Option A: Search by Phone Number (Recommended)

This is the most accurate method, especially if you have the number copied from a chat or website.

Tap the "Phone Number" field.
Enter the full 8-digit Eswatini phone number (e.g., 76XXXXXX or 78XXXXXX).
Tip: If the number is already in your phone's clipboard, simply paste it.

Option B: Search by Name

Use this if you only remember the driver's name (e.g., "Bongani" or "Sipho").

Tap the "Driver Name" field.
Start typing the name. TaxiBuddy will begin suggesting matches from your contact list and the broader community database.

Step 3: View the Results

Once you hit "Search", the profile page for that driver will load instantly.

📊 Understanding the Driver Profile Information

The profile generated by Check Taxi provides four critical areas of data, helping you make an informed decision instantly.

1. Community Ratings and Reliability Score

This is the most important metric for new drivers.

Star Rating (1-5 Stars): An average rating based on feedback from all TaxiBuddy users who have ridden with this driver.
Reliability Score: A percentage indicating how often the driver accepts calls, arrives on time, and completes the trip successfully. A score above 90% is excellent.

2. Service Information

This section gives you context about the driver's operations.

Primary Routes: Which towns or routes they service most often (e.g., "Mbabane to Manzini," "Matsapha Industrial Area").
Vehicle Type: (If provided) The type of vehicle they usually drive (e.g., Sedan, Minibus).

3. Your Personal History

This data is private and only visible to you. It helps you recall past interactions.

Call History: The date and time of the last few times you called this driver.
Total Rides: How many times you have completed a trip with this specific driver.

4. Your Personal Notes

This feature is invaluable for long-term contact management.

Review Your Notes: Read the private notes you previously saved about this driver (e.g., "Always charges E150 for airport run," "Drives too fast," or "Very helpful with luggage").
Edit/Add Notes: If you are checking the profile immediately after a ride, you can quickly add new notes for future reference.

✅ Pro Tips for Maximizing Safety and Efficiency

Always Check Ratings Before First Calls: Never call a new, unknown driver without first checking their rating. If a driver has a rating below 3.5 stars, exercise caution or consider using a different contact.
Use Notes for Pricing: Since taxi fares in Eswatini can vary, use the personal notes section to record the agreed-upon price for common routes. This prevents disputes on future rides.
Regularly Update Notes: After a particularly good or bad experience, immediately use Check Taxi to find the driver and update your notes. This takes less than 30 seconds and pays off the next time you need a ride.

How to Check Taxi Information in TaxiBuddy