GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide

The Taxi business is one of the prominent properties in the GTA universe, and this GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide will help you understand how the business works in story mode. Rockstar Games allows players to purchase and operate the Downtown Cab Company and earn money.

While you can buy and operate the business casually, Rockstar has included some hidden perks that only the hardcore grinders know. This GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide will discuss all the important things that you must know about the popular business.

Note: Some parts of this GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide are subjective and only reflect the writer’s opinions.

GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide: An overview of the taxi business in story mode

The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers should properly understand the business before grinding (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Downtown Cab Company is located in East Vinewood in Los Santos. The business provides taxi services to the citizens, including Michel De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Philips. You can directly call the Downtown Cab Co. contact from your in-game phone to request a taxi and go almost anywhere.

By default, the cab business charges you two types of fares: regular fare and fast travel fare. The regular fare is calculated based on the distance you travel. Fast travel is a special option that lets you skip the entire trip in story mode and directly spawn you at your destination within seconds. However, it will cost you more than the regular fare.

Michel, Franklin, and Trevor can also roleplay as a taxi driver and earn money. Following are the ways through which GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers can be a taxi driver:

Acquire a Downtown Cab Co. marked taxi.
Wait for the operator to ask for a driver and press the required button to accept the job.
Go to the location of the NPC passenger.
Drop them off at their destination to complete the fare.

The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers should do the delivery part very carefully. If you drive recklessly and crash into objects, the NPC will get angry and reduce your tip. Sometimes the passenger can also flee without paying you anything. You can either let them go or kill them to get your money.

The following are the ways to acquire a taxi in Grand Theft Auto 5 story mode:

Head to the Downtown Cab Co. office and get a taxi from the campus.
Call the Downtown Cab Co., request a taxi, and steal the taxi upon arrival.
Stop a running taxi on the street and steal it from the driver.

While these are the things most players do, the GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide will now teach you how to operate it as a private business.

Also read: GTA 5 Business Guide

How to acquire the Downtown Cab Co. business in Grand Theft Auto 5

The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers must make some money beforehand to buy the property (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Downtown Cab Co. is a purchasable property that can only be acquired by Franklin. However, you must first complete the Friends Reunited mission, so that the company becomes available to buy. The protagonist can purchase the business for $200,000. Simply walk into the Dynasty 8 board in front of the main office in East Vinewood and press the required button to purchase it.

If you are low on money, then you can follow the GTA 5 guide to making billions.

Once purchased, Raul will call you to brief you about the business. He also informs you that he will contact you for business operations occasionally. After this, all taxi-related services will become free for Franklin. Whether you take a regular ride or skip the trip, Franklin will not have to pay anything as the owner. However, the other protagonists will still be charged as before.

Owning the taxi business unlocks the Private Taxi Fare side missions for Franklin Clinton. There are nine missions given by Raul at random moments. They are as follows:

Clown Car (Passenger(s): Three Bankers)
Cut You In (Passenger(s): Derrick)
Deadline (Passenger(s): Kwak)
Take It Easy (Passenger(s): Otis)
Fare Needs Excitement (Passenger(s): Felipe)
Follow Car (Passenger(s): Keyla)
Got You Now (Passenger(s): Alonzo)
Got Your Back (Passenger(s): Walter)
Take to the Best Tailor (Passenger(s): Miranda)

You must use a high-end four-door vehicle for these missions. The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide will now discuss them in detail.

Also read: GTA 5 Gold Medal Guide

Important details about the ‘Clown Car’ Private Taxi Fare mission in Grand Theft Auto 5

An in-game screenshot for GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers (1/9) (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Clown Car Private Taxi Fare mission requires you to pick up three NPC passengers from The Richman Hotel on West Eclipse Boulevard. Each of the passengers will have three different destinations and you must drop them off chronologically to complete the mission. The destinations are as follows:

Maze Bank in Pillbox Hill.
Fleeca branch in Alta.
24/7 convenience store in Strawberry.

After the first drop, one of the passengers will ask you to play some hip-hop music. The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers are advised to tune the radio into either Radio Los Santos or West Coast Classics (WCC).

While the base fare and tip can vary, completing the Clown Car mission properly can earn you an extra Punctual Bonus of $200.

Also read: GTA 5 100 percent guide

Important details about the ‘Cut You In’ Private Taxi Fare mission in Grand Theft Auto 5

An in-game screenshot for GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers (2/9) (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Cut You In Private Taxi Fare mission requires you to pick up an NPC named Derrick from the Los Santos International Airport. He will ask you to go to the Little Gems jewelry store in Mission Row. While the mission looks simple, Derrick is a robber and Fraklin has to assist him as a getaway driver.

He will ask you to wait near the store and keep the car running. When he returns, you will get a two-star wanted level. The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers must escape the cops as soon as possible.

After that, Derrick will ask you to drive him to the FlyUS terminal at the Los Santos International Airport. Completing the mission efficiently will earn you a Smooth Getaway Bonus of $1000 and a tip ranging between $5000 and $10,000.

Also read: GTA 5 collectibles guide

Important details about the ‘Deadline’ Private Taxi Fare mission in Grand Theft Auto 5

An in-game screenshot for GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers (3/9) (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Deadline Private Taxi Fare mission is all about speed and how proficiently you can drive in traffic. A passenger named Kwak will spawn at the 24/7 store in Sandy Shores and will ask you to drive to North Conker Avenue in Vinewood Hills within a specific time. Your job is to drop him off at the destination within 3:30 real-life minutes.

The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers are advised to drive fast and take as many shortcuts as possible. If you manage to deliver him before the timer hits 30 seconds, you will get an extra Ludicrous Speed Bonus of $200.

Also read: GTA 5 modding guide

Important details about the ‘Take It Easy’ Private Taxi Fare mission in Grand Theft Auto 5

An in-game screenshot for GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers (4/9) (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Take It Easy Private Taxi Fare mission will test your patience, as it requires you to drive slowly and steadily. You will get a drunk passenger named Otis. He will ask you to go to Rob's liquor store on San Andreas Avenue. A few moments after the journey he will inform you about his drunk condition.

The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers must drive carefully from this point onwards and drop Otis off at the destination without making him puke. You will get an extra No Puke Bonus of $100 for the job.

Also read: GTA 5 strategy guide

Important details about the ‘Fare Needs Excitement’ Private Taxi Fare mission in Grand Theft Auto 5

An in-game screenshot for GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers (5/9) (Image via Rockstar Games)

This mission spawns Felipe who is an adrenaline junkie and has a fetish for reckless driving. The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers must pick him up from near the Mount Zonah Medical Center in Rockford Hills and drop him off behind the Vinewood Sign.

During the journey, he will ask you to drive fast. You can perform stunt jumps, drifting, and other reckless driving activities. However, do not get involved in major accidents that can hurt the passenger. If you manage to keep him hyped during the ride, you will get an extra Daredevil Bonus of $200.

Also read: GTA 5 investment guide

Important details about the ‘Follow Car’ Private Taxi Fare mission in Grand Theft Auto 5

An in-game screenshot for GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers (6/9) (Image via Rockstar Games)

In this mission, you will have to accompany a crazy lady NPC named Keyla. After picking her up from Fudge Lane in El Burro Heights, she will ask you to drive to the Central Los Santos Medical Center. Once you reach there, she will show you her fiance and ask you to tail him. This GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers must keep an adequate distance from the tailed car.

The fiance will pull into the parking lot of Von Crastenburg Hotel. Keyla will ask you to drive close to him. Upon reaching the destination, your trip will be completed and you will get an extra Private Eye Bonus of $100 if you manage to keep a proper distance during the tail.

Also read: GTA 5 parents guide

Important details about the ‘Got You Now’ Private Taxi Fare mission in Grand Theft Auto 5

An in-game screenshot for GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers (7/9) (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Got You Now is a dramatic mission where you have to pick up an NPC passenger named Alonzo from the University of San Andreas, Los Santos, and take him to his girlfriend in Elgin Avenue in Strawberry. Upon arrival, things take a dramatic turn and Alonzo will drag you out of your car to beat you.

The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers are advised to only fist-fight with the angry NPC. After beating him down, the girl will ask you to take her to her friend’s apartment in Little Seoul. After completing the trip, you will get an extra Knocked a Sucka Out Bonus of $100 and the girl will give you her number for booty calls.

Also read: GTA 5 Stock Market Guide

Important details about the ‘Got Your Back’ Private Taxi Fare mission in Grand Theft Auto 5

An in-game screenshot for GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers (8/9) (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Got Your Back mission has a hidden Easter egg referring to GTA 4. You will have to pick up a passenger named Walter from the Ammu-Nation store in Pillbox Hill. He will ask you to take him to Pier 400. Upon arrival, Walter will engage in gunfights with The Lost MC members and ask Franklin to help him.

The GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers are advised to help Walter kill all the enemies to receive the extra Terminator Bonus of $200. After the shootout, you can check out the Albany Emperors with ROMANB and NIKOB number plates.

Also read: GTA 5 Online Arcade guide

Important details about the ‘Take to the Best Tailor’ Private Taxi Fare mission in Grand Theft Auto 5

An in-game screenshot for GTA 5 Downtown Cab Co. guide readers (9/9) (Image via Rockstar Games)

This mission will spawn a naive NPC named Miranda at Galileo Park. She will ask you to take her to a decent clothing store. The mission will give you the following options: