How to Build a Taxi App MVP in Under 30 Days

Build a fully functional taxi app MVP in under 30 days with essential features, market testing, and fast launch strategies for quick user help and feedback.

Highlights

• MVP ready in 30 days, cutting average taxi app development timelines by 50%.
• Development costs reduced by 40% compared to building a full-featured taxi app.
• Tested with 500+ users to gather real-world feedback before expanding the feature set.

Co-Founder

Vandana Abrol

5 min read

An enthusiastic developer and skilled business management expert with over a decade of experience in the field

Launching a taxi service through a mobile app has become one of the fastest-growing business opportunities worldwide. However, developing a fully equipped platform from scratch often requires significant investment and lengthy development times. That’s why many businesses start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), a simpler version of the app with essential features, allowing you to test the concept, attract early users and gather feedback.

This guide shows how to build a taxi app MVP in under 30 days with a simple, step-by-step process that anyone can follow. Whether you’re working with a taxi app development firm, hiring an independent Android developer, or partnering with an iOS developer, this approach helps you go from idea to launch quickly.

1. Understanding the Concept of an MVP

An MVP isn’t a basic product with no value; it’s the essential version of your app, concentrating on key functions. For a taxi booking app, the goal is to enable passengers to book rides, drivers to accept trips, and both to communicate easily.

Starting with an MVP lets you test your on-demand taxi booking app in the market without wasting months on features users might not need early on.

2. Planning Your Taxi App MVP

The planning stage is important if you aim to launch within 30 days. This is where you outline:

1. User registration and login – Basic sign-up via phone number or email.
2. Ride booking – Enter pickup and drop-off points.
3. Fare estimation – Display approximate cost before booking.
4. Real-time tracking – Show the driver’s location on a map.
5. Payment integration – Accept card or wallet payments.
6. Ride history – Allow users to view past bookings.

You should also decide early whether you’re focusing on developing a taxi booking app for private rides or if you will add extra features like a carpooling app for shared trips.

3. Setting a Realistic 30-Day Timeline

Building an MVP in under 30 days requires dividing the work into weekly targets:

1. Week – Requirements gathering, wireframes, and UI design
2. Week – Backend setup, database creation, and API development
3. Week – Mobile app coding for both passenger and driver versions
4. Week – Testing, bug fixing, and preparing for launch

If you’re working with a taxi app development company, ask for a sprint-based approach to allow weekly progress tracking. When collaborating with freelancers, make sure both your Android and iOS app developers follow the same schedule.

4. Designing the User Interface

The design phase is where your app starts to take its visual shape. Good design should make sure the app is easy to navigate and a pleasure to use. Focus on:

1. Simple layouts that guide the user step by step
2. Readable text sizes for both small and large screens
3. Minimal color schemes to avoid distraction
4. Clear action buttons for booking, cancelling and confirming rides

During this phase, you can also prepare the design for your on-demand taxi booking app driver panel, which will allow drivers to accept or reject trips.

5. Developing the Backend System

The backend is the core engine that manages bookings, connects passengers with drivers, calculates fares, and stores ride information. Common choices for backend development include Node.js, Python, and PHP.

If you intend to support both private taxis and shared trips, you may need extra modules to build a carpooling app that groups passengers heading in the same direction.

6. Building the Passenger App

For the passenger side of the taxi app development process, focus on essential screens:

1. Sign-up/Login – Using email, phone, or social media
2. Ride Booking – Input pickup and drop-off locations
3. Fare Estimate – Show the user how much the trip will cost before booking
4. Live Tracking – Display driver location and estimated arrival time
5. Payment – Allow credit card, wallet, or cash payments
6. Trip History – View past rides and receipts

Even if your long-term plan includes advanced features, your MVP should adhere to this basic list to hit the 30-day target.

7. Building the Driver App

The driver app also needs essential functionality:

1. Driver Registration & Verification – Upload documents for approval
2. Trip Alerts – Notifications for new ride requests
3. Accept/Reject Options – Control over which trips to take
4. Navigation – Integration with Google Maps or Apple Maps
5. Earnings Report – Daily and weekly summaries

A skilled Android and iOS app developer can quickly build both versions if the backend is properly prepared.

8. Integrating Core Features

Some features require integration with third-party services:

1. Maps & Navigation – Google Maps API or Mapbox
2. Payments – Stripe, PayPal, or Razorpay
3. Push Notifications – Firebase Cloud Messaging or Apple Push Notification Service

Partnering with a taxi app development company can accelerate this process since they often possess ready-made modules for common features.

9. Testing the MVP

Testing is where you find and fix problems before launch. This step should include:

1. Functional Testing – Checking each feature works as intended
2. UI Testing – Making sure layouts appear correctly on different devices
3. Performance Testing – Ensuring the app loads quickly
4. Security Testing – Protecting user data and payments

If your mobile app development team is sizeable, divide testing responsibilities between developers and dedicated testers.

10. Preparing for Launch

Once the app is tested, it’s time to get ready for launch. This includes:

1. Setting up developer accounts on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
2. Creating app descriptions, selecting screenshots, and preparing promotional material
3. Submitting the apps for review, which can take 2–7 days, depending on the platform.

If the review process runs smoothly, your on-demand taxi booking app can be ready for users in less than 30 days from the start of development.

11. Gathering User Feedback

After launch, the most important step is to gather user feedback. Early users will identify missing features, design flaws, or suggest improvements. Since the MVP is just the initial version, you can make adjustments gradually based on real-world use.

12. Expanding Beyond the MVP

Once your MVP is live and tested, you can start adding more features such as:

1. Ride scheduling in advance
2. Loyalty points for frequent passengers
3. In-app chat between drivers and passengers
4. Multiple payment wallets

Your mobile app development journey doesn’t end at launch; it evolves with your market’s needs.

13. Cost Considerations

Developing an MVP in less than 30 days typically costs less than building a fully-featured app. Factors affecting the price include:

1. Size of the development team
2. Whether you hire a taxi app development company or freelancers
3. Number of platforms you target (Android, iOS, or both)

Even though the cost is lower, remember that quality counts. The app must be reliable and simple to use.

14. Why Speed Matters

Launching quickly gives you several advantages:

1. You can be first in your market area before competitors
2. You can start earning revenue sooner
3. You can gather user feedback faster

This approach is particularly beneficial for startups entering competitive sectors such as taxi booking app development.

Final Words

Building a taxi app MVP in less than 30 days is completely achievable with proper planning, a skilled team, and a focus on key features. Whether you decide to work with an experienced taxi app development company or hire your own Android and iOS app developers, keeping the project scope limited will help you meet your launch deadline.

By concentrating on the fundamentals first, booking rides, connecting drivers and passengers, and enabling secure payments, you can quickly test your on-demand taxi booking app in the market. From there, features like carpooling app development and other advanced options can be added based on genuine customer feedback.

Your initial draft doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to be practical, workable, and ready to meet your launch deadline.

Build Your Taxi App MVP with Digittrix

In today’s fast-paced world, the demand for quick, convenient, and accessible transport options keeps increasing. With more Australians using taxi booking apps, both new startups and well-known companies are vying to capture market share. To stand out, it’s vital to launch a taxi app MVP that features the core functions users need, while also giving you a chance to test your idea and gather feedback for future improvements.

At Digittrix, we provide expert mobile app development services for startups entering the taxi industry. With over 14 years of experience, we assist you in developing a functional and user-friendly MVP using technologies like React, Flutter, and blockchain. Our solutions include real-time GPS tracking, ride booking management, secure payment processing, and in-app chat, helping you test your idea in the market quickly.

If you’re ready to develop your taxi app MVP and present it to potential investors, connect with our experienced technical managers. Call us at +91 8727000867 or email digittrix@gmail.com to discuss your project and start your journey towards building a successful taxi booking platform.