A high-class ride at a fraction of taxi or Uber prices
Ask a taxi or rideshare to take you between two NZ towns and the meter runs into the hundreds — you're paying for the whole vehicle, both ways. Backhaul Rides is different: the commercial driver is already making that trip, often heading back with empty seats after a job. You pay per seat, from $0.48 per km, for only the kilometres you ride.
| Backhaul Rides | Taxi / Uber / Bolt / Didi | |
|---|---|---|
| 200 km intercity trip | From about $96 per seat | Often $400–$700+ for the vehicle |
| Who you ride with | Fully vetted commercial drivers — the same licensed taxi, shuttle and rideshare drivers | Licensed commercial drivers |
| Availability outside cities | Anywhere a driver posts a trip — regional NZ included | Sparse or surge-priced outside main centres |
| Timing | Rough estimate, ±60 min — the driver messages you when on the way | On demand, precise |
| When you pay | Only when the driver accepts — card held, not charged | After the ride, whatever the meter says |
Why it's so much cheaper
A dedicated taxi charges for the vehicle, the driver's whole day, and the empty return leg. On Backhaul Rides the return leg is happening anyway — the driver lists the empty seats, sets their own per-km price, and you share a trip that was already on the road. Same licensed drivers, same standard of car, a fraction of the cost.
Want it to feel like a private taxi?
Buy all the available seats on a trip and the vehicle becomes yours alone — no other pick-ups or drop-offs, and more control over timing. You can also add door pick-up from your home, hotel or workplace for a small extra detour cost. Even buying every seat usually costs well under a taxi for the same distance.
The one trade-off
Pick-up times are estimates that can move by up to about an hour, and bookings within 3 hours of departure cost 20% more because of the extra admin at short notice. If you need a car at an exact minute, a taxi is the right tool. If you have flexibility, Backhaul Rides is the same class of ride for a fraction of the price.