Choose Your Driver When Calling a Taxi: A New Breath from Portugal VLOZ

We all experience the same thing when using Uber or Bolt in Portugal: We touch the screen, and the vehicle that the algorithm matches with comes to our door. Sometimes we never come across a driver that we are very happy with, and sometimes understanding the language can be a complete ordeal. Here is a local initiative that wants to break this routine: VLOZ.

The application, which started operating on the streets of Lisbon, Porto and Setúbal in June after receiving its official license from the Portuguese Institute of Transport and Mobility (IMT), gives complete control to the passenger.

Trust Your Own Choice, Not the Algorithm

The most important aspect of VLOZ is that you do not just choose a vehicle class and get sidelined. You can see the available drivers around you on the screen and choose the one you want.

The system offers very practical details that personalize the travel experience:

Language Filter: You can search according to the languages spoken by the driver; A great feature to overcome the foreign language barrier.

Favorite Driver List: You can add the drivers you are satisfied with to your favorites and choose them again on your next trip.

As founder Luís Pinto emphasizes, the goal is not just to get from point A to point B; To establish a bond based on trust between the passenger and the professional behind the wheel. The platform, which reached 2,000 passengers and drivers in its first two months, continues to grow organically.

Fair Conditions for Those Behind the Wheel

The application has taken steps to relieve not only us, the passengers, but also the drivers. Working with a standard 20% commission, VLOZ, unlike other giant platforms, pays distance compensation by taking into account the fuel and time spent by the driver while picking up the passenger. This means that we see drivers who are more motivated and enjoy their job on the field.

How to Use?

The Passenger application is live and works smoothly on both Android and iOS devices. On the driver side, the Android version is currently available and the iOS application is on the way.

It is definitely refreshing to see such local alternatives on the roads, which allow us to have a little more control in the hustle and bustle of the city.

Source: Michael Bruxo (Portugal Resident), Lusa News Agency (19 August 2026)