Dynamic Pricing & Surge Rules
Dynamic pricing lets you automatically adjust rental rates based on demand, time of day, location, vehicle type, and other conditions. Instead of fixed rates, you create rules that modify pricing when specific conditions are met — increasing prices during peak demand and optionally offering discounts during off-peak times.
How Dynamic Pricing Works
Each pricing rule defines:
- Conditions — When should this rule apply? (time, zone, vehicle model, etc.)
- Adjustment — How should the price change? (multiplier, percentage, or fixed amount)
- Priority — Which rule wins if multiple rules match?
When a ride is priced, the system evaluates all active rules. Every rule whose conditions are met is applied. Multiple matching rules stack multiplicatively.
Adjustment Types
Rules can modify pricing in three ways:
| Type | How It Works | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplier | Multiply the base price | 1.5 = 150% of base (50% increase) |
| Percent Adjustment | Add or subtract a percentage | +25 = 25% surcharge, -15 = 15% discount |
| Fixed Adjustment | Add or subtract a flat amount | +$5.00 surcharge or -$2.50 discount |
These can be combined in a single rule. When multiple rules match, multipliers are applied in sequence:
Final Price = Base Price × Rule1 Multiplier × Rule2 Multiplier + Percent Adjustments + Fixed Adjustments
Condition Types
Time Windows
Restrict a rule to specific days and times. Each rule can have multiple time windows.
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Day of Week | Which days (0=Sunday through 6=Saturday) | Monday–Friday |
| Start Minute | Start time (minutes from midnight, 0–1439) | 1020 = 5:00 PM |
| End Minute | End time (minutes from midnight, 0–1439) | 1320 = 10:00 PM |
| Spans Midnight | Whether the window crosses midnight | True for 10PM–6AM |
Example: A weekday evening surge window:
- Days: Monday (1), Tuesday (2), Wednesday (3), Thursday (4), Friday (5)
- Start: 5:00 PM (1020 minutes)
- End: 10:00 PM (1320 minutes)
Zone-Based
Restrict a rule to rides that start or end in specific zones. Link the rule to one or more zones.
Use cases:
- Premium pricing for airport pickups
- Discounts for rides in underserved areas
- Surge pricing in high-demand downtown zones
Vehicle Model
Restrict a rule to specific vehicle models. Link the rule to one or more vehicle models.
Use cases:
- Higher multiplier for luxury vehicles during holidays
- Discount on economy vehicles during off-peak
- Special pricing for newly added models
Additional Conditions
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Battery/Fuel Level | Apply rule based on vehicle charge/fuel level (min/max percentage) |
| Weather | Apply rule based on weather conditions (rain, snow, clear) |
| Custom Conditions | JSON-based condition matching for advanced scenarios |
Rule Priority
When multiple rules can apply to the same ride, priority determines evaluation order:
- Lower number = higher priority (priority 1 is evaluated before priority 10)
- All matching rules are applied — priority affects evaluation order, not exclusivity
- If you want rules to be mutually exclusive, design their conditions to not overlap
Creating a Pricing Rule
Navigate to Pricing Rules
Open Dashboard → Pricing → Dynamic Rules to manage pricing rules.
Create New Rule
Click Add Rule and configure the basic information: name, description, and whether it's active.
Set the Adjustment
Choose the pricing adjustment: multiplier, percentage, fixed amount, or a combination.
Add Conditions
Add one or more conditions:
- Time windows — Select days and time ranges
- Zones — Select which zones the rule applies to
- Vehicle models — Select which vehicle models are affected
- Other — Battery level, weather, etc.
Set Priority
Assign a priority number. Lower = higher priority.
Save and Activate
Save the rule. Toggle Active to start applying it to new rides.
Example Rules
Evening Surge (Weekdays 5–10 PM)
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Evening Surge |
| Multiplier | 1.5x (50% increase) |
| Days | Monday–Friday |
| Time | 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM |
| Priority | 1 |
Weekend Premium
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Weekend Premium |
| Multiplier | 1.25x (25% increase) |
| Days | Saturday–Sunday |
| Time | All day |
| Priority | 2 |
Airport Zone Surcharge
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Airport Pickup |
| Fixed Adjustment | +$10.00 |
| Zone | Airport Pickup Zone |
| Priority | 3 |
Off-Peak Discount
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Off-Peak Discount |
| Multiplier | 0.85x (15% discount) |
| Days | Monday–Thursday |
| Time | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Priority | 5 |
Low-Battery Incentive
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Low Battery Discount |
| Fixed Adjustment | -$2.50 |
| Min Battery | 0% |
| Max Battery | 20% |
| Priority | 10 |
Multi-Language Support
Rule titles support internationalization (i18n). When a customer sees a dynamic pricing adjustment in the app (e.g., "Surge pricing active"), the title is displayed in their preferred language.
Monitoring Dynamic Pricing
Dashboard Indicators
- Active rules are listed in the pricing rules management page
- Each rule shows its current status (active/inactive) and hit count
- Rides affected by dynamic pricing show the applied rule reference in ride details
Customer Transparency
When dynamic pricing is active, customers see the adjusted rate in the app before confirming a booking. The pricing breakdown shows:
- Base rate
- Applied adjustments (with rule names)
- Final rate
Start Conservative
Begin with modest multipliers (1.1x–1.3x) and monitor the impact on bookings. Aggressive surge pricing can deter customers. Adjust based on actual demand data.
Need Help?
For questions about dynamic pricing configuration or strategy, contact us at support@levyelectric.com.