Some contestants are randomly picked as they walk along the sidewalk, while others are selected in advance. Even so, those picked in advance are told that the cab is supposed to take them to the show on which they will appear.

In 2026, getting picked for "Cash Cab" is rarely a matter of luck; it’s usually a result of a "pre-screening" process. While the show portrays people being picked up randomly on the street, the producers typically use a "street team" or social media ads to recruit "contestants for a new documentary about New York/Toronto." If you pass a short personality interview and a basic trivia screening, you are told to meet a film crew at a specific location for a "pickup." You are only "surprised" by the flashing lights and the host (like Ben Bailey) once you are actually inside the vehicle. If you want to be on the show in 2026, your best bet is to follow the production companies (like Castlewood Productions) on social media and look for "casting calls" for "New York/Toronto-based trivia lovers." Being high-energy, articulate, and having a "ready-for-TV" personality is far more important than just being in the right place at the right time.