Los Angeles, atmosfera sincopata. Max, tassista modello, compie una corsa con un procuratore donna che avrebbe dovuto discutere un caso in tribunale la mattina successiva. Immediatamente dopo, un nuovo cliente, Vincent, che gli fa una proposta allettante, accompagnarlo per l'intera notte in cambio di 700 dollari. Max si fa convincere, senza sapere che da quel momento avrebbe iniziato un viaggio allucinante. Vincent è infatti un killer di professione che deve regolare i conti con cinque persone, una delle quali, a sua insaputa, sta a cuore al conducente di taxi.

In an imaginary world where vehicles are the citizens, one underdog cabbie attempts to become king of the road in his hometown, Gasket City. He soon discovers that staying true to oneself is a greater pursuit than personal glory. When threatened by elitist attitudes and mobster trucks, can one unglamorous black and yellow ‘local zero’ rise to the challenge and become a ‘global hero’?

Balkan Prince Henry has two wishes, to meet Lauren Bacall and see the "real" America. He befriends cabbie Buzz Williams and, without knowing the microphone is live, the two stage a debate on democracy versus monarchy broadcast back to the Prince's homeland. A plebiscite there puts Henry out of a job. Flying to Milwaukee to become a beer salesman, he meets Bacall on the seat next to his, but a tap on his shoulder means he must give up his seat (and dream) to Bogie.

Amidst a backdrop of growing violence and intimidation, independent cab drivers struggling against a consolidated juggernaut rally around hot-tempered Matt Nolan. Nolan is determined to keep competition alive on the streets, even if it means losing the woman he loves.