Anyone who has traveled has experienced the difficulty of negotiating transportation in a new city. Whether you’re trying to hop on a local train or figure out where the hotel shuttle is, getting to and from places in your destination can sometimes feel like half the battle.
Using a taxi can be a quick and easy way to get around, but are taxis safe? Are they safer than Uber or other peer-to-peer transportation services?
Here are six quick safety tips for navigating your taxi situation while traveling so you never feel uncomfortable in the back seat.
1. Have it organized by a professional
There are still places where taxis reign supreme over carpools and public transport. In this case, you will want to do your best to have a taxi reserved for you. People in a country are more likely to be familiar with trusted taxi companies, and companies like airport taxi services can help you easily find a driver.
The same can be said for hotels; often front desk agents are able to call for rides with their pre-arranged taxi companies. Some high-end hotels offer their own car service, an amenity that can be included or added later to your hotel file.
2. Use the counter
If you hop in a taxi, the easiest way to make sure you don’t overpay is to ask to use the meter. This type of situation will strongly depend on the location. Some countries have regulations that set a fixed price for certain journeys (such as those from the airport to the city centre), while others leave the choice to the drivers, as is the case with Parisian taxis for example.
Before taking off, ask the driver to turn on the meter so you don’t end up with an unexpected bill at the end.
3. Negotiate a price
If the meter is broken or you cannot use it otherwise, your next step is to negotiate a price. As mentioned above, some cities will regulate how much you pay to your destination, especially when departing from the airport. However, when this is not the case, you will first want to speak to the driver about your destination and the fees they plan to charge you.
It’s a good idea to check average taxi costs before you travel you therefore know the beaches to be expected; if the price seems a little high, see if you can negotiate a compromise. Again, do this before the ride begins.
Whether you pay a fixed fare or use the meter for your ride, you’ll want to use a card that will protect you. Credit cards have consumer protections that won’t leave you liable for fraud. Plus, different travel credit cards allow you to earn more bonus points for travel purchases.
If you need to pay cash, be sure to bring a card that will waive your ATM fees and charge no international transaction fees.
4. Only use official taxis
Did you know that in Almaty, Kazakhstan, everyone in town is an impromptu taxi driver? You simply flag down a passing vehicle on the road, let it know where you’re going, and give it a few bucks when you get out.
While this might be an efficient way to get where you’re going, the truth is that it’s not a particularly safe way to travel. Official taxi drivers are subject to strict regulations; their cars have to meet a certain standard and they are part of a larger organization. Sticking to these types of drivers, especially when reporting one on the street, is a much safer option.
You will usually find more official taxi drivers in larger cities, such as Cancun, Paris, and New York, and sometimes in smaller and more average locations as well.
5. Opt for female-centric options, where appropriate
In some cities, you can even find taxi services aimed at women. An October 2019 survey of 500 women conducted by Alarms.org, the website of the National Council for Home Safety and Security – a national trade association – found that 45% of cyclists prefer female drivers. And more companies are answering the call, as there are now specific taxi options for solo travelers that you might consider booking.
Pink Cab, for example, is an Egyptian taxi app dedicated only to women. Its drivers are women and it will only take female passengers. Charlotte-based Just Her Rideshare is another women-only rideshare company that targets its services toward female cyclists and drivers.
Dubai also has a women-only taxi service named Ladies and Families Taxi. Although all of its drivers are women, these specialist taxis will pick up both women and family travelers.
Do your due diligence before traveling to see if there are specialist taxis available where you are going, especially if you are concerned about your safety.
6. Consider Using a Ride-Sharing App Instead
Uber revolutionized the ride-sharing industry when it launched in early 2009. Before its inception, taxis dominated the majority of private transportation unless you used a shuttle or rented a vehicle. Since then, various competitors have come to shake up the market, including Lyft (in the US) and other international options.
Along with easier access, ridesharing apps provide a much simpler experience for riders, especially those who aren’t quite comfortable traveling. Features you can expect to find include the ability to share your ride with others, keep a payment method saved on file and enter a destination directly in the application.
Not only these applications eliminate the need for cashthey can also make sure passengers aren’t taken “a long way” and provide proof of where you’ve travelled.
Some apps, including Uber, also offer additional safety features, such as an in-app panic button, the ability to report unsafe drivers, and even the ability to record audio during your ride.
That said, carpooling experiences are not without incident. An Uber safety report published in June 2022 claims that more than 99.9% of trips in 2019-2020 were made without any safety report; even still, that same report says the total number of sexual assault reports was 3,824.
Given all the data out there, while not crime proof, ridesharing apps are probably the easiest and safest way to hail a ride.
If you want to travel by taxi safely
Are taxis safe? For the most part, yes. Taxis have a long history and you can usually rely on official taxis to take you where you need to go.
For another option, consider ridesharing apps, which can offer a whole suite of dedicated safety features to keep your trip running smoothly. Otherwise, take advantage of these tips to make sure your next taxi ride is as safe as possible.
More from NerdWalletHoliday travel chaos is coming: How to handle itHow travel insurance paid for a couple’s impromptu weddingHow Airbnb’s ‘Gold Rush’ Could Impact the Home Buying Market
Carissa Rawson writes for NerdWallet. Email: [email protected].
The article 6 Safety Tips for Taking Taxis While Traveling originally appeared on NerdWallet.
Comments are closed.