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Mexiko Taxis Taxi Taxi Fares Cost Cost Security

Traveling with a taxi through Mexico is amazingly cheap, especially in comparison to taxi prices in the USA and Europe. These guidelines explain how Mexican Taxis work, how many different kinds of taxes are calculated, and how to use taxes efficiently and securely. Arriving in Mexico by taxi is relatively cheap.

Taxi are either measured, not measured, billed per kilometre, billed by zone or rented via an app taxi with Uber and Cabify service. Compared to taxi rates in the USA, Canada and Europe, taxi travel in Mexico is relatively cheap, although it is much more costly than using the very cheap Mexican public transportation system with local busses, minibuses and, where available, the metro.

It is best not to call a taxi from the road after dusk in Mexico City, and if you're not familiar with the town and don't know Spanish, it's always best to use a taxi from a taxi location (sitios) or an app taxi service instead of calling a taxi from the road; see the section on taxi stands in Mexico City for more on this.

Driving a taxi is generally considered safer in other Mexican province and small country centers, and you can always be sure to call a taxi from the road. Cabin counters are checked/calibrated every year as part of the taxi licence and you can be sure that in most cases the price you see measured is the right one for your trip.

There are no taxis in many province towns without counters and no officially approved zonal loading system. From a historical point of view, taxiing in Mexico was a purely men's preserve, and the vast number of taxiers in Mexico are still men. Recently, however, more and more female taxi riders have been seen taking taxis, especially in Mexico City.

Mexican taxi riders generally don't know English (a few may know a little English), so you need to be able to talk some Spanish to be able to take a taxi around Mexico on your own, or show the rider where you want to go on a hard copy or smart phone card.

In the Tips for Taxi Driving section at the end of this manual, you will find tips on how to interact with your taxi if your Spanish is restricted. Due to its magnitude and complexities, and due to a variety of taxi-related crime specifically applicable to Mexico City, travelling by taxi in Mexico's capitol may require some extra cautions.

Taxi felonies in Mexico City blazed in a 2005-2007 timeframe, prompting the capital's administration to take a number of steps to solve the problem. Whilst taxi criminality is not as widespread today as it was then, we suggest you remain cautious in the capitol when renting taxis.

Much of the risk has been alleviated by the use of the Smartphone App, which allows travellers to quickly and simply organize cabins in the capitol via telephone or smartphone. Taxi crime is almost exclusively committed in the capitol and usually involves an "express kidnapping" in which the occupant of a road cabin vehicle (it is uncommon for two or more occupants to be attacked) is taken captive for a period of times and usually taken to an ATM where the individual is compelled to make a withdrawal.

Every item of any value is taken and the passengers are "dropped off" later, usually in an inconspicuous area of the town. The Mexican government is conscious of the fact that taxi criminality has a bad reputation and has taken a number of steps to combat taxi criminality that have had drastic effects on the reduction of taxi criminality in the Mexican capitol.

In early 2008, the authorities re-licensed all of the capital's driver's cabins, issued new license plate numbers, launched new backgrounds inspections of driver numbers and issued new ID cards. The taxi crime rate has decreased significantly as a consequence of the programmes, but they are not fully resolved. In the aftermath of this type of crime - and also due to technologies in the shape of cell phones and smartphone applications - many humans bypass road cabins in favour of taxi rank cabins (known as Sitio cabins) or use app cars when travelling by taxi in Mexico City.

Mid-range Mexicans - and especially females - make routine calls in taxis or organize an over- or cabify taxi and don't just call one of the streets. In part as a consequence of the taxi offenses, many taxi riders have taken the lead themselves and affiliated themselves with taxi co-operatives, taxi locations (sitios) or app-cab companies, since the other face of the taxi offenses, much less narrated, is that taxi riders are sometimes assaulted and mugged by rude "passengers" they have on board from the streets.

A lot of people in Mexico City now avoid using taxis on the streets and instead choose to take a taxi from a taxi stand, either on foot to the next level or by calling the local taxi stand. The majority of people in the capitals have a few taxi company numbers or side numbers saved in their telephones to call a taxi when they need one.

A number of radio taxi companies also operate (allegedly) all over the town, sending a taxi to where you are - even on the streets. Taxis are more costly than road taxis, but are still relatively cheap compared to taxi rates in other capitals such as New York, Los Angeles, Paris and London.

Accommodation is available either at a taxi stand outside the estate with taxis costing one metre, a flat tax based on where you go, or a per kilometre tariff. Hotel without taxi stand outside the real estate have the number of a taxi stand near by and call a taxi for you if necessary.

Nevertheless, some inhabitants and aliens who are acquainted with Mexico Town and who are Spanish speakers call taxis from the streets in the main town, although it is good to take some reasonable precautions: I need you to know Mexico Town, and you need to be able to speak Spanish: Do not take taxis in Mexico if you are new to the Mexican capitol and/or do not know much Spanish: If you are going to visit the Mexican capitol, call your local hotels to call a taxi, use a taxi (see directions above) or use your mobile to organize a service such as Uber or Cabify.

As of 2008, the Mexican City authorities have re-licensed all taxis in the Mexican capitol as part of a security and qualitiy drive. Every relicensed cabin has a striking blank number sign starting with a capitals and five digits. Every road taxi you check should show this new sign. Make sure that your taxi rider has a proper driver's license:

Make sure that your driver's licence is displayed on every taxi. Driving licence cards are blank, laminate documents with a stamp, a logo and a photo of the taxi rider. When you are bringing precious gear with you (e.g. laptops or costly cameras), it is best to get a taxi from a taxi stand, use an app cabin service or get your local hotels to call a local taxi for you.

When you are not comfortable with Mexico City and the place you are going and/or if you do not know Spanish, it is best to order a taxi from the hotels you are accommodated in, call a taxi stand (Sitio) or use your smartphone to organize an app-cab service. It costs more than road taxis, but is still cheap compared to a similar long-distance taxi rate in other large capitals.

Taxi travel in Mexican province towns (including Guadalajara and Monterrey) is generally considered secure, and the need to take taxi criminal safety measures, which has permeated Mexico City in recent years, is not necessary. There is a big discrepancy between taxi rides in Mexico City and the province towns of Mexico in that the taxis in the province are not so standardised and not all counties work with measured taxis, so it may be necessary to bargain your fare.

A few towns have a " zones " loading system controlled by the local governments, but in most places you go all over Mexico, what you are paying in taxi rates will be what you are negotiating. Please see below under'Types of Taxis' for more information. Taxi cabs operated in the Mexican province will have different colour patterns than in Mexico City and even in other towns - there is no "national standard" for cabin colours or style.

Maybe you are travelling in a freshly built automobile or a vehicle that is almost totally exhausted. Taxi riders in the province are even less likely to use English, except perhaps in larger areas, so make sure you are equipped with a few words of Spanish to reach your goal (see also "Tips for Taxi Rides in Mexico", below).

As a rule, taxi fares are calculated zonewise in the large tourism destinations. Taxi riders are more likely to talk and/or comprehend some English. Taxi in the most famous seaside resorts like Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Huatulco are relatively costly compared to taxi in Mexico City, Acapulco, Manzanillo and Mazatlan and the Mexican-colonial cities.

Apple Cabs such as Uber and Cabify can be operated in the touristy town you visit and offer an alternative/competition to local cabs - Open your taxi application and see if there are any service available at your actual site. Mexico-Stadt has these in an unmistakable rose and lacquered red and whiten. Out of Mexico Town, the coloring of taxi's vary greatly.

Roadxis are the cheapest and are generally considered the safest outside of Mexico City. Unless you don't know Spanish, you may find that independant taxi drivers are a little of a fistful - some will try to overburden you. The taxi stands are most frequently found in Mexico City (marked with "Sitio"), although you will find taxi stands in all Mexican city.

Today, many taxi riders, especially those who work in the capitol, join local taxi cooperatives, or businesses that operate tariffs from a basis or tier and collect passengers when they call to make a reservation. Many good taxi operators offer you a price over the hotline for the trip you want and give you the detail of the vehicle model / number plates that will collect you.

The majority of our accommodations are linked to a local taxi company, and some even have a taxi stand outside to wait for you to commute. Taxis are available in Mexico when you book them through a smartphone application. Cabify also offers service in the German capitol. Find all the detail about App-Cabs in Mexico here in this guideline.

Taxi services from Mexico's main international destinations are among the most costly you will ever need to use. While there are always at least two taxi licenses at each and every international destination, fares are still high compared to cabins rented from non-airport sites. Apple cabins (such as Uber and Cabify) now collect travelers from Mexico City International and for other Mexico destinations, verify your Apple Card upon arrival and it should inform you if there is a pick-up service.

Busses and the Metro of Mexico City are alternative, but not real if you have a lot of luggage and only want to go to your own accomodation or home. A number of hoteliers have taxi ranks outside the hostel to abduct visitors at any time. They can be calculated at a set charge according to where you go (destinations and tariffs are displayed), or at a per-mile, zone-based tariff system, and some can be measured.

Bigger or luxurious accommodations sometimes have a privately owned taxi pool that is linked to the object. Compared to conventional taxi cars, these are relatively pricey, but provide convenient, air-conditioned cars, usually with at least some English-speaking driver. The majority offers flat rates to certain locations (e.g. the airport) or a kilometre-based fee.

Verify this on site. In Mexico City, all cabs are either measured or, for personal cabs and taxi from the airports, a mileage or zone fee is charged. When you use Uber or Cabify in Mexico (see App Cab Services), the tariffs are calculated according to the company's actual tariffs, which vary according to local demands and offers.

If you use these utilities, the app recognizes your present position, you type in the position you want to get to, and your app presents you with a price you can either agree to or disagree with if you want to go. When you take a taxi from the airport, you buy an authorised taxi pass at one of the stands in or near the airport terminals - there are several different businesses competing for your company.

Benito Juarez Mexico International Business Park is about $350 from the Benito Juarez Mexico Central Station to the centre of the Mexican capitol. For northern, southern and western cities (the eastern part of the Mexican capitol) up to $550 is available. The taxi tariffs of aerodromes have not been lowered, although app cabs generally provide lower tariffs for an equal trip.

As a rule, they are stationed in a hotel (some wireless taxi services are also operated by taxi companies) and calculate the price per kilometre. Wireless cabins are entitled to calculate about MX$50 ( known as Banderazo) for the take-off and then about MX$5 for every 250 yards (equivalent to $20 per kilometre, 1/6 of a mile) or 45 seconds when the taxi is up.

Taxis (in a road position or outside a hotel) calculate one metre, but a higher price than road cabins. Taxis ranking cabins calculate an starting price of approximately MX$25 and then approximately MX$4 for every 250 feet (equivalent to $16 per kilometre, 1/6 of a mile) or 45 seconds when the taxi is standing.

Minimum taxi rates (measured) come from the road cabins (see tips above on greeting taxis from the road in Mexico City), which start the counter with a fee of about MX$12 and then about MX$2. 5 for every 250 yards (equivalent to $10 per peso kilometre, 1/6 of a mile) or 45 seconds when the taxi is up.

Several taxis arrange a flat rate from point A to point by point which is often very cheap and lies between taxi ranks and road taxi rates. From Xochimilco (southern border of Mexico City) to the airport (east center), for example, a regular ticket will cost about MXP$275 plus tip (optional) if you call a local company/cooperative to reserve a taxi.

Those cabs have some of the best offers in regards to safety/price. Taxi services used in non-Mexican metropolitan areas are charged: they are not measured. Zoning fees vary depending on the tariffs established by local government or local communities, but are correlated with metering fees plus a small percent.

Airport cabs, no matter where you are in the state, are always more costly. When you use Uber or Cabify in Mexico (see App Cab Services), the tariffs are calculated according to the company's actual tariffs, which vary according to local demands and offers. If you use these utilities, the app recognizes your present position, you type in the position you want to get to, and your app presents you with a price you can either agree to or disagree with if you want to go.

Should you intend to travel a great deal in the surrounding area, especially in favourite seaside resorts where taxi prices are much higher than in large settlements, you should rent a small vehicle. Prices for hire cars in Mexico are now lower than ever.

Check out our Mexico Rent a Auto guides for our complete range of rent a car itineraries. Smart-phones are beginning to transform the way taxis are booked by locals in towns around the globe. App labs, provided by companies such as Uber and Cabify, allow clients to reserve a taxi on their phone and arrange a rate and pick-up schedule.

Ueber is quickly growing throughout Mexico and now provides service in at least 14 towns across the nation, including: Mexico-town, Toluca, Cuernavaca, Puebla, Querétaro, León, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosí, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Hermosillo, Tijuana, Mexicali and Mérida. The Cabify is less fast growing and currently operating in Mexico City, Toluca, Monterrey, Puebla, Querétaro and Tijuana.

This service allows smartphone users to reserve a taxi via a portable application at a previously arranged rate. Ticket prices are similar to Sitio cabins (see above) and are sometimes traded at a surcharge as local market demands increase. When you have an Uber or Cabify bankroll in your home state, you can use the same application and bankroll to welcome taxis in Mexico.

The fees will be denominated and charged in Mexico based US dollar and your payment processor will translate the fee into your local language, e.g. US or Canada dollar, UK pound, Euro, etc. Uber and Cabify are particularly well received by young mid-range college and college graduates, professional users and female users. This service has become very widespread, especially since the cars offering these service are newer than the standard road cabin, and with the app it is possible to see where your car is in terms of your actual position and make plans accordingly.

There' s the added comfort of being able to pay through your App-Cab so you can take a taxi even if you don't have much money or give your way. Please be aware that App-Cab service will only work if your phone's connectivity is working. When you visit Mexico and roam with your non-Mexican phone, your privacy charges can be high.

Ask your schedule if you can get permission to roam in Mexico. For more information on mobile communications in Mexico, see the Communications in Mexico Handbook. Below are a few hints to help you get around Mexico by taxi efficiently, using recent experience: The local language:

Apart from getting you to your destinations faster, establishing a relationship with the drivers can offer you a better price if the taxi is not measured. When you know little or no Spanish, take a local card with you to show the rider; when you have a smart phone and a datarate that works in Mexico, use a mapping application such as Google Maps or Apple Maps to show the rider where to go, or use an application cab service such as Uber or Cabify to show the rider where to go because the GPS system takes the rider to your goal.

Mexico Town, spend a lot of additional travel effort as travel jams in the Mexican capitol can be serious, especially during peak periods. When you go to the airports or to a coach terminal to reach a regular service, take a lot of your leisure for possible jams in the town.

Locate local taxi locations: When you are in Mexico for a while or planning to stay here, explore the closest taxi locations (Sitios), ask for their telephone number and call them if you need a taxi. If you have a mobile device and do not yet use this service, you can also register for Uber or Cabify.

Notice that if you have a non-Mexican Uber or Cabify bankroll, you can use it to welcome taxis in Mexico in the same way as at home, and the fees will be charged in your local language as well. Taxis come directly to your home or to your guesthouse and even hit you at a pre-determined location such as a local eatery or a famous emblem and don't surcharge.

Even though some taxi companies are beginning to take advantage of credits and debits, most do not and those who do will usually charge 10% on the ticket price to meet the banking fees they are paying to provide the option of paying by car. Non-Uber/Cabify riders are advised to choose to make their preferred payments in hard currency and it will help you safe time.

Some taxi riders in Mexico City don't know the place you want to go, so you need to be able to guide them or, if you don't know Spanish, have a card on your personal computer to show them where to go, or use a card app on your smart phone.

It is less likely with taxi and never a hassle with personal or aerodrome taxi as they have road charts / applications in the car. Each month, our free Mexico newsletters bring you a summary of recently released histories and possibilities as well as gemstones from our archive.