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Taxi Dangers and Advice

Upon arrival at the Mexico City Airport, and at other airports and major bus stations, there is a system of authorized taxis set up to help ensure the safety of travelers. Although they may cost a bit more than a cab you can hail on the street, it's a good idea to always take authorized taxis when available (the price is still very reasonable).

How to take an authorized taxi

First locate the authorized taxi booth or stand. These are usually marked by the sign "Taxis Autorisados" or in airports "Transporte Terrestre". There may be taxi drivers standing around trying to solicit your business. You should avoid these and head to the stand to purchase your ticket.

At the taxi booth you will see a map of the city marked off in zones and the cost for transportation depending on which zone is your destination. Tell the ticket agent your destination and pay the fare. This fare is for up to four people with up to two bags per person. If there are more than four people in your party or your luggage will not fit in a sedan then you will have to pay more for transportation in a larger vehicle.

After purchasing your taxi ticket proceed to the taxi area - you should see signs with arrows pointing you in the right direction. There you will give the ticket to your driver who will help you load your luggage into the car. Tell the driver your destination - and off you go. Generally a tip is given to the driver who helps you with your luggage, otherwise no tip is necessary.

Comment One:

DO NOT hail a taxi on the street in Mexico City. I was warned by multiple people that this is an unsafe practice. NEVER get into one of these little green Volkswagon Beetle cabs. Tourists have been known to be robbed or kidnapped in these vehicles. If you need a cab, be sure to call for one or get one at a sitio (a taxi stand with a dispatcher). They charge slightly more, but you are much less likely to get robbed. Having a restaurant or a hotel call a taxi is the safest way to do it.

Comment Two:

All over the net and in many guidebooks it is written that you should not take the green VW beetles when you want to take a taxi in the city. There are plenty of these taxies everywhere, and they have a very bad reputation. A lot of both tourists and mexicans have been kidnapped, raped, robbed or other things.

Many times the taxies have been stolen, and are driven by criminals. No matter which taxi you take you should always look if they have an ID-card in the frontwindow, and that it fits with the driver. There should also be a number on the taxi that is the same as on the ID-card.

If you want a safe taxi you should take one that is in a sitio, and not hail one on the street. There are also some tourist taxies but these are generally more expencive than the others.

COMMENT THREE:

I took a few different kinds of taxies, but I never tried the green VW beetles though. Sometimes I took them from a sitio and other times I stopped them in the street. It wasn't always that they had a ID-card, but I never had any problems. The most scariest time was when the driver had a gun in his hand the whole time, but he got us to our destination and nothing bad happened in any of the taxies.

In most cities, catching a cab is the easiest and among the safest modes of transportation.

*****Not in Mexico City.******

Some cautions:

1) Never accept a ride from a "taxi" that pulls up along a street. Don't even speak to a supposed taxi driver if the car doesn't look like a cab.

2) Don't hail a taxi that is traveling down the street. If you need to get a taxi on the street, call a "sitio" or authorized radio taxi. See the phone number below. Restaurants and shops can call cabs for you. Ask the person calling to get the car number of the cab they are sending. This way you can make sure that the cab that pulls up is really the one you're expecting.

3) Avoid the VW beetle taxis, even if they are licenced. These are frequently involved in robberies of tourists. While there are plenty of law-abiding cabbies driving these cars, why take the risk? You may be literally in mortal danger. Yes, brutally violent beatings and murders have occurred. You may be kidnapped and driven to an ATM machine and forced to withdraw funds.

4) Never take taxis that are parked outside nightclubs, restaurants, and the Belas Artes museum. The frequency of robberies is even higher among these.

5) Make sure the taxi has a large, laminated licence card visible inside the car. It has the driver's name and photo on it. Check to make sure the person driving and the person in the photo are the same. Also be sure that the taxi *looks* like a cab, with numbers painted on the white plastic roof, the words "sitio" or "taxi" painted on the doors, and with a meter.

6) All sitio taxis are metered. If the driver doesn't have a meter or if he says it's broken, don't ride with him.

7) Consider using a "turismo" taxi. These are more expensive than sitio taxis, but are the safest way to move around. They are unmarked and do not use meters. Ask at your hotel about arranging for a "turismo" car and driver.

COMMENT FOUR:

I have read the same question, about taxis in "Mexico city Forum" over and over, so I decides to add this information.

In Mexico city there's something that we call "Taxis Piratas" (fake taxis) this are the ones that make the bad reputation for taxis in mexico, because this ilegal or fake taxis are the ones that criminals use for robbery or kidnapping,etc. The best way to avoid this fake taxis is, not taking any taxi in the street that offer his service, specially the white and green VW.

To find a safe taxi, you should ask your hotel for a safe taxi or go to a "Sitio de taxis", this are like small terminals or taxi stands, this areas are for approved taxis only. I have travel alone in this taxis and found them very safe and convenient, yes a little more expensive, but safety has it's price, and it's worth it!