Do taxis take credit cards?

Although ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have greatly decreased the demand for taxis, many people still take taxis. Uber and Lyft focus on densely populated areas, and smaller areas and suburbs still have transportation needs. Additionally, taxis keep rideshare costs in check, while surge pricing hikes up fares.

For those who do still take taxis, it is important to know if taxis take credit cards, given their prevalence. In most countries, taxis don’t take credit cards. However, most taxi companies in larger cities are required to accept credit cards as a form of payment, though this depends on local laws and regulations. Here are some popular cities around the world where taxi companies take credit cards:

• New York
• Chicago
• Los Angeles
• Philadelphia
• Boston
• Washington, D.C.
• Paris
• Frankfurt (German cities in general)
• Zurich (Switzerland’s taxis in general)
• London
• Sydney

Although many taxis do accept credit cards for payment, taxis that accept credit cards may only take Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards, so you should always make sure to ask the driver before you get in whether they accept credit cards and if they do, which card networks.

How to be safe while using a credit card to pay for a taxi

Paying for a taxi ride with a credit card is as safe as when paying anywhere else in that it is always possible to get scammed. Here are some tips on what to look out for while using a credit card to pay for a taxi:

• Pay attention to the taxi meter- if the rate jumps because you want to pay with a credit card, ask why. Adding extra fees for credit card payments is often illegal
• Look at the point-of-sale terminal- if it looks suspicious, don’t swipe your card
• Keep your receipt and check it against your credit card statement- if charges don’t match, contact your credit card company immediately
• Read the sticker on the inside of the window of the cab to make sure you understand how your fare is calculated- if the fare chart isn’t posted in the cab, ask the driver for a copy
• Write down the taxi’s medallion number- if you feel that something is off regarding your credit card payment, you should have the driver’s number in case if you want to report them

Why you shouldn’t use a credit card to pay for a taxi ride

Even though many taxis take credit cards, it is not recommended that you use them to pay for taxi rides. Drivers have to pay extra fees when you pay with a credit card, and many may say their payment terminal doesn’t work even when it does work or simply refuse to take passengers who don’t have the cash to avoid paying these fees; both of these practices are illegal. These extra costs come in the form of the initial installation cost of payment terminals and the fees drivers are forced to pay each time a customer swipes his or her card.

Additionally, in some cities, you may be charged a transaction fee for using a card instead of cash. Either way, always be sure to have cash on hand. Try to get some before you leave home or as soon as you arrive in a new country, as cash can come in handy for many things in addition to taxi rides.

What do do if you have no cash and you’re riding in a taxi that doesn’t take credit

If you find yourself in a situation where you forgot to ask whether the driver accepts credit before getting into the car and are cashless, you can ask the driver to go to an ATM. It is not a great choice, but it may be your only option. It is best to avoid having to do this or at least make sure the meter isn’t running while driving around searching for an ATM.

Conclusion

In most countries, taxis don’t take credit cards, but most taxi companies in big cities in the U.S. do accept credit cards as a form of payment. Although most taxis in larger U.S. cities take credit cards, always ask the driver if they accept credit cards before getting into the cab. However, most drivers hate taking credit cards due to extra fees they have to pay as a result, so you should always try to have cash on hand or at least be careful while using a credit card to pay for a taxi. If you find yourself cashless in a taxi that turns out to not accept credit cards as payment, simply ask the driver to take you to the closest ATM. If you want to avoid all these possible complications from the start, consider using services like Uber or Lyft instead.