Whether you’re hailing a cab in the big city, or staying safe on the way home from a party, taxi cab etiquette can help get from point A to B with grace and ease. Business travel is booming, and it’s likely you will find yourself on a trip and needing to hail a taxi cab to get around town or to and from the airport. I think you’ll find that taxi cab etiquette uses many of the same skills present in business etiquette and simple everyday etiquette, so use these quick and easy steps for a smooth ride.
Photo by Angelo DeSantis in the Creative Commons
1. Hailing a Taxi Cab
Most cab companies will happily send a cab to your location if you know when and where you need to be picked up, but if your schedule is a bit more flexible, most will choose to wait by the curb and hail the next available taxi cab. In big cities, a line may have formed, so politely queue up with everyone else and wait for the next cab. Just as in any line situation, jumping line and “stealing” a taxi is considered very rude, so don’t do it! If a person around you wants to split a cab, or vice versa, it’s perfectly fine as long as you’re going in the same area.
2. Getting in and out
If you’re with a friend, and especially a man and woman on a date, it’s polite for the man to offer to open the door for the lady on the curb side. Always ask “May I?” and give her the option. If you’re in a big city and traffic is heavy, the first person to enter should slide across the seat, making room for the other person. If the traffic is light, simply walk around and get in the other side. Upon exiting the taxi cab, offer your hand to help the lady out, then close the door behind her.
3. Greet the driver and be ready with your destination
Don’t just flop down in the cab and start directing, say hello first! Plenty of people shout directions, you may be the only person to give the driver a warm hello and how are you. Afterwards though, you both have business to get to. Be ready with the address of your destination, and if possible the area of town and landmarks. Drivers should know where they are going in the city, but if you’re being driven outside of the city limits you should be able to offer some assistance yourself.
Also, write down the taxi cab medallion number when you’re able, it should be posted in several places, including your receipt. This will help if you need to file a complaint, praise, or lost item report.
4. Wait on your food, be careful with your drink
The taxi cab is a driver’s small business storefront, be careful! Don’t eat your burrito or salad while in a taxi cab, because if it spills, most likely the driver is going to be doing the cleaning. Just hold on until you reach your destination. Drinks are ok if they have a lid, but still keep it safe and steady while the car is moving.
5. Proper Personal Protocol
Drivers, like all people, range in how much they want to chat with others. On both sides of the glass, it’s polite to inquire about their day, but you should feel comfortable politely ending a conversation with “Thank you, but I’d rather not talk right now”. Of course, you should be prepared for the same response if you engage the driver in conversation. If you do choose to kindly ask about their day and learn a little of their story, you’ll probably be surprised at the stories you hear! If you’re in a new city, ask the driver for recommendations on where to eat and what to see.
6. Know your rights
As a paying customer, you have rights the driver must adhere to. If they are on a phone call, you may ask them to hang up, since most states have laws against phone usage in cars, even with hands-free sets. The same goes for the music and air conditioning, as the customer you can request it be changed or adjusted. Also if you ever feel unsafe or the driver isn’t going where you want to be, it’s within your rights to request the taxi cab stop immediately. Remember in this case you should have the medallion number written down to file a complaint.
7. Give ample warning to arrival
Once you are within a block or sight of your destination, give the driver ample warning of the location. Simply saying “It’s up here on the right, by the bakery” is a helpful little heads up to driver, and helps keep everyone safe. Try to avoid the exclamation of “STOP NOW!” as the taxi cab passes your stop.
8. Tip like a restaurant
One of the biggest questions I get about taxis is how much to tip, and in what form. Taxi cabs all offer both cash and credit options, so don’t be fooled if they say it’s a cash only service. You have both options for tipping as well, but the general rule of thumb is to tip 15-20% of the total fare (if the tip equals less than $3, go ahead and tip at least $3). If they were rude and unsafe, less is fine, but conversely if they were very helpful and kind, or helped you with bags, it’s great to tip a little more than 20%.
I hope this little guide to taxi cab etiquette helps out next time you’re visiting a new city on business travel, or simply getting around your hometown. Next week we’ll cover the basics of using ride-share services like Uber or Lyft to get around town, and the different social dynamics of this fast-growing trend.
