First Time Hiring a Taxi? Here are 7 Tips to Follow

First Time Hiring a Taxi? Here are 7 Tips to Follow

If it's your first time booking a taxi, you'll want to follow these 7 tips to make sure you are safe and accommodated.

A taxi ride can be a pleasant experience or it can be something straight out of a bad dream. If you have never ridden in a taxi before, chances are you might be a little apprehensive about the whole situation.

While there are cab rides that go wrong, most of them are good. Nonetheless, we cannot leave anything to chance. This is why you need to be well-prepared to ensure that you have a safe and comfortable riding experience.

This article will discuss everything a taxi rider needs to know and do in order to have a good cab experience.

New York taxis make about a million trips every day.

Factors to Consider Before Hiring a Cab

Do not enlist the services of the first taxi company you come across. You need to first ensure that they are a good fit for you. Look out for the following:

Licensing

Ask whether they have licensing for the services they are offering. A license is an indication of a legitimate company since they must meet some government standards before they receive one.

Reputation

Reputation is everything when it comes to the service industry. As such, it is important to do your research. Go online and check for customer reviews. See the ratio of good versus bad experience. You can then make the judgment call.

Kind of Service Offered

If you have specific needs, it is important to first enquire as some services are not offered by all companies.

Pricing

Even though you want good services, it does not mean that you have to pay an arm and leg for it. Therefore, you will have to call up different companies and see the ones that meet your need.

Next, compare them based on price to find one that gives you the best value for your money.

Now that you know what to look out for when selecting a cab service, the following are tips to ensure you get a safe and comfortable riding experience.

Tips for a Safe Cab Ride

If you do not have the time to search up a taxi company, you can always get one the old fashioned way.

To ensure that you get a good ride nonetheless, consider these seven tips. While at it, here are some etiquette rules that you should adhere to.

1. Enquire Around About Pricing and Tipping

Enquire from the locals the typical price for your destination as well as the appropriate tip to give.

This will ensure that the driver does not overcharge you. Also, it's a good idea to confirm the price with the driver before the ride so you are on the same page when it comes time to pay.

2. Call Instead of Hailing

Unfortunately, some cab drivers have been known to collaborate with thieves to steal from customers. For instance, the rogue driver might spot that valuable item that you have placed next to you.

They then text the assailant giving them the details. At a stoplight, you suddenly see the door open, and your items snatched.

That is just one of the many scams that can happen if you hail for a taxi. However, by requesting for recommendations for a reputable company, you can talk to their dispatcher to assign you a cab.

Thus, if anything was to go wrong, you have somewhere to take your complaints to.

3. Avoid Taking Taxis While Intoxicated and Alone

It is a good idea to order a car while drunk. However, if you are alone, it might not the best idea. The risks are endless. First off, an unscrupulous driver might take advantage of your drunken state to overcharge you.

Worse still, you might find yourself in the hands of a rogue driver who can proceed to harm you.

A lot of drunk riders have been overcharged, harmed, or killed due to their vulnerable situation. Therefore, have a friend ride with you or consider other options such as motels if you are alone.

4. Sit in the Backseat

You are safer at the back since you are not as visible to the driver or people passing by. This makes it hard for them to know whether you are potential prey or not. If you are alone, this is the ideal place to sit since you will not be readily accessible.

5. Hide Valuable Items

Avoid using your phone on the street as you wait for your cab. This makes you a target for potential thieves. While in the vehicle, ensure that your windows are rolled up when using your phone.

If you have other valuable items such as cameras with you, put them in a bag and zip it. Next, put the bag under your feet. This will make it hard for anyone to see or reach it.

6. Look for Suspicious Things

Any taxi must have a meter for determining charges and radio for taking calls from dispatchers. If a cab lacks one of these things, do not get into the vehicle. Additionally, the driver needs to have a badge that they should display upon request. If they don’t, avoid that vehicle.

Also, before you settle in, ensure that the interior door handle works. People have been kidnapped using this means.

Most importantly, never get into a taxi that has someone else other than the driver. Taxi rides are meant to be personal.

Thus, regardless of what the driver or the passenger tries to tell you, do not enter the vehicle. Nothing good is likely to come out of it.

7. Remove Your Belongings First

Some can drivers might not remind you to remove your possessions; maybe they are forgetful. They may accidentally drive off before you remove your belongings.

To ensure that this never happens to you, do not pay until you have gotten everything out of the car.

Getting a Taxi

In an ideal world, nobody would take advantage of another person. Unfortunately, the world we live in is far from ideal. This is why you should take absolute care when hailing for a cab. Bad things have happened during taxi rides. Nonetheless, for every bad ride, there are countless satisfied customers. The trick is to do your research so you can have a taxi brand that you can trust.

Are you in the Oneonta/Cooperstown (NY) area and looking for a reliable taxi service? Absolute Taxi has got you covered. Our team consists of skilled, experienced, vetted, and licensed professionals to ensure that you get to your destination safely and in time. Contact us today for more information.