Quito Taxi Tips:
By Linda McFarlin
Quito taxis can rip you off if you don’t know the fundamentals about using them.
As we explore more and more of Quito, mostly by taxi, Gary has observed that there can be a big difference in the cost of fares between the same destinations depending on which taxi we use. He asked a Quito cabbie about it and this was his reply:
Some taxi drivers change the rate at which their cab’s meter advances. This is illegal, but some drivers do this and passengers may be unaware if unfamiliar with routes.
Legal taxis are all registered to an organization that assigns them a 4-digit number, which is prominently displayed on their taxis—both on the side door and in the front window.
How do you tell if you are being overcharged? Easy. Watch the meter as it turns. If the amount advances one cent at a time, the charge is appropriate. If it moves ahead in two-cent increments, the meter has been tampered with in order to increase the fare.
Taxi drivers who do this are known as pirates and can be avoided by choosing cabs with numbers on the door.
Other Quito Taxi Tips
1. When leaving the airport or an expensive hotel, simply walking down the street a bit or across the street to flag down a taxi can result in lower cab quotes.
2. Just outside the customs exit at the Quito airport, on the right side, there is a window where you can purchase a taxi fare. This is a better choice than just jumping in an airport taxi waiting in line because they do not have to use their meters and will often charge a high fare, especially to unsuspecting gringos. A friend visiting us recently was charged $25 for a fare that is usually no more than $5.
3. During the day, always ask the driver to use his meter. He is required by law to do this. Don’t fall for the ploy that the meter is broken. If he refuses, you can find another cab or negotiate a fare that is acceptable. In Quito, you can go a very long distance for $5.
4. At night, fares increase and drivers are not required to use their meters, simply quoting an amount. The later the hour, the higher the fare. You must negotiate. Remember to negotiate before you enter the cab, and not after you arrive at your destination.
5. If you are taking a familiar route and already know the fare, just hand the driver the customary amount upon exiting the cab. If you ask the fare after arriving, you will likely be quoted a higher amount.
6. Drivers often want a higher fare for extra passengers or baggage.
7. Tips for short, in-town distances are not expected or required. However, if using the meter, you can round off the fare to the nearest quarter, half-dollar or dollar.
8. Fares between Cotacachi and Quito are around $50 one way if you use a taxi from Cotacachi. If you use a Quito taxi, it will be more in the range of $70 to $80. If you like the driver and he gives you good service, feel free to include a tip. Contact us if you want to have a Cotacachi taxi pick you up.
Quito taxis are a good bargain, but you have to be smart. Gringo tourists are seen as marks, and if you allow them, they will carry you all the way to the cleaners! We have found Quito taxiss to be generally a secure and effective way to get around this delightful city.
Filed under: About Ecuador, Places in Ecuador, Quito
