The OFW’s Guide to Taking a Taxi Ride in Taiwan

The public transport system in Taiwan is among the best in the region, with buses and trains connecting towns and cities. Most of these do not operate past midnight, however. What if there’s an emergency and you need to go somewhere during these hours?

Fortunately, aside from buses and the metro, taxis are available in most of Taiwan’s cities. Many taxi companies provide 24-hour services, so you can rest assured that in times of emergencies, just make a call or a booking… and your ride will soon arrive!

Taking the Taxi in Taiwan: A Transport Guide

In Taiwan, taxis operates in most cities and towns. There are taxi stands in airports and train stations, and you can easily hail a taxi on the street, especially in major cities. Similarly, you can also go to a convenience store kiosk, or use a mobile app to book a taxi.

Taxi Fare

The taxi fare in Taiwan varies slightly across cities. In Taipei, for example, the first 1.25 kilometers amounts to TWD 85. After that, every additional 200 meters costs TWD 5. There’s also a nighttime rate; if you hail a taxi between 11 pm and 6 am, you’ll be charged TWD 20 on top of the original fare.

For long-distance rides, the taxi doesn’t charge per meter. There’s a set amount that you and the driver would agree on, depending on the time of day and your destination.

As for the mode of payment, most taxis accept cash only, so it’s important to carry cash at all times. There are some taxi companies that accept credit cards; they usually display Visa or MasterCard signs on their windows. Another common payment option is the Taiwan Easy Card.

How to Take a Taxi

Obviously, the traditional way of taking a taxi is by waiting on the side of the road and raising your arm to hail arriving taxis. In this case, you may need to learn some basic Mandarin since most drivers don’t speak English.

Another option is to call for a taxi, or book one using a mobile app. Through this method, you can easily schedule your destination and pickup time; the estimated fare will be displayed, as well.

Popular Taxi Companies and Apps in Taiwan

In this section, we’ll be presenting some of the most popular taxi companies and apps in the country:

Taiwan Taxi

Established in 2005, Taiwan Taxi is the biggest taxi company in the country, with over 10,000 vehicles operating across Taiwan. To call a taxi, simply dial 55688 on your mobile phone and press 2 for English customer service. Provide your location and destination, and the company will send a taxi to pick you up.

Alternatively, you can download the Taiwan Taxi app on your phone and use this to book a ride. For more information about this company, check out their official Facebook page.

Taiwan Metro Taxi

Taiwan Metro Taxi is another well-known taxi company. They operate similarly as Taiwan Taxi; you can call 55178 on your phone, or use their mobile app to book a ride. Please note, however, that their mobile app does not have an English version. Head to the company’s official Facebook page for more details.

AVIS

For foreign travelers whose itineraries are confirmed, AVIS is a great choice. This company provides excellent chauffeur service, and their drivers can speak English. Bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Clients can also select from a variety of vehicles. To know more about AVIS, visit their official website.

Find Taxi

Another great mobile app for foreign travelers is Find Taxi. The app, which is available in English, allows passengers to choose from various taxi features, e.g. English or Japanese speaking drivers, a non-smoking taxi, a taxi with a KTV, and so on. Download the Find Taxi mobile app on Google Play Store to know more about it!

LINE Taxi

Formerly known as TaxiGo, LINE Taxi was founded in 2017. Clients can access it using LINE, a popular communication app in Taiwan. After creating a LINE account, search for “LINE Taxi” to add the company in your contacts list. Through LINE, you can book a taxi ride, communicate with the driver, and so on. Payments can be made via LINE Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, debit/credit cards, etc. Check out the company’s official website for more details.

Tripool

Tripool is another popular taxi-hailing app, particularly in Taipei and other nearby cities. After booking a ride, details such as the driver’s name, phone number, vehicle model, and license plate number will be sent to your registered email address and contact number. The estimated taxi fare will also be provided. For more information about Tripool, you can go to their official website.

Yoxi Taxi

Established in 2020, Yoxi Taxi is fast becoming a well-known taxi company in Taiwan. Similar to the others, they have a mobile app that you can use to book a taxi ride. Download their app from Google Play Store to learn more about it!

Additional Reminders

Now that you know more about available taxi services in Taiwan, here are some helpful reminders, especially for foreign travelers:

Get help from Mandarin speakers.

As mentioned earlier, most driver’s do not speak English. And so, don’t be shy to ask for help. If you are checking out from a hotel, ask the staff to book a ride for you. Another option is to go to the nearest convenience and ask the store clerk for assistance.

In addition, ask for people to write your address in Chinese. Show this to the driver so that he will know your exact destination.

Learn how to check for a licensed taxi.

Although most taxis have prominent signs on top and on their side doors, it’s important to confirm that they are licensed taxis. You can tell this by looking for the following features:

• Most taxis are bright yellow in color.
• They have a “taxi” sign displayed on top.
• The taxi driver’s license is displayed on the front and rear seats of the vehicle.
• The vehicle’s identification number is written in red on a white license plate.
• There’s a taxi meter beside the driver to determine transport fare.

Prepare smaller bills.

Most taxis accept cash only, so be sure to carry cash whenever you travel. It’s also good to have TWD 100 or TWD 500 bills with you, since most drivers won’t have change for TWD 1,000 bills.

There’s no need to give tips.

Unlike in other countries, tipping is not expected or necessary in Taiwan. You don’t have to tip the taxi driver after your ride.

When necessary, file a complaint.

In case you encounter any problems during your ride, such as overcharging or inappropriate behavior from the driver, you can file a complaint. Don’t forget to take note of the taxi driver’s name, the car number, and other details. Then, you can go to the nearest police station or motor vehicles office to file your complaint.

Contact Information (for Filing Complaints)

Here are the contact details of police stations, motor vehicles offices, and other authorities where you can file a complaint against a taxi driver or service:

Taipei City

• Traffic Division, Taipei City Police Department: +886-2311-6409, +886-2375-2100
• Department of Transportation, Taipei City Government: +886-2-2725-6888
• Taipei City Public Transportation Office: +886-2-2759-2677

Taoyuan International Airport

• Taoyuan Airport Taxi: +886-3-398-5558

Taichung City

• Transportation Bureau of Taichung City Government: +886-4-2228-9111
• Taichung Motor Vehicles Office, Directorate General of Highways, MOTC: +886-4-2691-3464

Tainan City

• Bureau of Transportation, Tainan City Government: +886-6-295-3221

Kaohsiung City

• Transportation Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government: +886-7-222-6816

Kaohsiung International Airport

• Kaohsiung Aviation Police Bureau: +886-7-8011447
• Kaohsiung International Airport E-mail：kia@mail.kia.gov.tw

As you can see, hailing a taxi in Taiwan is easy, with many companies to choose from and mobile apps available for booking rides. Bookmark this article so that the next time you travel, you know which numbers to call or mobile apps to use!

On the other hand, if you’re a cyclist and you prefer to travel using a bike, you can explore Taiwan through YouBike. Read this guide to know more about renting a YouBike in your city.