Did you ever have to leave a party or any other event before midnight because you wanted to catch the last MRT train or the last bus? That’s unpleasant, right? Did you ever have to rush to go to work because you did not want to miss the train or the bus? That’s also unpleasant. In Taiwan, once it is past midnight or 1 AM, public transportation such as trains and buses stop working. We all agree that it is not every time it is convenient to wait on the side of the road, hoping a taxi will pass by. Did you know that in Taiwan, you can just call a taxi with a phone call or just by using their apps? Or maybe you might ask if Taiwan has Uber. In this article, you will learn about the diverse ways Taiwan taxi services work and about the Taiwanese taxi culture.
How to identify a licensed taxi in Taiwan
Let’s start with one of the most important questions, which is how to identify a licensed taxi in Taiwan. Before you came here, you might have searched on the internet or maybe someone told you that taxi cars in Taiwan are yellow. However, you need more than that to identify a licensed taxi driver. Not all the yellow cars here are taxis. These are the following ways you can tell a licensed taxi:
Bright yellow cars
Taxi sign shown on the car top
The taxi driver’s license is displayed on the front and rear seats.
Taxi fees are determined by a meter that can be seen next to the driver.
The vehicle identification number is written in red on a white license plate.
How much is the taxi fare in Taiwan?
If you are comparing the taxi fees to other public transportation in Taiwan, you will say they are expensive. However, compared to taxis in the rest of the world, they are considered cheap. In Taiwan, a taxi can take four people at once (or more, it all depends on the driver) and the fares are slightly different throughout the country, but in general, taxi fares are determined by a meter.
Taxi charges are generally the same everywhere around Taipei, except for suburbs or mountain areas. The first 1.25km is charged NT$ 70 plus NT$ 5 for every 200 meters in the daytime. If you take a taxi from 11pm to 6am, they will charge you NT$ 20 extra on top of the original price (nighttime rate). During the Chinese Lunar New Year, if you take a taxi during the day, they will charge you at the nighttime rate, and if you get into a taxi at night, it will be even more expensive (up to NT$ 40 more).
Most taxis only accept cash payments, so make sure you always carry cash with you. If not, you can always go to any convenience store near you to withdraw money. However, some taxi companies also accept credit cards. Those who do will usually have a sticker on their windows showing VISA/MASTERCard signs, or you can pay with your Taiwan Easy Card. If you are traveling to another city by taxi, the fares will not be calculated by the meter, so you will have to discuss the price with your taxi driver.
