Category: Quick Guide / Transportation

⚡ Using Taxis & Rideshare Services

Taxis and rideshare services can provide transportation when public transit is unavailable, you cannot drive, or you need a direct ride.

Before getting into any vehicle, confirm that it is the correct ride. Never enter simply because someone says they are your driver.

Know the Difference

Taxi

A taxi may be:

Requested by phone
Reserved online
Hailed from the street where allowed
Found at an official taxi stand
Arranged by a hotel, hospital, or business

The fare may be calculated by a meter or set as a flat rate.

Rideshare

A rideshare is usually requested through a mobile app.

The app normally provides:

Driver’s name
Driver’s photograph
Vehicle make and model
Vehicle color
License-plate number
Estimated arrival time
Estimated fare
Trip tracking
Electronic payment

Keep the entire trip inside the official app.

Before Requesting a Ride

Have ready:

Complete pickup address
Complete destination address
Phone with enough battery
Payment method
Any accessibility information
Number of passengers
Amount of luggage
Child safety seat when required
Backup plan if the ride is unavailable

Check that the pickup pin is located where you can safely wait and where the driver can legally stop.

Requesting a Taxi

Use:

Licensed taxi company
Official taxi stand
Hotel or hospital transportation desk
Local taxi-dispatch number
Taxi company’s official website or app

When calling, provide:

Your name
Pickup address
Destination
Requested pickup time
Number of passengers
Accessibility needs
Phone number

Ask:

What is the estimated arrival time?
Is the fare metered or a flat rate?
What payment methods are accepted?
Is an accessible vehicle available?
Is advance scheduling required?

Write down the company name and dispatch number.

Requesting a Rideshare

In the official app:

Confirm your current location.
Enter the complete destination.
Check the pickup pin.
Select the appropriate vehicle option.
Review the estimated fare.
Check the number of passengers allowed.
Confirm the request.
Wait for the driver information.

Do not request the ride until you are nearly ready. Drivers may cancel if they wait too long.

Choose a Safe Pickup Location

Wait somewhere that is:

Well lit
Open to the public
Away from traffic
Easy for the driver to locate
Legal for vehicles to stop
Accessible for your needs
Near employees or other people

At airports, stations, shopping centers, and event venues, follow signs for the designated taxi or rideshare area.

Remain inside until the driver is close when possible.

Verify the Vehicle Before Entering

For a rideshare, check:

Driver’s name
Driver’s photograph
Vehicle make and model
Vehicle color
License plate

Ask the driver:

Who are you here to pick up?

Let the driver provide your name instead of saying it first.

For a taxi, check for:

Company name or markings
Required license or permit
Driver identification
Meter when the fare should be metered

Do not enter if the information does not match.

Never Accept an Unrequested Ride

Do not get into a vehicle because someone:

Claims to be your driver
Says the assigned driver sent them
Offers a lower price
Knows your destination
Has a rideshare or taxi sign
Says the app is not working

A sign or sticker does not prove that the vehicle is connected to your trip.

Confirm every change through the official app or dispatcher.

Before the Vehicle Moves

Fasten your seat belt.
Confirm the destination.
Check that the ride is active in the app.
Make sure bags and mobility equipment are secure.
Keep your phone accessible.
Notice the interior door handle.
Sit in the back seat when traveling alone unless you need another arrangement.

If the driver asks you to cancel the app trip and pay privately, do not agree. End the ride before it begins and request another driver.

During the Ride

Wear your seat belt.
Follow the route on your phone.
Keep belongings close.
Avoid displaying cash or valuables.
Do not share unnecessary personal information.
Stay aware of where you are.
Contact someone you trust if something feels wrong.

You do not need to tell the driver:

Whether you live alone
Your daily schedule
Where you keep money
Why you are traveling
Personal medical information unrelated to the ride
Phone or account passwords

Share Your Trip Carefully

Many rideshare apps allow you to share trip details with someone you trust.

The person may receive:

Driver information
Vehicle information
Current location
Route
Estimated arrival time

Confirm that you selected the correct trusted contact.

Do not post your live location publicly.

If the Driver Takes a Different Route

A different route is not always a warning sign. The driver may be avoiding:

Traffic
Road closure
Construction
Accident
Unsafe road conditions

Check your map and ask:

I noticed we left the suggested route. Can you tell me where we’re going?

If the explanation does not make sense or you feel unsafe:

Ask to stop at a well-lit public location.
Contact someone you trust.
Use the app’s safety feature if available.
Call 911 if you believe you are in immediate danger.

Do not exit while the vehicle is moving.

If You Feel Unsafe

You can say:

Please stop at that open business.

or:

I need to end the ride here.

Move toward:

Open business
Hotel
Hospital
Police or fire station
Staffed transit station
Other public location

After leaving:

Move away from the vehicle.
Contact someone you trust.
Report the driver through the app or taxi company.
Save screenshots and trip information.
Call police if a crime or threat occurred.

Call 911 immediately if the driver threatens you, refuses to let you leave, displays a weapon, or places you in immediate danger.

Paying for a Taxi

Before the ride, ask whether the fare is:

Metered
Flat rate
Based on zones
Subject to tolls or additional fees

At the end:

Check the meter or agreed fare.
Ask about unfamiliar charges.
Use an accepted payment method.
Collect your card.
Request a receipt.
Add a tip if you choose.

Do not allow the driver to take your payment card out of sight.

Paying for a Rideshare

Rideshare payment is usually handled through the app.

Before confirming:

Review the estimated fare.
Check for surge or high-demand pricing.
Confirm the payment method.
Look for possible tolls or fees.

After the trip:

Confirm that the ride ended.
Review the receipt.
Check for unexpected charges.
Report a problem through official support.

Do not pay the driver separately unless the app clearly instructs you to do so.

Protect Yourself From Scams

Watch for a driver who:

Asks for your password
Requests a verification code
Wants payment through gift cards or cryptocurrency
Asks you to cancel the official trip
Requests payment through another app
Claims an additional cash fee is required
Asks to use your phone
Pressures you to change the trip privately

Use only the official app, website, dispatcher, and support number.

Accessibility Needs

When arranging the ride, explain any needs that affect the vehicle or pickup.

These may include:

Wheelchair-accessible vehicle
Space for a folding mobility device
Additional boarding time
Service animal
Communication support
Help identifying the vehicle
Pickup at an accessible entrance

Confirm whether the vehicle can safely accommodate you before it arrives.

Do not accept unsafe lifting, storage, or transportation of mobility equipment.

Report an accessibility problem through the taxi company, rideshare platform, or appropriate local agency.

Traveling With Children

A child may need an appropriate car seat or booster seat based on age, size, and local law.

Before requesting the ride:

Check the legal requirements.
Bring the correct safety seat.
Confirm that the vehicle has working seat belts.
Allow time to install the seat.
Never hold a child as a substitute for a safety seat.

Some services offer vehicles with child seats in limited locations, but confirm the seat type and availability before relying on that option.

If the Driver Cancels

Remain in a safe location.
Check whether you were charged.
Request another driver through the app or dispatcher.
Confirm the new fare.
Verify the new driver and vehicle.

Do not accept a ride from the canceled driver outside the app.

If You Leave Something Behind

For a rideshare:

Open the completed trip.
Select the lost-item option.
Follow the app’s contact process.
Describe the item without sharing unnecessary information.
Arrange return in a safe public location.

For a taxi:

Contact the taxi company.
Provide the pickup time and location.
Give the destination.
Provide the taxi number or receipt information.
Describe the item.

Do not meet a driver alone in an isolated location to retrieve an item.

Before Exiting

Wait until the vehicle stops completely.
Check for traffic or cyclists.
Collect your phone, wallet, keys, and bags.
Check the seat and floor.
Take medication and mobility equipment.
Exit on the sidewalk side when possible.
Close the door securely.
Confirm that the trip ended.

Quick Taxi and Rideshare Checklist

Enter the complete pickup and destination addresses.
Review the estimated fare.
Wait in a safe public location.
Verify the driver, vehicle, and license plate.
Ask whom the driver is picking up.
Keep the trip inside the official app.
Fasten your seat belt.
Follow the route.
Avoid sharing personal information.
Leave at a public location if you feel unsafe.
Check for belongings before exiting.
Review the receipt and report problems promptly.