Are Taxis Safe In Mexico City? (3 Better, Safer Options For CDMX)
Planning A Trip To Mexico City & Wondering If Taxis Are Safe To Use Here?
Mexico City is one of my favorite places to visit and as a young-looking female I’m always searching for the best ways to stay safe in a large city like CDMX, but while taxis are notorious for being unsafe here, there are some situations where they can be an okay option, it’s just typically best to avoid them if possible (especially since alternatives are cheaper, nicer, and much safer).
⚠️ Why Taxis Are Not Very Safe In Mexico City
Taxis in certain scenarios can occasionally be safe in Mexico City (more on this later), but for the most part they’re best avoided for these reasons:
Fake Taxis
The main reason taxis aren’t safe in Mexico City is because of the high number of fake unregistered taxis driving around here. They look very similar to legit taxis, but they are missing a visible drivers license card and/or a white license plate beginning with a letter then 5 numbers.
This also makes hailing taxis off the street more dangerous (which is highly discouraged anyway) because it’s hard to tell if they’re legit or not.
Overcharging
Whether taking legit taxis or fake ones, both tend to way overcharge, especially when they realize the passenger is a foreigner. They may also drive in circles to bump up the cost of the ride for those unfamiliar with the city.
Official taxis are supposed to use the meter, but they can be sneaky to up the charges. Some may not even use the meter and charge ridiculous amounts upon arrival.
Also if you’re not very comfortable with Pesos, taxi drivers often short change foreigners (make sure to count your change before getting out of the car) or they shuffle money around and claim they didn’t get paid the correct amount (demanding more from you).
Sketchy Drivers
Fake taxis in Mexico City don’t automatically mean the drivers are out to get you, but in these kinds of scenarios and even sometimes with certified taxis, the drivers can be sketchy and make situations feel not so safe.
It’s not recommended to take a taxi in Mexico City with lots of luggage or valuables because it’s not entirely uncommon for drivers to rob you or hold your things hostage until they get more money out of you.
Drivers may even have friends they communicate with to share your location so the friends can come by and steal from you after you get out of the car.
Communication Issues
If you don’t speak Spanish, using taxis in the city can make things difficult because of the lack of English spoken by most taxi drivers. This will also hurt your chances of blending in, and may cause drivers to charge you more.
⛑️ How To Make Taxis More Safe In Mexico City
While taxis in Mexico City are notorious for being unsafe (plus more expensive and not very nice), there are some situations where they may be necessary and they can be an okay transportation option.
When To Choose A Taxi
- The Airport: it can be safe and easy to take an official/certified taxi from the Mexico City airport (I did on my very first visit here), but only use the official taxi booth
- From Hotels/Restaurants: have the restaurant or hotel call a registered taxi and help confirm it’s the correct one once it arrives
- From A Transportation Terminal: when taking day trips to other parts of Mexico (like the nearby Great Pyramid of Cholula), it’s usually ok to use the official taxi stands at the bus terminals
Tips To Make Taxis More Safe In Mexico City
- have change and small bills (some taxis accept credit cards but not most)
- count change in the taxi to confirm they returned the correct amount
- know common landmarks and monuments near addresses (to help them)
- stay off phones and pay attention to surroundings
- don’t wear or flash around valuables
- avoid taxis from the Polanco area (they use the “tourist fare”)
- ignore taxi drivers that approach you
- don’t hail taxis off the street
- make sure the driver is using the meter
- know most taxis here are pink + white, but some are burgundy + gold
- taxi drivers don’t typically expect tips
🚐 Better, Safer Transportation Alternatives In CDMX
While taxis can be safe in a few situations around Mexico City, it’s typically better to use other forms of transportation because they’re usually cheaper, nicer, and more convenient.
Ride-Shares
For the most part, Uber is very safe in Mexico City and it’s typically way less expensive than taxis. Plus you don’t have to speak Spanish because you just input the address into the app.
Private Transfers
The safest way to get around Mexico City is with private transfers, plus they’re just way easier and more convenient, especially to/from the airport.
There are even private car hires in Mexico City that are great especially for events. I used one on my first visit to Mexico City when I went to a Club America soccer game and it was really nice to have a friendly and trustworthy person waiting for me outside the stadium (especially since it was late at night).
Tours
When planning on visiting multiple places in a day (there’s so much to see and do here to fill at least a week), taking a tour is so much easier, cheaper, and more convenient. Here are a few popular ones for Mexico City:
*️⃣ Tip: For special events like Lucha Libre or soccer games in Mexico City, I recommend using Uber, but upgrading it to get one faster since it’ll be dark, late, and busy
🔁 Sum Up: Are Taxis Safe In Mexico City
Although there are a few situations where taking taxis in Mexico City can be okay (to/from the airport, from hotels/restaurant, or from transportation terminals), they’re typically not very safe, not very nice, and pretty expensive, so it’s better to avoid them when possible and stick with private transportation, ride-shares, or guided tours.
