Home > Taxis
Using a taxi in
Germany is basically the same as in most other places. All German
taxis are cream-colored with a black and yellow taxi sign on the roof.
In the birthplace of the luxury sedan, it should be no surprise that the
bulk of the taxi fleet is comprised of sleek and plush Mercedes and
Audis. For larger parties or payloads, you'll find equally
comfortable minivans and station wagons.
Typical German
taxi
Hiring a
taxi
The best way to hire a taxi is to find one at a taxi stand.
You will find these at train stations, airports,
large hotels, and other major activity centers (shopping areas, parks,
etc.) Usually, there will be several taxis waiting at these
locations. You should take the first taxi in line, but you can
pick any of them waiting at the stand, especially if you need a minivan and
the first cab in line is a sedan. If there are no taxis waiting,
look around for a "taxi-phone" (Taxiruf). These phones will
connect you to the central taxi dispatch office, which will then send a
cab to your location. These taxi phones also usually have an
emergency call function as well-- make sure you push the correct button
if applicable.
You can also
order a taxi by phone. Every city has a taxi hotline-- look in the
phone book under "Taxi-Zentrale". They will send a
taxi to your location. In larger hotels, the concierge or front
desk staff can also arrange a taxi for you. Many cities now also
offer online ordering of taxis. Theoretically, you can hail a cab
on the street, but most of the time one of the above options will be
faster.
If you don't
speak German, the best way to tell the driver where to take you is to
write the address on a slip of paper and hand it to the driver when you
get in. You can read the fare on the meter when it's time to pay.
Fares
All taxis in Germany are metered and fares are regulated. Rates
vary by city, but generally there is a €2-3 "drop charge" or basic fee,
then a rate of €1-2 per kilometer. Time spent waiting in traffic
is also charged at a rate of €0.25-0.50 per minute. For trips over
50 km, the fare is usually negotiated in advance. One fare applies
to all passengers (i.e. there is no additional charge for additional
passengers). To tip the driver, round the fare up to the nearest
Euro or two if you receive extra or exceptional service.
Service
Taxi drivers are generally very friendly, helpful, honest, and
knowledgeable about their city. If you ever experience bad
service, note the vehicle's number located in the rear window and report
the experience to the Taxi-Zentrale.
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