Using a Taxi in Prague

Prague Taxi Reputation

Unfortunately in Prague taxi drivers have become a scar on its reputation. Fortunately, getting around Prague by public transport is so easy and convenient that you may be able to forget about using taxis. Taking a taxi is a good choice when: you are travelling with a lot of luggage, especially from Prague Airport; it is freezing cold; you need to get to a distant part of Prague; or you need to travel at night when the metro isn’t running and the trams and buses run less frequently.

From the press: Taxi drivers in Prague cruelly beat up and rob a customer over forty Czech Crowns (approximately 2 EUR)

Taxi Fair Place – The campaign is the latest part of City Hall’s ongoing effort to address the taxi overcharging problem in Prague. The operators are obliged to guarantee a fair price, high quality service and safety.
Taxi services in Prague can be divided into three sectors. There are major taxicab companies, operating call-for-taxi services (radio-taxi) or from regulated taxi stands, where overpricing is rare and regulation mostly in place. There are independent drivers, who make pick-ups on the street; cheating is mostly associated with these cars. The problem with overcharging is so huge, that it’s mentioned in Lonely Planet guide books and it was featured on CNN and BBC couple of years ago. Tourists taking taxi in Prague are being advised to be very careful, request a receipt and make sure to know the approximate amount to be charged before entering the cab.

Have you been overcharged, robbed by a taxi driver? Submit official complain or report dishonest taxi drivers at [email protected] and to the operator of the relevant taxi stand. In order to proceed your complain please keep the receipt from the taxi-meter with clearly legible price, rate, registration no. and name of the driver.

Recommended Taxi Companies

For inner city taxi trips most people seems to recommend Profi Taxi and AAA taxi. But even though, they seem to have good advertisement and media reputation, still occasionally passengers encounter problems with them. From my personal experience of 10years of using taxi companies I can say it is getting better. But still tourists should be on watch as they are and probably always will be “like an alarm for Prague Taxi drivers” thinking this passenger has “money” so we should rip him off. Many Prague taxi call centres including most reputable one like AAA a Profi taxi still have to deal with “on time arrivals” and some of them with driver’s arrogant behaviour. Especially if they have to provide sort ride taxi transfer they seems to be very unpleasant. Yes, rule to avoid been overcharged is to call or pre-book taxi in advance. It reduces chances from unmemorable trip experience.

We having reports from many tourists that Prague Taxi drivers are happy when they can accept foreign currency. Not because they need it but it is a chance for them to rip you off. So be aware and keep in mind that 1 Pound is not same like 1 CZK. It seems that many taxi drivers there don’t want to know exchange rates.