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Beware of crooked taxi drivers at Roma Termini Railway Station

Beware. Do not get a ride from any "taxi driver" that approaches you on foot and is parked out of the designated taxi lanes at platform 24 exit at the Roma Termini railway station in Rome. These peolple are scammers. It is best to heed the following when wanting to take a taxi at Roma Termini or elsewhere in Italy.

1) Never go with a taxi driver that approaches you. Stick with the ones that are in designated taxi lanes, ones that you book through your hotel or ones that you book through the FreeNow taxi app.

2) Before putting your luggage in in the taxi make sure the taxi is white with a taxi sign on the door and roof, and that the taxi has both a vehicle license number and taxi driver identification number. (you should write these down or take a photo)

3) Ask the driver what cost the ride is going to be. You should know the approximate cost beforehand. Make sure the driver will take a credit card. Never pay in cash. In addition make sure the taxi meter is turned on once your in the taxi.

Posted by
8167 posts

Thanks
I think most members here already know this
Same goes for any country or city not just Italy

Posted by
32486 posts

Thanks for the reminder. I always use taxis in the designated taxi rank in front of the station.

Posted by
16718 posts

Rome only?

I’ve been scammed by taxi drivers (official ones, not fake taxis) in New York City, Oakland airport, Naples, Washington DC. And these are only the ones where I know I was ripped off.

If you can, don’t take taxis, take public transit or Uber. Uber is not an option really in Italy, but you can use the various taxi apps and pay before hand so that you know how much it will cost the ride.

Posted by
95 posts

We waited in the official taxi stand line at the train station, and our driver still tried the “credit card machine is broken- cash only” AND told us it was going to be twice as much as I knew it should be. He did start the meter though, so realized he couldn’t justify charging us 20 more than it said once we got to our accommodation. We used uber black the rest of our time in Rome, and I’d highly recommend it. Usually older very professional gentlemen, and often less than taxis anyway.

Posted by
1 posts

I'm not sure why someone assumed most people on this blog know this already - I didn't and appreciate that you took the time to share. Even though my trip to Rome is, sadly, over now, I will keep this in mind for future travel.

Posted by
572 posts

"I'm not sure why someone assumed most people on this blog know this already - I didn't and appreciate that you took the time to share."

Agreed

I'd like to congratulate them for being one of today's (un)lucky 10,000.

https://xkcd.com/1053/