Rome Taxi

Should have been about 10-12 euros
We’ve done that same taxi route multiple times

Was there a meter?

This doesn't sound like an official taxi. Was it metered?

The rates from Termini railway station to the city centre should cost between € 8 and € 15.
https://www.rome.net/taxi

I made sure it was an official taxi. It was white with taxi on top and maroon on the sides. There was a meter but he said something about a having to drive a certain way? That's why it was more? Idk. I knew I was getting played but I also just wanted to get to the hotel. What do I do next time? I mean they have our bags in the back and would be kind of hard to get them otherwise.

I have the drivers taxi number.. but probably doesn't help me much now huh?

Call the company and report him. You won't get your $ back, but you could save someone else from the same experience.

Next time, ask the driver what the fare will be to your address before you get in. If it's a lot more than you expect, move on to the next taxi in line.
(Learn how to say/understand some numbers before you go, so you understand the answer!)

I'm sorry this happened to you, brandon. I'm nervous about this happening to me too when I go later this year.

Next time, ask the driver what the fare will be to your address before you get in

NO, do NOT follow this advice. The driver will think you want to haggle a fixed fare instead of going on the meter and asking for a receipt. He/she will immediately enter in "cheating mode".

This is the "best" way to pick the worst cabbies: haggling with customers is forbidden, It's either the fixed fare or the meter.

If they don't turn the meter on, get off. If you can't see the sheet with the fixed fares, get off. Or be ready to be scammed.

They can't run away with your luggage, they don't want their license to be suspended (and maybe revoked).

Taxis are all White,

Some logos on the sides are red/marron: https://images.app.goo.gl/SkBpH8JmJSchz2YM9

Dario- Grazie. I am just going to make sure I am much more assertive next time and pay what the meter says regardless of what the driver says.

joe32f- not all taxis in Rome are all white. Confirmed by Rick in his book and Dario as well.

Taxis gonna be taxis. Just hope this is the biggest "problem" you have on your trip.

You and Dario are there and I am not so it appears I was mislead by what was indicated in 3 different websites.

When I was in Rome I did not have a need to use a taxi so did not make note of how they are painted.

I deleted my original post to remove what has proven to be erroneous info

You must have had the driver who picked us up at Termini. He was a scam artist and charged way more to take us to our hotel in Trastevere than I had anticipated. Oh, well. On this trip, I did notice that taxi fares are a lot higher. Trips that three years ago were around 10 euros were 3-5 euros more. That guy was the only bad one of the trip.

When I was in Rome I did not have a need to use a taxi

You may easily miss a maroon/red logo on the side if you are not going to use cabs. There are more interesting things to look at in Rome.

The first time we were in Rome some years ago the taxi driver drove all over town from Roma Termini to our hotel at the Pantheon, and the fare was 38 Euros. The hotel told us that the fare should have been 10 to 13 Euros. So now we ask the taxi driver about how long the ride will take, and about the max it should cost - and YES, you should do that in Rome.

We did this route twice 2 weeks ago, the driver said 15 max, and the fare was just under 10 Euros. Going back to Roma Termini there was a lot of morning traffic, and the fate was 12 Euros.

Dario, thanks for correcting me!

I think we may have found the best approach, ask the taxi drivers

about how long the ride will take, and about the max it should cost

and not

what the fare will be to your address.

It's a thin line, but doing as mont3589 did the drivers won't think you are going to bargain for a fixed fare.

Never be afraid to exit a taxi. I grabbed a taxi from Termini and realized as he was pulling away that the meter wasn't in view. When I asked about it, the driver said something about knowing how much to charge. I asked him to pull over and let me out. Grabbed a new taxi, confirmed the meter was in view and working and paid the same 12 Euro I had been paying for the same trip all week.

Later in my visit, grabbed a taxi in Naples, confirmed he could take a credit card. He delivered me to my hotel and added a surcharge for the CC. I questioned him on it but ultimately let it go because I was tired and just wanted to get to my room. Felt foolish and irritated and still regret not reporting it. Took it as a lesson though - most drivers were awesome and honest - but it's ultimately up to me to make sure those are the drivers I work with.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

We’ve used about 12 Rome taxi’s during our current visit. 11 of the drivers used the meter and all was well.

In one case, a taxi driver said he needed a higher fixed fare because it was rush hour and there was a demonstration…after we got in. His meter was hooded. Since it was the only taxi at the taxi stand, we agreed.

Reminds me of Uber high-use time surcharges in the US.

If you want to ask someone how much the fare should be (rough estimate or better) ask your hotel ahead of time.

Armed with that information, you can ask the taxi driver, if they come back with an outrageous amount, wave them off, if they are in the ballpark, get in, but make sure they start the meter. No need to haggle.

All good input thanks. I believe I'll be taking taxi's in Rome as my friend has knee issues.