Uber black in Rome

Taxis are plentiful in Rome, even late at night. Even if you don't speak Italian, if you show the driver the address, they will be able to get you to the right place. Many of them use a GPS device. Any taxi ride I have taken within the city center has been in the range of 10-15 euro (and that's usually one end to the other). You will be charged a little extra if you have luggage or if you are traveling at night.

For the most part, I have have good experiences taxi drivers in Rome. They are honest and proud of their city. And we try to work through the language barrier together. There are two places I have run into dishonest practices 1. taxis parked within Vatican City that don't have a meter 2. Getting a taxi at Termini, even in the taxi line. Sometimes the men who are "calling" the taxis (who I don't think actually work at Termini) have tried to tell me "oh prices are more expensive today because streets are closed, etc". But when I make it clear I don't believe them, they wave me on and I just get into a taxi and make sure they turn on the meter.

I think you can use the Uber app to price out a trip within Rome without calling the actual Uber. If you know the address/name of the hotel you are staying, you can see how much you would be charged for trips to various tourist places.

Read the two posts below first regarding taxi in Rome.

Yes Uber Black still operates in Rome and Milan. There was talk of Uber exiting the Florence market. Not sure it has happened yet.

Uber Black is a luxury black limo service operated by professional licensed limo drivers. It's the only type of service allowed in Italy after a court decision in 2015 banned the more popular type of Uber existing elsewhere. The court established that that service can be rendered only by professional licensed drivers on licensed cars, not regular citizens using their own cars. Both limo and taxi drivers (and their cars) must go through a grueling examination process to obtain and keep their license.

I think your fears of being ripped off by taxi cabs is overblown, but nevertheless read below. Since Uber Black is a luxury limo service, their prices are a bit higher than regular taxi cabs. So you have to choose whom you would like to be charged extra by: a dishonest taxi driver (rarely) or Uber Black (certainly).

https://unamericanaaroma.com/2007/11/15/how-to-take-a-taxi-in-rome-and-not-get-ripped-off/

https://unamericanaaroma.com/2012/02/13/how-to-take-a-taxi-in-rome-without-getting-ripped-off-2nd-ed/

During my last 2 trips to Italy I used cabs a few times. Once in Rome and Florence. I showed them the address where I wanted to go and asked how much it would be. In Reggio Emilia the taxi fares are regulated and not expensive. I wonder if they are regulated in all of Italy? I think so. I was told Uber does not exist in Rome.

Taxi cabs are regulated in every city in Italy.

Regarding the dishonesty of some (rare) taxi drivers, that is not limited to Rome.

I was ripped of by a taxi cab in NYC who to take me from Greenwich village to under the Brooklyn bridge went around all the way to Battery park first. I know Manhattan a bit, so at the end of the ride I complained and left zero tip.

In DC I took a taxi ride from Rosslyn (across the Potomac River from Georgetown) to BMI airport in Baltimore. It was early morning, he took me almost to Dulles first then to BMI and charged me $130 about 8 years ago. I was half asleep and didn't know DC well, but was much more than I had paid when I arrived so I complained to the Taxi Company which refunded me half of the fare and wrote to me that they fired the driver (not sure if they actually did).

There are taxi stands at every major sight, just show the driver the address.

Sometimes the fare is higher when streets are closed to taxis, for example, the Colosseo-Fori Imperiali area on Saturday and Sunday. What was normally a €7-8 ride from the Colle Celio to my hotel just off Via Cavour was €10-11 (late at night). Not a lie on the part of the taxi driver.

If you are staying in a hotel, the front desk can call a taxi for you, it will arrive in a few minutes; or the taxi can be reserved for you the night before.

Taxi rates in Roma are inexpensive compared to other major cities. Most do not take credit cards.

Mira-The first time I used Uber was in Rome last October and I loved it. I mainly used them to pick us up from our lodgings then when we were out and about we found an official taxi stand to get back home. I did try to call for a taxi but was in a loop of a recording and was getting worried we would not make our tour time, so I downloaded the app and had a car in 5 min. And YES it is the Uber black which was always a BMW or Mercedes, all very nice drivers and I could see a picture of them and read reviews before I chose my driver. I also like not having to exchange money I know exactly what I will be paying and pay in app. Like others have said, don't be scared of the taxi's. We use all kinds of methods when we travel, subway, taxi, uber, walk, bus..all great and each has it's place. One of my tricks was to take a screen shot of the places we were going that day including restaurants that we had a reservation at and just show my screen shot to the driver so he had the name and address of the place we were headed to.

Thanks for all the info! I will not be afraid of taxis - I really can handle myself, I have just heard horror stories. I was also in Rome almost 20 years ago when I was very young (right before college) and very, very stupid and got ripped off. I like to think I'm older and wiser now ;) But I still like the idea of Uber Black and will use it as well.

We have used taxis extensively in Rome during our last 3 visits (most recently in Sept) and we used Uber Black once during our last visit as well. It was a great experience and I regretted that we didn't use it more. We were up on the Gianicolo Hill after dark and couldn't find a taxi stand so we used Uber Black. The driver was prompt and as expected, he drove a nice air conditioned Mercedes (it was early Sept. and very hot) & unfortunately the taxis don't always use the A/C. I felt the cost was comparable to that of a taxi and wish we'd used Uber more. Don't worry about taxis though; we've used them a lot and found the drivers to be very honest and fair.

Taxis in Rome are legitimately allowed to add various charges (listed on a placard in the cab). I wonder if some people who thought they were ripped off actually didn't understand all the fees? For instance, there is a charge for putting bags in the trunk, and if you call a taxi, the meter starts when the driver gets the call, adding a few euros to the fare.

I haven't had any problems with taxis in Rome, which of course doesn't prove it never happens. I had a small problem with one in Naples, over 20 years ago. Otherwise, taxis in Italy have been fine.

I have traveled throughout Europe for the last 25 years and have only been ripped off once by a taxi driver and that was in Rome back in 2008 going from the train station to our hotel near the Pantheon,just be careful.
Mike