Uber in Rome

If you want to avoid the whole controversy, there's a very convenient app to call a real taxi. I used it a lot this past May. More info here: http://www.thelocal.it/20140924/italian-taxi-drivers-launch-app-to-rival-uber

I'm a big, big fan of Uber and use it everywhere I travel. I'll be in Rome soon and I plan to give it a go there just to see how it works in another country. I'll happily report my experience to the board when I return!

I personally think the major advantage of using Uber (here in the U.S.) over a local taxi is that you get to meet local folks and chat them up. I have met some of the coolest people this way, and it's really fun like you are riding around with a good friend.

I checked out the Uber Rome website and in Rome it looks like Uber drivers have to drive certain cars and not their own personal vehicles, so you sort of "know what you are getting." You can get a sedan or van according to the site.

I would also say that Uber would have advantages over a local taxi in Rome because with Uber, you don't have to pay in cash -- so no chance of getting scammed (slow count, overcharged meter, or the classic one where you pay the taxi driver $50 but he claims you only gave him $10). Uber has your credit card and info right in the app so no cash money or credit card gets into anybody's hands; it's all electronic.

You also don't have to tip with Uber since a service charge is included in your fare (but I sometimes give a few bucks if I had a nice ride).

If it's your first time, I'd recommend trying Uber at home before you try it in a foreign country. My husband has been singing Uber's praises for a while and I finally tried it and LOVED it.

Thanks. Utilized Uber today. Driver was prompt, fare reasonable and car was clean & comfortable.

An Italian court in Milan this past Summer has determined that the app UberPop is illegal in Italy. That App is the type of service we are familiar with where anybody can become a Uber driver and drive you around.
So, as a result of that sentence, Uber in Italy can offer only a service called UberBlack. This is a service where the Uber driver are not ordinary people like in America, but professional black limo drivers in possession of the commercial license for limo drivers, which in Italy are also known with the name of Noleggio Con Conducente or NCC (Car Hire with Driver). So Uber will basically connect you with professional private car (limo) drivers and, because of this, I doubt you will be saving much. Fares charged by professional limo drivers aren't really cheaper than taxis. Those professional limo drivers sign up with Uber (which gets a commission from them) simply in the hope to increase their customer base and passenger volume. Service will be good, professional and comfortable like in any limo service (that's what those Uber drivers are), but don't expect to save a lot over a taxi. I find the Uber fares in Italy to be quite high and not really very competitive vs traditional taxi or limo service.

OMG, that's sad news. Uber in Chicago costs me half the taxi fare. Too bad it doesn't work the same in Rome. But still good to know the difference. I'm leaning more and more toward Scooterino!

Yes. Forget Uber in Italy.

They charge at least the same as private car transfers with limo drivers (which is exactly what Uber drivers are in Italy) and almost certainly more than a taxi.

For example from the center of Rome to the airport, Uber quoted me €60 (vs €48 with a taxi). From Termini to Trastevere, uber quoted €22, which is higher than I ever paid for a taxi. From my parents' home in Florence to the airport (opposite side of town), Uber quoted me €39, but I have never paid more than €30 by taxi. From the SMN station to the airport, they quoted me €26, while the taxi flat fee from the city center is €20.

At least in Italy the taxi and limo lobby has won the battle with Uber. I'm surprised that Blablacar.com was instead very successful and they didn't challenge them in court. Maybe it's because Blablacar is only for long distance ride sharing, therefore not really a threat to taxis.

I dont understand the comment from Travelling Lou that Uber is better than taxis as you get to meet local folk. Do taxi drivers fly in to work in your city Lou?

@ Quirite:

I think the poster thought that taxi drivers in Italy were all immigrants like here in America. In almost 30 years using taxis in the U.S. I've never found one who was American born. They are all recent immigrants (here in California, mostly from the Indian subcontinent).

In Italy, being one of the requirements that you must be Italian citizen, and being the tests so tough even for Italians, it's impossible to find a taxi driver who's not a local Italian. Actually since they often pass their taxi license from one generation to the next, they are often from the same city where they work. I've never met a taxi driver in Florence who wasn't a Florentine for many generations. Same in Rome, they are all Romani de Roma, with a thick Romanesque accent.

With the same test, in the US nobody would be a taxi driver. Before the GPS I had to give them directions no matter if I was in San Francisco or New York.

I can't believe that Cremona requires knowledge of 4 foreign languages to be a taxi driver. Did Rick Steves go there recently and caused millions of tourists to visit it?

By my "local folk" comment I just meant that in some cities with Uber, you meet people that can give you the true low-down about their cities. In Chicago last week, for example, my Uber driver was a local college student and he gave me a list of his favorite pizza places and Indian restaurants. Here in Las Vegas, our taxi drivers rarely chat you up and I've never had one recommend any places where he didn't get a kickback for telling me about. That's been my experience pretty much in every city where I've ever hailed a taxicab.

Uber might not save you money on the fare in Rome, but it sure will save you a bunch because it prevents the drivers from pulling the short change scam which happens a LOT in Europe (yes, it's happened to me, my family and friends lots of times)! With the Uber app you don't have to be so aware since it all is automatically charged to your credit card on file.

By the way, your ride with Uber is tracked by GPS. After your ride is done, you'll get an emailed receipt and a map of your route. So if your driver tries to "take the long way 'round," you can report it directly to Uber.

I still take taxis, but I really do love Uber. Like I said, it's not for everybody, just sharing my experiences.

You don't have to pay cash with a taxi driver in Italy. They accept credit cards.

You don't have to leave a tip to a taxi driver in Italy. Nobody does, certainly not most Italians.

The fare is displayed in the meter, and the fare from/to the airports (FCO or CIA) is a flat rate (€48 or €30 respectively) so I don't really think there too many chances for been scammed.

Uber in Italy however will charge you more than a taxi in most cases. For example the flat taxi fare to FCO is €48 with a taxi, while it's €60 with Uber. To me that is like being scammed €12 right there. So pick your own scammer to be scammed by.

You must be very lucky to have never had your taxi driver in Rome say that "oops, the credit card machine is broken," ha ha ha. I also don't tip in Italy; the point was with Uber you don't have to tip anywhere in the world. It's neither expected nor required.

I also LOVE LOVE LOVE that Uber sends you a map of the route your driver took immediately at the end of your ride. I like to know if I was given the "tourist surprise" or if my driver took the honest, direct route. If your map shows a roundabout route, you can contact Uber and they'll make it right.

I think paying a bit more is worth it sometimes because with Uber, your car and driver come directly to you -- you don't have to try to find a taxi stand or hail a taxi for a ride.

I'm so happy there are so many different transportation options for all visitors. Like I said, I also utilize taxis but I can see the benefits of Uber being in a city like Rome and I can't wait to give it a try when I visit in a few weeks.

I think paying a bit more is worth it

25%?

The taxi also comes to you. You just have to call one of the taxi cooperatives (numbers below).
http://www.welcometorome.net/en/info-rome/useful-information/taxi

The Italian association of taxi drivers has also launched an App last year:
http://www.thelocal.it/20140924/italian-taxi-drivers-launch-app-to-rival-uber

You can download the app here:
http://3570.it/servizi/ittaxi/default.asp

I've had exactly two Rome taxis ask me for the correct payment. My more common experience is for Rome taxis to double the fare, so that means they want 15 Euro for going under one mile.

I'd be interested in seeing how Rome Uber handles the fare. I'm already signed up here. Do I sign up again in Rome?