New technology reaches taxi services: ordering and paying for a taxi with your phone

Today you can order and pay for a taxi with your phone in several ways: calling a dispatch centre or taxi service, messaging on WhatsApp, booking on a website with the price shown up front, or using an app. To pay, besides cash, taxis accept cards and contactless payments with your phone or watch, and many booking services let you pay online when you book. The most convenient option depends on whether you need the taxi right now or want to have it all arranged.

Technology has not changed the essentials of the taxi, but it has changed how easy it is to book one. We go through each channel and its advantages so you can choose the one that suits you best.

By phone

It is still the most direct route when you need a taxi at short notice. Have the exact address ready, with the street number and a landmark, plus the number of passengers. If there are less than two hours to go before your airport pickup, we recommend calling rather than booking online.

On WhatsApp

Writing has its advantages: you can send your location, put the time and flight details in writing and keep the confirmation. We explain how to do it properly in order your taxi on WhatsApp, and you can go straight to our WhatsApp taxi service.

On the website, with the price up front

This is the most complete option for planned journeys. In our booking tool you enter the pickup point and destination, see the fixed price instantly, choose the date and time and pay if you wish. You can start from the booking page or check the price for your area first.

With an app

Taxi apps let you order a vehicle on the spot, see where it is and how long it will take. They are useful in the city when there are no taxis in sight. For a first-thing flight, on the other hand, the most stress-free option is a booking with a set time.

• Cash: still accepted; it is best to carry reasonable amounts.
• Card: Madrid taxis have a card reader for debit and credit cards.
• Contactless: phone or watch with built-in payment, through the same card reader.
• Online payment when booking: with us you can pay by card when you book, through the secure Redsys payment gateway, and forget about paying on arrival.

If you are interested in other payment methods that have been introduced, we go through them in some new payment methods.

However many digital channels there are, a good service still depends on the taxi and the driver: punctuality, courtesy and knowledge of the city. Technology is the way in; what is inside we cover in the technology in a Madrid taxi, and how we got here in the modernisation of the taxi.