Technology in Madrid taxis: what a taxi carries inside

A Madrid taxi today carries more technology than you might think. As well as the taximeter that calculates the price according to the official fares, it has a roof light showing whether it is free, a receipt printer, a card reader for paying by card or phone, in many cases a dispatch terminal that assigns it jobs and a sat nav for planning the route. On top of that come the driver assistance systems of modern vehicles. Each piece of equipment has a specific function that affects you as a passenger.

The taximeter is the centrepiece of the taxi. It is type-approved, verified and sealed so that nobody can tamper with it, and it automatically applies the right tariff according to the day, time and type of journey. We explain how it does its calculations in how a taximeter works.

The roof light is connected to the taximeter: it shows whether the taxi is free and, in many cases, which tariff applies. It is the quickest way to know whether a taxi can take you.

On journeys with a fixed fare, such as the one between Barajas Airport and inside the M-30 for €33, or when you book with a fixed price, the amount does not depend on what the taximeter shows during the journey.

Madrid taxis accept card payment through a card reader, including contactless payments with your phone or watch, and issue a printed receipt with the details of the service. It is useful for supporting business expenses or for any complaint, because it shows the licence and the amount. We go over the rules in compulsory card payment and, if you travel for work, in how invoicing works for companies.

Many taxis are linked to a dispatch service or centre that receives customer requests and distributes them. Years ago this was done by voice, over the radio; today the usual system is a terminal with a screen that receives the job with the pickup address and uses GPS to locate the nearest free taxis. The result is faster allocation and fewer mistakes when noting down addresses. We tell the story of this evolution in the gradual modernisation of the taxi.

The sat nav helps the driver choose the route with traffic information, although knowledge of the city is still key; we discuss this in between GPS and the taxi driver's sense of direction. Modern vehicles add systems such as automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning or parking cameras, which make driving safer.

Beyond the vehicle, technology has changed the way you hire a taxi. You can book from your phone, receive confirmation without calling and pay online by card when you book, through a secure payment gateway. We compare the different channels in ordering and paying for a taxi with your phone.

To get to Barajas, our booking form shows you the fixed price for your area in three steps; you can book your airport taxi or check all the fares by area first.