Travel safely by taxi with a professional at the wheel

Travelling with a professional at the wheel means that the person driving you has had to prove they are capable of doing so: an official taxi driver needs, in addition to a driving licence, a municipal permit obtained after passing an exam; they drive a licensed vehicle that undergoes more frequent inspections than a private car; and the journey is covered by compulsory passenger insurance. Add to that something that does not appear on any document: the experience of spending many hours a day behind the wheel in the city and on the roads into it.

Choosing your transport for the lowest price or for the convenience of ordering it from an app is perfectly legitimate, but it is worth knowing what safeguards you have in each case. These are the ones a taxi offers.

Knowing how to drive is not enough to work as a taxi driver. In Madrid, as in other cities, the City Council requires a municipal driver's permit, which is obtained after passing an exam on the street map, the city's main landmarks, taxi regulations and fares. The specific requirements are set and updated by Madrid City Council; we summarise them in requirements for working as a taxi driver.

In practice, that translates into drivers who:

• know the alternative routes when there are traffic jams or road closures;
• know which Barajas terminal each passenger needs and where you can stop at each one;
• know their obligations to the customer (receipt, route, fares) and the rules they must follow.

A taxi is not just any car. To operate it needs an associated licence, and the vehicle is subject to specific checks:

• More frequent technical inspections than a private car, because it is a passenger transport vehicle.
• A verified meter, sealed, so that what it shows is correct.
• Specific insurance. As well as the vehicle insurance, compulsory passenger insurance covers passengers in the event of an accident.
• Safety features in the rear seats, starting with the seat belt, which is also compulsory for the passenger.

If you are travelling with small children, the rules on child restraint systems in taxis have some nuances; we explain them in our guide to taxis with a child seat. With our service you can request a seat when you book by giving the child's age, and we will confirm availability.

Professionalism also shows in the way someone drives. A good taxi driver:

• Drives smoothly and with anticipation, without sudden acceleration or braking, anticipating what others will do.
• Respects speed limits and safe distances, even if the passenger is in a hurry. Arriving on time comes from setting off with a margin, not from speeding.
• Does not use a mobile phone while driving and handles notifications with hands-free devices.
• Gets enough rest, which is key on long shifts and at night.
• Helps with the luggage and puts it in the boot, not loose in the passenger area.

Different from the taxi is the VTC (private-hire vehicles booked through an app), which is also a legal activity with its own authorisation and its own rules; we tell you the differences in the differences between taxis and VTC. The real risk lies with private individuals who carry passengers for money without any authorisation, often touting for business in the airport arrivals area:

• nobody has checked their training or the condition of the vehicle;
• the car's insurance may not cover paid transport, leaving the passenger unprotected;
• there is no known fare and nobody to complain to if something goes wrong.

We explain this in more detail in the risks of a fake taxi.

The journey to the airport is one of those with the least room for error. With a booking made in advance you know who is going to pick you up, at what time and how much you will pay: from inside the M-30 it is €33, and the other areas are on our Barajas Airport fares page. You can book your airport taxi days in advance or for the same day, and on the way back, with pickup at the terminal, we check your flight and confirm the meeting point.