How to Avoid the Most Popular New York Airport Taxi Scams

Although the large majority of New York City taxi drivers are honest, hard-working individuals, there are still a fair number of unscrupulous drivers looking to cheat unsuspecting tourists by inflating their fares in creative ways. Although the city has strict guidelines that license the activities of taxi drivers, the following are some of the more prevalent scams, and what passengers can do to avoid them.

The Scenic Route

This scam is popular amongst licensed and unlicensed drivers alike. The passenger lets the driver know where they are headed, and the driver takes a longer route than necessary, often adding unnecessary tolls and extra mileage cost to the fare.

The Solution

Get in the taxi with a route in mind. If you're not sure what the best route is, ask a friend or relative familiar with the area in advance what the best route is to your destination. Be sure to state the route to the driver before the taxi starts moving.

The Mystery Flat Fare

Since many yellow taxis have flat zone fares to Manhattan, aggressive livery cab drivers will wait at the arrival gate and attempt to solicit passengers by promising them a "good price". The actual fare of course is not agreed upon until the passenger is en route, at which point the driver intimidates the passenger by asking for a heavily inflated fare, threatening to leave the passenger in a desolate area if they don't agree.

The Solution

Never take an offer from a livery cab driver at the arrival gate. All New York airports have a licensed taxi stand where a dispatcher will communicate your destination to the driver, as well as to establish a flat zone fare if one is available to your destination. These taxi stands ensure that you are traveling with a licensed taxi driver and are a much safer alternative to livery cabs.

The Meter Beater

This scam plays like the Mystery Flat Fare except the driver offers to turn the fare meter off in favor of a predetermined cash deal. This may sound like a good idea, but most times, the recommended rate is a lot more than you'd pay if you just let the meter run.

The Solution

For any trips that do not qualify for a flat zone rate, make sure the driver activates his meter as soon as you get in the taxi. If you ask the driver to activate his meter and he refuses, get out of the cab immediately and report the driver's activity to the taxi dispatcher.

These taxi scams are troublesome but easily avoidable. In addition to licensed taxi stands, travelers should consider the benefit of scheduling a car service to pick them up in advance. Although these services typically cost more than a taxi ride, the convenience of having a legitimate driver waiting at the gate with a predetermined fare may very well be worth the premium price to many travelers.