Taking a Taxi in Spanish: Phrases From Pickup to Paying

The first time I took a taxi in Mexico City, I got in, said the hotel name, nodded at whatever the driver said, and paid three times the going rate. Not because he was a crook. Because I never asked the price, never confirmed the route, and never understood the question he asked at the end.

A taxi ride is short, but it packs in four separate exchanges: the pickup, the address, the ride itself, and the payment. Each one has two or three phrases that carry the whole thing. Here they are in the order you will need them.

Getting in and asking the price

In most of Latin America you either hail on the street or ask someone to call one for you. In Spain you look for the green light on the roof. Either way, the first thing out of your mouth should be a price question, not a destination.

¿Está libre? (Are you free?)

¿Cuánto cuesta ir al centro? (How much is it to the center?)

¿Tiene taxímetro? (Do you have a meter?)

If there is a meter, you say Con taxímetro, por favor. (With the meter, please.) If there is not, agree on a number before the car moves. The driver will answer with something like Serían doscientos pesos. (That would be two hundred pesos.) You can push back politely with ¿No puede ser un poco menos? (Can it not be a bit less?), and if it works, close with Está bien, vamos. (Okay, let's go.)

Giving the address

Drivers do not want the hotel name. They want a street, a number, and a neighborhood. Spanish addresses usually go street first, then number, then the area.

Voy a la calle Reforma 250, en la colonia Juárez. (I'm going to Reforma Street 250, in the Juárez neighborhood.)

A esta dirección, por favor. (To this address, please.) Say this while holding up your phone. It is the single most useful sentence in this whole guide.

¿Puede seguir el mapa? (Can you follow the map?)

The driver may ask ¿Por dónde quiere que vaya? (Which way do you want me to go?). Unless you know the city, the honest answer is Por donde sea más rápido. (Whichever way is fastest.) If you do know, these four words steer the car:

Aquí a la derecha, por favor. (Here on the right, please.) Es la casa blanca de la esquina. (It's the white house on the corner.)

During the ride

You do not have to talk. But drivers are often the friendliest Spanish practice you will get all day, and they ask the same three questions everywhere.

¿De dónde eres? (Where are you from?) Answer with Soy de Canadá, pero vivo aquí desde marzo. (I'm from Canada, but I've lived here since March.)

¿Y qué te parece la ciudad? (And what do you think of the city?) Keep it simple: Me encanta, pero el tráfico es terrible. (I love it, but the traffic is terrible.) Every driver on earth agrees with that sentence.

A few phrases you might genuinely need mid-ride:

¿Puede ir un poco más despacio? (Can you go a little slower?)

¿Puede bajar el aire? (Can you turn down the air conditioning?)

Creo que nos pasamos. (I think we went past it.)

Paying and getting out

This is where my Mexico City mistake happened. The driver said ¿Tiene cambio? and I heard a random noise, nodded, and handed over a big bill. He did not have change either. Here is what the end of a ride actually sounds like.

¿Cuánto es? (How much is it?) or ¿Cuánto le debo? (How much do I owe you?)

The driver: Son ciento ochenta. (It's one hundred eighty.)

Then one of these comes at you:

¿Tiene cambio? (Do you have change?) means he wants smaller bills. Reply Solo tengo de quinientos, lo siento. (I only have a five hundred, sorry.) or Sí, tengo suelto. (Yes, I have coins.)

¿Efectivo o tarjeta? (Cash or card?) Answer Con tarjeta, si se puede. (By card, if possible.)

Tipping a taxi driver is not expected in most of Latin America or Spain. Rounding up is plenty. Quédese con el cambio. (Keep the change.) works when the difference is small.

Aquí está bien, gracias. (Here is fine, thanks.) gets you out at the curb. Ask for a receipt with ¿Me da un recibo? (Can you give me a receipt?) if work is paying.

Mini dialogue

Tú: Buenas. ¿Está libre? (Hi. Are you free?)

Taxista: Sí, súbase. ¿A dónde va? (Yes, get in. Where to?)

Tú: A la calle Bolívar 45, en La Candelaria. ¿Cuánto cuesta? (To Bolívar Street 45, in La Candelaria. How much is it?)

Taxista: Unos veinte mil. (About twenty thousand.)

Tú: Está bien. ¿Puede seguir el mapa? No conozco bien la zona. (Okay. Can you follow the map? I don't know the area well.)

Taxista: Claro. ¿Y de dónde es usted? (Sure. And where are you from?)

Tú: De Alemania. Llevo dos semanas aquí. (From Germany. I've been here two weeks.)

Taxista: Llegamos. Son veinte mil. ¿Tiene cambio? (We're here. It's twenty thousand. Do you have change?)

Tú: Sí, aquí tiene. Quédese con el cambio. (Yes, here you go. Keep the change.)

Test yourself

You are in the back seat. Pick what you would actually say or understand at each moment.

Taxi phrase cheat sheet