Is there anything I need to know about travelling by taxi in Israel?
Yes, there are a few essential tips to know when taking taxis in Israel:
- There is a starting taxi fare of about 11 NIS in most cities in Israel.
- You will need to pay the taxi driver in NIS (New Israeli Shekel).
- In cities, taxi drivers must use the meter – unless you know the fare and agree upon a fixed rate with the driver. When you get into the taxi, request that the driver turns on the meter (“moneh”) in order to calculate the cost of your route.
- When travelling inter-city, taxis have fixed rates. Ask the price when you call to arrange for pickup, or when you get into the car.
- If you phone a taxi in advance, there is approximately a 5 NIS surcharge. (Taxi apps do not generally charge this fee.)
- There are surcharges for luggage, usually about 5 NIS per piece.
- Taxi rates at night have a 25% surcharge.
- Payment is generally in cash, although more and more taxis are also starting to accept credit cards.