Did you know Madrid's taxi service is the best in Spain? What makes Madrid taxis so good

There is no official ranking that declares Madrid's taxis the best in Spain, but there are objective reasons that explain their good reputation among residents and visitors: a highly regulated service, with official, public fares, a fixed fare between the airport and anywhere inside the M-30, an easily recognisable look, drivers who must pass a municipal exam to get their permit, card payment and availability at any hour in a city with plenty of taxis. Those are the factors that really determine the quality of Madrid taxis.

Surveys and traveller ratings change over time and each one measures different things, so we would rather explain what lies behind a good service and how you can check it for yourself.

In Madrid, the taxi is a public service. Providing it requires a municipal licence, and driving one requires a municipal driver's permit, which means proving, through an exam, knowledge of the city and of taxi regulations. The City Council inspects vehicles and meters and sets the conditions of the service. If you want to know how you get a licence, we explain it in how to get a taxi licence.

That regulation has a direct consequence for passengers: you know who you are travelling with, how much you are going to pay and who to complain to if something goes wrong.

If you have a problem, the licence number displayed on the vehicle and the receipt for the journey let you identify the taxi and make a complaint to the City Council. That traceability, which does not always exist with other forms of transport, is one of the pillars of trust in taxis: the driver knows they are accountable for their work and the passenger knows who to turn to. For most journeys you will never need it, but knowing it exists is reassuring, especially for first-time visitors to the city.

Madrid's taxi fares are official and public, and the meter applies them automatically. For travellers, one of the great successes is the fixed fare between Barajas and anywhere inside the M-30: €33 to any terminal, regardless of traffic or the time of day. We tell you why it is so useful in the advantages of the fixed fare to the centre, and you can see the inside the M-30 fare page.

For the rest of the Madrid region, our service applies a fixed price by zone, so you also know the amount before you book.

Beyond a city's reputation, quality is decided on each journey. These are the signs worth looking out for:

• Licence and documents on display, and the meter running when it should be.
• A clean, well-kept vehicle, with room for your luggage.
• Courteous treatment: a greeting, help with your suitcases if you need it and respect for your preferences on route or temperature.
• Calm, safe driving, with no needless rushing.
• Transparent charging and a receipt if you ask for one.

We go into these clues in more detail in how to spot a professional taxi driver.

No service is perfect. At times of high demand, such as weekend nights, big events or rainy days, it can be hard to find a free taxi in the street, and not all drivers speak other languages. The most practical solution for important journeys, such as going to the airport, is to book in advance: that way you have a set time, a suitable vehicle and a fixed price.

Part of the quality of Madrid taxis lies in their variety: adapted taxis, larger vehicles, child seats on request, booking by phone or messaging. We go through them in what taxi services are like in Madrid, and explain why taxis fill gaps left by public transport in why taxis work so well in Madrid.

We work with official taxis licensed by Madrid City Council, 24 hours a day, to all four Barajas terminals. You can book your airport taxi online, by phone or on WhatsApp, and pay online, by card to the driver or in cash.