How to behave in a taxi: taxi etiquette after Covid and the rules that never change

Good behaviour in a taxi comes down to three ideas: respect for the driver and the vehicle, safety (seat belt fastened and nothing that distracts from driving) and common sense about health. The compulsory measures of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as masks across public transport or the limit on passengers, no longer apply in general, but some of the habits from that time are still useful, especially when you have a cold or are travelling with vulnerable people. In any new health situation, follow the authorities’ current guidance.

During the pandemic, taxis applied exceptional measures: compulsory masks, fewer passengers per vehicle, constant ventilation and a preference for contactless payment. Today most of those obligations have gone, but they left habits that many passengers and drivers keep:

• Contactless payment: by card, by phone or in advance when you book.
• Airing the car if the journey allows and nobody objects.
• Voluntary masks if you have respiratory symptoms.
• Hand gel in your bag or rucksack.

A taxi is a small space shared by many people over the course of the day. A few simple guidelines help everyone:

• If you have a cold or a cough, wear a mask or cough into your elbow or a tissue.
• Wash or sanitise your hands after the journey, especially before eating.
• Do not leave tissues or rubbish in the vehicle.
• Ask before opening the window: it may bother the driver or other passengers.

Health aside, there are rules that have not changed and that make the journey pleasant for everyone:

• No smoking or vaping: smoking is banned in taxis, and the rules also restrict the use of e-cigarettes on public transport.
• Seat belts fastened in every seat. If you are unsure how to wear it, read seat belt use in taxis.
• Food and drink, better not, unless the driver has no objection (and never anything that stains).
• Keep the volume down on calls, videos and music; use headphones.
• Respectful treatment: the taxi is the driver’s workplace. What they are entitled to ask of you is explained in taxi drivers’ rights.
• Feet off the seat and take care with suitcases and wet umbrellas.

The pandemic sped up the use of cards and phones in taxis, and today it is the norm. If you want to go a step further, you can pay in advance when you make your airport taxi booking or order the service on WhatsApp. We go through all the options in the new ways to pay in a taxi.

If you have a fever or a respiratory infection and cannot postpone the trip, think of others: wear a mask in the taxi and at the airport, sit in the back and air the car if possible. If you are travelling with older or vulnerable people, a vehicle just for your group, such as a private airport transfer, avoids sharing space with strangers. And check with your airline whether there are health requirements at your destination.