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When you arrive in Cancun there’s no doubt that you will be eager to get off the plane and get to your hotel, but choosing the wrong transportation can keep you from getting your trip started off on the right foot.
If you choose to hail a taxi rather than book transportation in advance, you could end up with a pirate taxi, also known as a fake taxi.
Cancun tourists are being warned to watch out for this scam at the airport right now, as hundreds of these fake taxis operate in Cancun.
Fake Taxis In Cancun
Fake taxis are essentially taxis that are not licensed and regulated like legitimate taxis.
They are vehicles driven by individuals who pose as legitimate taxi drivers so that they can pick up passengers at the airport and hotels.
The most recent reports are that there could be as many as 900 fake taxis in and around Cancun.
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What’s The Difference Between A Fake Taxi And A Real Taxi?
Officials have no way of regulating fake taxis.
This means that they don’t know if these individuals have insurance, what kind of condition their vehicle is in, or even whether or not the drivers themselves have a criminal record.
There is also no way to track fake taxis because they are not registered with one of the local taxi guilds, and that’s the scariest part of all.
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How To Spot A Fake Taxi
Fake taxi drivers have gotten pretty clever when it comes to looking legitimate.
That being said, there are a couple of things to look for that will help you determine if they’re real or not.
The first is a registration number on the vehicle, which you should take a picture of or write down.
The second is a valid taxi driver identification.
While both of these can be faked, making it harder to know for sure, the absence of either should steer you away from that vehicle.
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Dangers Associated With Taking Fake Taxis
The biggest problem with fake taxis to worry about is being overcharged.
Other dangers do exist but are rare. In the past, there have been reports of being robbed by a fake taxi driver or worse.
Again, these incidents are rare, and the biggest concern is overcharging, but bad things can happen, so it’s important to be vigilant.
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Legitimate Taxis In Cancun
Even legitimate taxis in Cancun don’t have the best reputation, so you may want to skip taxis altogether.
To be sure, there are plenty of law-abiding taxi drivers, too, but the bad ones have given taxi drivers, in general, a bad rep.
Not to mention, taxis in Cancun are expensive and can cost more than $60 just to get from the airport to your hotel.
Tips For Taking A Taxi In Cancun
If you do decide to take a taxi in Cancun, you can follow a couple of tips to make your ride go smoother.
First and foremost is to agree on a price before you get into a taxi, as they have been known to quote one rate and then charge another upon arrival.
The other thing that you can do is pre-book your Cancun Airport taxi so that you know exactly what you’re paying upfront.
Best Way To Avoid Fake Taxis
The best way to avoid fake taxis is to book private transportation in advance.
You might end up paying as much, if not more, than you would for a taxi, but private transportation is safer and more comfortable.
Furthermore, you can have your driver waiting for you upon arrival so that you don’t have to worry about getting into a fake taxi.
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