Everyday situations
How to take a taxi in English
A2
Stopping a taxi, giving an address, asking the price, paying, tipping: the phrases you need for a smooth ride.
Quick answer
Taxis in the UK and the US come in two famous kinds. London has its traditional black cabs: the drivers pass a very hard test called the Knowledge, and you pay what the meter shows. New York has its yellow cabs: they are everywhere, and you stop one by raising your hand. Apps like Uber and Lyft have made things simpler: you type the address, you know the price in advance, and you don't need to talk. But a traditional taxi is still useful: at the airport, where there is no phone signal, or for an unplanned trip. Remember that in the US, drivers always expect a tip (15 to 20%), but in the UK it is optional. And cab and taxi mean the same thing, while a cabbie is the driver.
Step by step
Each step follows a typical conversation. Lines marked “or” are other possible answers, depending on the situation.
1. Stopping a taxi or booking one
Raise your hand and call out. With an app, the address is already there: just confirm the pickup point.
- You
Taxi!
Neutral→ Raise your arm and call out. This is enough in New York, London and other big cities.orCould you call me a taxi, please?
Formal→ Use this with a hotel receptionist or a waiter. - You
Are you free?
→ Ask this if the sign on the roof is not clear. - Other person
Yes, hop in. Where to?
- You
Is it OK to pay by card?
→ Ask this before you get in: a few cabs still take cash only. - Other person
Yes, no problem.
- You
Excuse me, where's the taxi rank?
UKorExcuse me, where's the taxi stand?
US - Other person
Just round the corner, on the left.
2. Giving the address and details
Give the full address. If you can, give a landmark (a well-known place) instead of a street number nobody knows.
- Other person
Where to?
- You
To 24 Oxford Street, please.
orTo Heathrow, terminal 5.
orCould you take me to the British Museum?
- You
It's near Russell Square station.
→ A well-known landmark is often more useful than the exact address. - You
Do you know where it is?
orI'll show you on the map.
- Other person
No problem, I'll find it.
- You
I'm in a bit of a hurry.
- You
Could you take the fastest route?
- Other person
Sure thing.
3. Asking about the price and options
For long trips or trips outside the city, agree on the price before you leave. In town, the meter decides.
- You
How much would it cost to the airport?
- Other person
It's a flat fare, £35.
- You
Do you take credit cards?
- Other person
Cash only, I'm afraid.
- You
How long will it take?
- Other person
About 25 minutes, traffic permitting.
- You
Is the meter on?
→ Always check this in a black cab. - Other person
Yes, it's running.
4. During the ride
A little small talk is fine, but keep it short. You can also give directions.
- You
Could you slow down a bit?
- Other person
Sure, no problem.
- You
Could you turn the radio down, please?
orIs it OK if I open the window?
- Other person
Of course.
- Other person
First time in London?
→ A typical question from a cab driver to start a chat. - You
Yes, it is.
- You
Could you take the side streets? The motorway looks jammed.
- Other person
Good idea. We're almost there.
- You
Could you drop me off at the corner?
5. Arriving, paying and tipping
Check the total, add a 10 to 20% tip and ask for a receipt if you need one.
- You
How much do I owe you?
- Other person
That'll be £18.50.
- You
Here you go. Keep the change.
orMake it £20.
→ A natural way to round up and add a tip (£18.50 → £20). - You
Could I get a receipt, please?
→ Useful if you need to show what you spent, for example to get the money back later. - Other person
Sure, here you go.
- You
Thanks, have a great day!
- Other person
Cheers, mate.
InformalUK
6. Using Uber or Lyft
Confirm the pickup point, check the driver and give a rating at the end. You leave the tip in the app.
- You
Could you wait one minute? I'm just coming down.
- Other person
No problem, I'm at the main entrance.
→ Check the pickup point with the driver. - You
Are you the Uber for Sam?
→ Always check the name and the number plate before you get in. - Other person
Yes, hop in.
- You
Would you mind taking the next exit?
- Other person
No problem.
- You
I left a 20% tip in the app.
- Other person
Thanks, much appreciated!
Useful vocabulary
Types of taxi
- a taxi / a caba car you pay to drive you
- a black cab(UK)a traditional London taxi
- a yellow cab(US)a traditional New York taxi
- a minicab(UK)a taxi you must book in advance
- a rideshare / ride-hailingbooking a car ride through an app
- Uber / Lyft / Boltapps for booking a car ride
- a private hire vehiclea booked car with a driver
- a taxi rank / taxi standa place where taxis wait
Prices and payment
- the farethe price of the ride
- the metera machine that counts the price
- a flat fare / a fixed rateone price agreed in advance
- surge pricinghigher prices when many people want rides
- a tip / gratuityextra money for good service
- cash onlyno cards accepted
- card payment / contactlesspaying by card, or by tapping it
- a receiptthe paper that shows what you paid
The route
- to pick up / a pickupto collect someone / where you get in
- to drop off / a drop-offto let someone out / where you get out
- the destinationwhere you want to go
- a detoura longer way round
- a shortcuta quicker way
- traffic / a traffic jamcars on the road / cars that can't move
- the motorway / the highwaya big, fast road
- a routethe way from one place to another
The driver and the car
- a driver / a cab driver / a cabbie(UK)the person who drives the taxi
- a cab driver / a cabbie(US)the person who drives the taxi
- a chauffeura person paid to drive a private car
- the back seatwhere passengers sit
- a seatbelta strap that keeps you safe
- the boot / the trunkspace for bags at the back
- the GPS / sat-nav(UK)a device that shows the way
UK vs US: what changes
| You want to say… | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Place where cabs wait | Taxi rank | Taxi stand |
| Space for bags at the back of a car | The boot | The trunk |
| Device that shows the way | Sat-nav (satellite navigation) | GPS |
| Big fast road between cities | Motorway | Highway / freeway / interstate |
| Path for people next to the road | Pavement | Sidewalk |
| Usual tip | 10-15% (optional) | 15-20% (expected) |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. No tip in the US ❌
In the US, a taxi tip is 15 to 20%, and drivers really expect it, even though the law does not require it. Drivers earn their money from the fare and the tip. Leaving less than 10% is seen as an insult. The UK is different: 10 to 15% is appreciated but not expected, and people often just round up (£18.50 → £20).
2. I take a taxi tomorrow ❌
For a plan, the Present Simple does not work. ✓ I'm taking a taxi to the airport (a fixed plan, with the Present Continuous). ✓ I'll take a taxi (a decision you make now). ✗ I take a taxi tomorrow. Use the Present Simple for habits: I usually take a taxi after midnight.
3. Cab or taxi? Both are fine
Cab is short for cabriolet (an old kind of horse carriage). The two words mean exactly the same in the US and the UK. Hailing a cab and hailing a taxi both mean stopping a taxi in the street. A cabbie is a taxi driver (a bit more informal). Neither word is more formal: both work.
4. Giving an address with no landmark ❌
An address on its own (24 Oxford Street) is often not enough in a big city. Always add a landmark (a well-known place or building): It's near the Tate Modern / Just past the post office / Behind the church. Many US cities have their streets in a grid, so people often use the intersection: 5th and Madison means where 5th Avenue meets Madison Avenue.
5. Drop off (verb) or drop-off (noun)?
To drop off is a verb (to let someone get out of a car): Could you drop me off at the corner? A drop-off is a noun (the place where you get out): The drop-off is in front of the hotel. It is the same with to pick up and a pickup. Apps like Uber use these words all the time, so they are useful to know.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Taking a taxi
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
What's next?
“Taking a taxi”: you know what to say. Now say it!
Knowing the phrases is not enough: they need to come out naturally. On PLAY, you practise them in a game, with instant feedback, until they become a habit.
Practise this situation on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersPractise “Taking a taxi” with the whole class
The Academy offers role plays with audio feedback for everyday situations: your students speak, and you follow their progress in spoken interaction.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
English contestReal-life English: that's what the contest measures
Every year, the Big Challenge tests how well students understand real situations. Register your students so they can check their level beyond the textbook.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Frequently asked questions
How do you hail a taxi in English?+
There are five ways. 1) Raise your arm and call Taxi! (this works everywhere). 2) Find a taxi rank (UK) or a taxi stand (US). 3) Ask a receptionist: Could you call me a taxi, please? 4) Check the light on the roof (light on = free). 5) Use an app like Uber, Lyft or Bolt to book in advance.
Do you tip taxi drivers in the US and the UK?+
In the US: yes, 15 to 20%. The law does not say you must, but drivers expect it, because tips are a big part of their pay. In the UK: it is optional but appreciated, 10 to 15%, or you just round up (£18 → £20). With Uber, you leave the tip in the app after the ride, not during it.
How do you tell a taxi driver where to stop?+
Say Could you drop me off at the corner? To be more precise: at the corner of + street 1 + and + street 2. In the US, people often give the crossing of two streets: Drop me off at 5th and Madison means where 5th Avenue meets Madison Avenue. Useful words: a corner (the point where two streets meet) and an intersection (the place where roads cross).
What is the difference between a cab and a taxi?+
There is no difference: cab and taxi mean exactly the same in the US and the UK. Cab is short for cabriolet, an old kind of horse carriage that people used as a taxi. A cabbie (informal) is a taxi driver. A black cab (UK) is a traditional black London taxi, and a yellow cab (US) is a yellow New York taxi.
What does keep the change mean?+
Keep the change means that the driver can keep the extra money as a tip. You can also say Make it + a rounded amount: Make it £20 means “take £20 in total”, so the driver keeps the difference as a tip. In the US, it is better to give a clear tip amount.
How do you use Uber in English?+
Key phrases. 1) Before you get in: Are you the Uber for + your name? (to check it is the right car). 2) At the pickup point: I'm at + a landmark. 3) During the ride: Could you take the next exit? or Would you mind + verb + -ing? 4) After the ride: give a star rating in the app, and an optional tip (15 to 20% in the US). If you cancel very soon after booking, there is usually no fee.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/situations/taking-a-taxi
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.