Taking a taxi (taksi) in Istanbul is a cheap, easy and comfortable way of transportation. But with 20.000 taxis driving around town, only a fool would believe all drivers are honest. Luckily most of them are indeed fair, but there are a rising amount of cases where tourists get hustled while taking a taxi ride in Istanbul. It’s always good to have a healthy level of suspicion. Here are the most popular Istanbul taxi scams, and how you can prevent them from happening to you. Once you’re done, don’t forget to read up on even more tips to prevent popular Istanbul taxi scams.
Making the Taxi Ride Longer
- Scam — This a very common trick pulled on tourist by taxi drivers all over the world, and Istanbul is no exception to the rule. As a tourist you don’t know the shortest way to your destination, so the taxi driver can easily make an extra tour around the block and spice up the bill. In case the tourist does know the way, he’ll come up with the excuse that there is a massive traffic jam on the usual route, or simply pretend to be lost.
- Solution — If you are indeed unfamiliar with the roads and/or don’t speak Turkish, there is unfortunately very little you can do to tell him what route to take. That’s why we came up with giving you an overview of Istanbul taxi fares to the most common tourist destinations. This will give you a nice indication on when to start arguing with the taxi driver and cut the bill he presents you. Following the route on your smartphone can also help, but be aware of possible Internet roaming charges.
The Turkish Lira Note Switch
- Scam — For arguments sake, let’s assume the fare is 15 TL and you hand him a 50 TL note. Out of sight he switches the note with a 5 TL note he has ready, shows it to you and waits for you to hand him the ‘remaining’ 10 TL note. Where you expected to get change, you’re confused (since you’re not familiar with the money) and end up paying 60 TL for a 15 TL drive.
- Solution — Always make sure you have plenty of small bank notes and even coins on you for taxi rides so you can hand the taxi driver the exact amount due. In case you do have to hand a bigger note and expect change, double check the value of the note before you hand it to the driver. Showing the note and waiting to hand it over until he has prepared the change works wonders, too. Also, tipping a taxi driver is not a Turkish custom unless he helped you with (un)loading your luggage.
I Have No Change
- Scam — Again, let’s assume the fair is 16 TL and you hand him a 20 TL bill. The driver seemingly looks a bit around in his cab. After a minute he comes up with only 1 TL in change, claiming he ran out of coins. This way he tries to ‘earn’ another 3 TL.
- Solution — You have two options. If it’s only a few Turkish Liras, you can just let it go. Or, what I mostly do, just sit in the car and tell him to go change the note in a shop. You’d be surprised how quickly they all of a sudden come up with the exact change.
A Fixed Price Instead of Using The Meter
- Scam — The driver suggests to agree on a price for the ride to your destination instead of using the taxi meter. He’ll argue you’re better off this way, because there is a lot of traffic, he’ll take a short cut and you’ll pay less. Why would he want to be so kind to you? He isn’t!
- Solution — Always insist to use the meter! If he doesn’t want to use the meter, or even worse doesn’t have one, refuse the ride, get out and flag down another taxi. The same goes in case he claims half way the ride the meter breaks down. Just make him stop next to a police car, and get out. He won’t argue with you, trust me. The only time you could agree not to use the meter is when you’re familiar with the route and fare, and you get the same or a better deal.
Taxi, Taxi? Follow Me!
- Scam — There are about 19.000 official and licensed taxi drivers in Istanbul. Unfortunately, there are at least a similar amount of illegal, unlicensed or private taxi drivers. Some may offer better rates, the majority doesn’t!
- Solution — Only take official taxis. Istanbul taxis are yellow, have a taksi sign on the roof, have a meter built in (newer ones have them integrated in the mirror) and show their affiliation with a taxi stand, airport, hotel, etc. painted on their doors. You can have the hotel call one for you, look for them at taxi stands or just flag them down on the street.
Night Versus Daytime
- Scam — The taxi driver puts the taxi meter on night time (gece) during the day, or during the night. Either way, it’s not correct because the night time/daytime difference has been abolished!
- Solution — Make sure the meter is always set to daytime (gündüz). These words should appear on the meter display at regular intervals. For the new, mirror integrated meters, the daytime code to look for is ‘1’.
Continue reading with 4 more tips to avoid common Istanbul taxi scams.
Federico says
I recently visited Istanbul. I faced many of the above scams mentioned about the taxi drivers in Istanbul plus few that have not been touched.
I agreed on a fixed-rate ride just to avoid ride long issue. After almost 10 minutes, the taxi driver stopped at a location and said this is the address we agreed. But the address was not where I had told him. I told him that this is not the address, but he argued that he was told about that location and if I am going somewhere else then I must pay more. I tried to convince him that it is not the location as I was using the google map. But my argument was not taking me anywhere, except waste of time. Thus, preferred to take another taxi to my destination.
I rode on a taxi arranged by my hotel to Sabiha Gokcen Airport using the taxi meter. When arrived at the airport, the taxi driver asked me for additional 30 TL on the top of metered amount as a tax fee for crossing the bridge connecting the European side of Istanbul with the Asian. I did not want to pay and then he called the hotel. The hotel confirmed that this is a fee payable by all passengers using taxi and crossing the bridge. But I told him that on my way to the hotel, I paid nothing as a bridge fee or something like that. I just paid the taxi fare as per the meter and that was it. But the hotel guy reaffirmed the rule me to pay the bridge fee. I gave the amount as I was late to catch my flight but later when shared the issue with one Turkish passenger at the airport, it sounded like a fishy deal between some taxi drivers and hotel employees.
Erlend Geerts says
Hi Federico,
I’m sorry to hear about your taxi troubles. But I do warn in my article not to agree on a fixed price. Always use the meter. Having said that, even with the meter on he could have dropped you at the wrong address. You can send an email to beyazmasa@ibb.gov.tr (the help desk of Istanbul Municipality that controls all the public transport in Istanbul). Reporting the plate number of the vehicle is a must, the name of the driver helps the case as it is very common to have more than one person operating the same vehicle.
As for paying the bridge fee, that is the rule. If the driver has to pay a fee to cross the bridge, then that fee (no less, no more) gets added to the fare at the end of the ride. After all, the taxi driver is making that expense for you. Of course pay attention at the fee, so he doesn’t charge more. The different bridges have different fees, with the third bridge being the most expensive.
I hope this helps.
Nenad says
On April the 9th 2019, me and my wife took a yellow cab (huyndai accent, with a plate number 34TEE06 and a red-white bump stick “Beyaz Masa ALO 153”) at Taksim square. Destination was Aja Sofia. When we started the ride the cab driver didn’t start the taximeter. After 50 meters he stoped the cab to pick up another men, for whom he said that he was his brother. At the “end” of a ride he stopped at Kennedy aveny, pointed in the direction of Aja Sofia and told me that it is near. I asked him how much the ride was and he told me 80 liras (which is more than a double than a regular price), although taksimeter didn’t work. I gave him the money, and then he turned around and told me that i gave him only 40 liras. I was confused and because i didn’t have any change I gaved him 200 liras. He turnd around again and told me that a gaved him 20 liras. At that point I realased what has happend and demanded that he give me back my money. He sticked to his story (that I gaved him 20 liras). I exited the taxi, opened the drivers door and saw him holding the bills of 20 liras and 200 liras in his hands. I told him to give me back my money or I would call police. After that argument he gaved me my money. I tooked I picture of a cab, after that he stoped out the cab and with the woried voice asked me why did I do that, at the same time the guy at the passenger seat (for whom he said that it’s his brother) at the drivers seat. The driver set at his seat and both of them took of.
Erlend says
Hi Nenad,
Thanks for sharing your experience and sorry to hear this. Luckily you got your money back.
Please send your detailed story as an email to beyazmasa@ibb.gov.tr . They will take action (although you may not see or hear about it) because the government is determined to fight this kind of scams.
Take good care.
Sufyan says
Thank you for this article which I will be sharing widely. Unfortunately I experienced most of the above in one taxi ride back to my hotel (Besiktas) from Taksim Square last night in fact. I was looking for a taxi near one of the hotels in Taksim but was eventually approached by one. The driver indicated he was going to switch and let his friend drive (first flag) both in the front seats of the car. He mentioned he was taking a longer route due to a football match taking place (second flat) which probably a lie. His driving all, 8 minutes of it, was extremely erratic. Surprised he wasn’t pulled over st one point. When he arrived at destination it was a slight distance away from hotel (third flag). The meter wasn’t on during ride but he showed what was obviously a preprogrammed dash highlighting 53 but agreed on 50 lira (which is over the normal 30 lira rate). I first offered 50 but he had issue with the note being slightly ripped (wondering now if he had done that). I offered 100 note (which was what I had) expecting change back but somehow he switched and showed I had offered only 20. Doubted myself there and long story short he took the 100 plus 30 more.
I only realised minutes after the ride what had just transpired. I didn’t have a plate number so couldn’t report it. Hotel porter even felt bad but nothing to do without plate number.
The first thing that hits you is the self shame, that you’d been played like that. I’m pretty sure this a daily routine for this criminal duo, from the erratic driving to the ‘friendly’ chit chat during the ride, to get your guard down and not seeing it coming. It could’ve been worse I suppose. Imagine if one the two was armed or decided to get rough.
It’s sad to taken for a ride like this (no pun intended). It’s dehumanising in a way as they don’t see you as a person but as game to be taken advantage of. Luckily I travel alone if I had family and kids probably would’ve worried for their safety. In retrospect I could’ve seen all this coming. Sadly I only read this article after the incident (just to confirm my suspicions as I was still second guessing what had just occurred) otherwise I feel I would’ve probably been better prepared to deal with situation (should’ve just walked away at the first flag).
Be weary all. I’ve travelled around in other countries. First time I experience this in my life. I honestly had no idea people would go to such lengths. Ideally there ought to be a hotline for tourists to report these incidents to not just email addresses.
Thanks again
Erlend says
Hi Sufyan,
So sorry to hear this, wish you had indeed found this page earlier. Besides the email (see an earlier comment) there is a hotline: +90 212 153 00 00
You can also try to stop a police officer, they really want to crack down on these con artists and will help you. Always note the license plate, it’s the only way they can identify the car.