Wherever you travel in the world, you’ve probably seen them.
The ‘they’ mentioned here are the unlicensed taxis and ostensibly chauffeur-driven limousine hire cars that flit around places like night spots, train stations, and sometimes even airports.
Sometimes they’re easy to spot, with their drivers dangling inelegantly out of the window saying the equivalent of “Does anyone need a taxi?” gold “I need a ride?“At other times, it can be quite a bit harder to tell them apart from legitimate rental cars, as they can display things like fake IDs and illuminated taxi signs.
Although the dangers of using such services have been known for a long time, it is a sad fact that one still regularly reads cases where people have done it and it has led to disaster.
Here’s just a quick warning and reminder why such offers should be ignored.
insurance restrictions
It is extremely unlikely that a private car owner who offers his vehicle for hire and reward would have adequate insurance coverage for himself, his vehicle or, more importantly, his passengers.
If you are involved in an accident while you are in your vehicle, you can probably forget about any chance you may think you have to start an insurance claim. You may be able to sue the person in question for damages and misrepresentation, but if you have few or no assets, your chances of reaching a successful settlement would be slim to none.
your personal security
In some cases, people offering pirate car rental services may have opportunistic crime in mind.
There have been cases where passengers have been taken to an isolated location and stripped of their belongings. The dangers of rape and sexual assault for female passengers are also clear, and men are not immune to such risks either.
In such circumstances, false identifications and registration numbers would likely have been used and it would be exceptionally difficult for the police to trace the individual in question.
Top tips to avoid fake taxis
- Never respond to someone who drives slowly and walks by on business.
- When traveling, only collect taxis from what are clearly official taxi ranks, populated by vehicle numbers. In general, legitimate registered taxi drivers are very tough on unlicensed pirates and the latter will usually avoid the risk of close contact with official taxi drivers like the plague.
- Whenever possible, book your ride in advance with an official taxi service or use a limo rental company instead. You should be able to easily verify your credentials online beforehand as part of your reservation.
- If you need transportation on short notice, call a taxi or limo rental company you’ve already researched before and ask them to pick you up.
- In situations where you have any doubts about the authenticity of the taxi or car rental service, do not use it! If you are trapped, alone, and scared, call the police for help.
It may well be that unpleasant and dangerous incidents are only a small percentage of taxi and hire car usage, but that fact will be of little consolation if it happens to you.
Therefore, always make sure that you only use bona fide car rental and taxi services.