Taxis, Uber and Other Livery in Mexico City - Safe?
Oct 22, 2017, 1:22 am
#16
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It's really easy to use, convenient, less expensive than local taxis, and safe.
Just be careful - the drivers are pretty unethical. More than half of our drivers didn't turn the meter off when the ride ended so we were slightly overcharged. $1 here and there isn't a big deal, except when our driver who took us to the airport drove all the way back to the city without turning the meter off costing us more than double our ride. After reaching out to Uber, they said the driver told them that we needed to go back to the hotel to get our passports which was a total lie - if that was the case, why wouldn't he have brought us back to the airport again to make our flight??
Lesson learned: make sure your driver turns off the meter.
Just be careful - the drivers are pretty unethical. More than half of our drivers didn't turn the meter off when the ride ended so we were slightly overcharged. $1 here and there isn't a big deal, except when our driver who took us to the airport drove all the way back to the city without turning the meter off costing us more than double our ride. After reaching out to Uber, they said the driver told them that we needed to go back to the hotel to get our passports which was a total lie - if that was the case, why wouldn't he have brought us back to the airport again to make our flight??
Lesson learned: make sure your driver turns off the meter.
I'm surprised Uber believed that taxi driver's story over yours.
I did get an Uber from Centro Historico to the airport at 6am once and it was only the equivalent of $2(not that it is very far). Overall I've had no problems using Uber in Mexico city. Generally I thought the city and country is a lot safer than it is made out to be, e.g. I felt perfectly safe walking around Mexico City Centro Historico at 1am alone, mostly because there is Police everywhere.
Other cities in latin America felt a lot less safe. Quito, I'm looking at you.
Oct 24, 2017, 5:17 pm
#17
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That's similar to my experience.
Jan 28, 2018, 3:35 pm
#19
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I've been in Mexico City this weekend. So far I've ridden in half a dozen Ubers and every single one was a new model car that was clean and comfortable with a polite driver who drove safely.
Jan 31, 2018, 6:36 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 10
I've been to CDMX almost a dozen times, and have used Uber several times each trip. I've not had a bad experience. The cars were clean, the drivers courteous. On the contrary, I have had some not so great Uber experiences here in the US, in several metropolitan areas.
In CDMX I also take the metro, the metrobus, and sitio cabs; but find Uber the most comfortable way of getting around the city. Often the drivers will tell you about the neighborhoods you are driving through - the most interesting travelogue was through Tepito!
In CDMX I also take the metro, the metrobus, and sitio cabs; but find Uber the most comfortable way of getting around the city. Often the drivers will tell you about the neighborhoods you are driving through - the most interesting travelogue was through Tepito!
Feb 1, 2018, 7:46 am
#21
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Just for information, the alternative to Uber in Mexico is Spain-based Cabify. Works in the same manner, and since Cabify traditionally catered to businesses rather than individuals, it has a better reputation among drivers & passengers. Tends to be a little more expensive than Uber, but supposedly you get a more rigorously screened driver/car.
Feb 2, 2018, 9:17 pm
#22
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Nov 22, 2021, 1:00 pm
#23
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: san francisco, ca usa
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Q about arrivals in MEX
I am going tomorrow arriving on (yuck) Volaris from SJD which I believe is terminal 2 for non international flights. Where do Ubers meet you? Can I accommodate 7 people or do I need 2 ubers? Uber vs Cabify?
May 3, 2022, 10:20 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portland, Or
Posts: 202
I'm just going to add to this thread, with my impression of some other services we used in MEX (as well as GDL):
Uber--typically the most expensive service. Quite a range of surge pricing. Your choice between all the uber bells and whistles (black / "comfort" / etc). Typically results in finding a ride, even if it's at 4x the going rate. With the basic Uber X, there's no telling what you'll get--lots of variability in the cars. Uber has a bad habit of charging more to your card than they advertise when you request the ride, so rider beware. I don't think it's the drivers, but rather the app.
Cabify--another app. Usually less expensive than Uber. You can request a larger 5-seater. Lets you request a taxi (still prepaid through the app). During busy periods they don't seem to surge their pricing as much, which can result in inability to find a ride. High variability in the quality of ride you get. The drivers are all fine/great IME, but the cars can vary tremendously. Quite a pain, as the app leads you to believe you're in a queue, but in my experience, if the app tells you you'll be queueing for 5 minutes, it won't result in a ride. We used cabify when we were feeling stingy, as well as during non-peak times.
Didi--another rideshare app. Only installed it at Guadalajara when Cabify was having issues and Ubers were taking forever to accept our ride from the airport. But we got a ride in seconds, and it's far cheaper than Uber, and even Cabify. Whenever we had disputes over the cost, the app quickly handled it by issuing a credit, etc. Wish we'd used this in MEX. Again, though, high variability in the quality car you'll get.
Beat--our favorite, and I wish we'd installed this sooner! Only in CDMX currently. You can select a Tesla (model 3) or "Zero" (a similarly sized JAC EV sedan). Zero pricing is quite similar to Uber, or better. These drivers are employees of the company, very professional. Always AC vehicles. Wifi/bluetooth/etc in the cars. High level experience. When they accept a ride they actually show up. Highly recommended. *Beat also has other tiers of more typical ridesharing, with very competitive pricing. Also, when the system is busy, it'll tell you so rather than lead you on. We had less experience using these, as by the time we installed Beat we were jaded with lack of AC in typical Uber/Cabify cars, and were willing to splurge the extra $3 USD to ride in luxury. With any Beat, if the system is busy, it pays to keep requesting your ride, rather than simply giving up.
p.s. we had zero experience just hailing a cab on the street--I always prefer to know the cost / timing to get somewhere ahead of time, especially when traffic can vary so much in CDMX. Also, don't hesitate to try out the subway system: felt safe/secure, reliable, quick, and super cheap (5 pesos). It gets warm down there, though.
Uber--typically the most expensive service. Quite a range of surge pricing. Your choice between all the uber bells and whistles (black / "comfort" / etc). Typically results in finding a ride, even if it's at 4x the going rate. With the basic Uber X, there's no telling what you'll get--lots of variability in the cars. Uber has a bad habit of charging more to your card than they advertise when you request the ride, so rider beware. I don't think it's the drivers, but rather the app.
Cabify--another app. Usually less expensive than Uber. You can request a larger 5-seater. Lets you request a taxi (still prepaid through the app). During busy periods they don't seem to surge their pricing as much, which can result in inability to find a ride. High variability in the quality of ride you get. The drivers are all fine/great IME, but the cars can vary tremendously. Quite a pain, as the app leads you to believe you're in a queue, but in my experience, if the app tells you you'll be queueing for 5 minutes, it won't result in a ride. We used cabify when we were feeling stingy, as well as during non-peak times.
Didi--another rideshare app. Only installed it at Guadalajara when Cabify was having issues and Ubers were taking forever to accept our ride from the airport. But we got a ride in seconds, and it's far cheaper than Uber, and even Cabify. Whenever we had disputes over the cost, the app quickly handled it by issuing a credit, etc. Wish we'd used this in MEX. Again, though, high variability in the quality car you'll get.
Beat--our favorite, and I wish we'd installed this sooner! Only in CDMX currently. You can select a Tesla (model 3) or "Zero" (a similarly sized JAC EV sedan). Zero pricing is quite similar to Uber, or better. These drivers are employees of the company, very professional. Always AC vehicles. Wifi/bluetooth/etc in the cars. High level experience. When they accept a ride they actually show up. Highly recommended. *Beat also has other tiers of more typical ridesharing, with very competitive pricing. Also, when the system is busy, it'll tell you so rather than lead you on. We had less experience using these, as by the time we installed Beat we were jaded with lack of AC in typical Uber/Cabify cars, and were willing to splurge the extra $3 USD to ride in luxury. With any Beat, if the system is busy, it pays to keep requesting your ride, rather than simply giving up.
p.s. we had zero experience just hailing a cab on the street--I always prefer to know the cost / timing to get somewhere ahead of time, especially when traffic can vary so much in CDMX. Also, don't hesitate to try out the subway system: felt safe/secure, reliable, quick, and super cheap (5 pesos). It gets warm down there, though.
May 4, 2022, 11:03 pm
#25
Join Date: Apr 2022
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I'm just going to add to this thread, with my impression of some other services we used in MEX (as well as GDL):
Uber--typically the most expensive service. Quite a range of surge pricing. Your choice between all the uber bells and whistles (black / "comfort" / etc). Typically results in finding a ride, even if it's at 4x the going rate. With the basic Uber X, there's no telling what you'll get--lots of variability in the cars. Uber has a bad habit of charging more to your card than they advertise when you request the ride, so rider beware. I don't think it's the drivers, but rather the app.
Uber--typically the most expensive service. Quite a range of surge pricing. Your choice between all the uber bells and whistles (black / "comfort" / etc). Typically results in finding a ride, even if it's at 4x the going rate. With the basic Uber X, there's no telling what you'll get--lots of variability in the cars. Uber has a bad habit of charging more to your card than they advertise when you request the ride, so rider beware. I don't think it's the drivers, but rather the app.
However, at some airports, they can't be used, either for departures, arrivals, or both (Cancun). At GDL, every time I've taken Uber the driver has asked me to sit in front, lest he get stopped by the police.
Mexican friends have mentioned that some regular Mexico City cab drivers are fond of the chicanery; even being able to speak Spanish, I still opt for Uber, the metro, or when in a truly random spot, a bus (I wouldn't necessarily recommend taking a non-Metrobus at night).
May 6, 2022, 4:27 pm
#27
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May 7, 2022, 1:50 am
#28
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I installed Cabify in Madrid, and the system would not let me link to a credit card that was not issued in Spain. But I have used Cabify in Chile and Colombia, without problem.
May 7, 2022, 9:31 am
#29
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portland, Or
Posts: 202
With cabify you may be able to find a referral code that would save you X% on your first Y rides. I'd offer one, but as I've returned home I've uninstalled cabify for now... With Beat,a day after trying out their Uber service for the first time I got an emailed promo for 10% off my next 10 rides, so keep a lookout for that? Good luck and enjoy!