A Comprehensive Kuala Lumpur Taxi Guide

Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) › Kuala Lumpur Taxis

Kuala Lumpur Taxi Options

Truth be told, Malaysian taxis have a bad reputation. In fact, while taxi services in Kuala Lumpur are claimed to be the cheapest in Southeast Asia, they are also considered to be the lowest quality. Kuala Lumpur taxi drivers can be rude and are known for trying to rip off first-time visitors by refusing to offer metered rides and instead bargaining for so-called lower fares. Travelers have reported that taxis in Kuala Lumpur are dirty and often not adequately maintained. Moreover, rides can be particularly unsafe for women. Thus, women traveling alone are strongly advised to use taxi apps so as to track their routes and access the vehicle’s and taxi driver’s info.

That being said, not all Kuala Lumpur taxi services are unreliable and risky. Many taxi drivers in Kuala Lumpur provide efficient door-to-door services with well-maintained and clean vehicles. A taxi ride’s convenience is undeniable, after all. Travelers who aren’t acquainted with the city can catch a cab and be driven to their exact destination without having to navigate the city or use the often overcrowded public transit system. Overall, if you avoid catching a Kuala Lumpur taxi from touristy spots and make sure that the driver uses the taximeter, you should enjoy a pleasant journey. However, it’s important to note that the vast majority of locals and tourists alike prefer using ride-hailing services, such as the dominant in Southeast Asia Grab, Air Asia, etc. Using the relevant apps, passengers have control over their rides and are informed about their driver’s personal data, while they prepay for the Kuala Lumpur taxi service using credit cards or other cashless payment methods.

Our Tip: You’ll find lady taxis in Kuala Lumpur as well. They are operated by female drivers and are a safer option, especially for female passengers. However, they are rare. Thus, you’ll have to book one through the relevant apps to ensure availability.

How to Distinguish a Taxi in Kuala Lumpur

The official Kuala Lumpur taxis have the distinctive Teksi sign on their roofs. It is used to indicate availability. Therefore, if it’s lit, the cab is empty, whereas if it’s off, the taxi is occupied. Moreover, KL taxis have license plates starting with the letter “H” and their taxi company’s logo displayed on their sides. There are two types of taxis in Kuala Lumpur. The red-white or orange-white taxis are the budget ones. They are the most affordable option and feature limited luggage space. On the other hand, the blue cars are the premium, executive alternative. They are larger vehicles that can accommodate up to seven passengers (including the driver) and offer more expensive rates than the regular cabs. 

Our Tip: You should never trust individual drivers touting for passengers. While official taxis in Kuala Lumpur have a reputation for scamming passengers, unlicensed drivers are almost certain to overcharge you.

Kuala Lumpur Taxi Fares and Rates

The Kuala Lumpur taxi rates are governmentally set. Thus, all taxis in Kuala Lumpur charge according to the same price list. Please note that red taxis and blue cabs charge according to different tariffs. In detail, the Kuala Lumpur taxi fares are formed as follows:

A surcharge applies for luggage. Thus, each piece of luggage comes with an RM1 ($0,23/€0,22) fee. Moreover, booked-via-phone taxis are RM2 ($0,45/€0,43) more expensive, while night rides (from midnight to 06:00 am) are 50% costlier. Please keep in mind that some taxi companies may charge an RM1 ($0,23/€0,22) fee per passenger starting from the third, meaning that the base rate applies for rides with up to two passengers. Finally, if the route is a toll road, passengers have to pay the toll fees.

Payments can be made in cash, using the local currency. Cashless payments are only accepted by some premium Kuala Lumpur taxis, by e-hailing companies, and sometimes when reserving a cab through a taxi app.

Our Tip: Fixed fares apply for some taxi rides from KLIA Airport and the KL Sentral Train Station. In those cases, passengers can access the taxi counters, pay the fee to their destination, and, once receiving their voucher, head to their assigned taxi waiting at the taxi rank.

How to Hire a Taxi in Kuala Lumpur

You’ll find numerous taxis circulating in Kuala Lumpur. Thus, you can easily hail a Kuala Lumpur taxi from the street. On the other hand, taxi ranks are located at the main transit hubs and the major hotels of KL. However, taxi scams are more likely to occur when catching a cab from one of the city’s tourist hotspots. On the other hand, you can call for a cab or use one of the taxi apps. In general terms, using a taxi app is highly recommended when trying to catch a Kuala Lumpur taxi. To minimize risks, the safest way to hire a taxi in Kuala Lumpur is through a taxi app.

Our Tip: You can ask your hotel’s concierge to call for a cab. Still, you should bear in mind that in some cases, hotel staff cooperates with certain drivers to receive a commission.

Kuala Lumpur Taxi to KLIA Airport

A Kuala Lumpur taxi to Kuala Lumpur Airport is one of the most convenient ways to travel from the city to KLIA for your upcoming flight. As long as you make sure that the driver is using the taximeter, you should enjoy a seamless ride to the main Malaysian airport. Please note that although there are fixed-priced rides for Kuala Lumpur airport taxis from the airport, rides to KL Airport are always metered. Thus, you should avoid bargaining over set prices with your taxi driver unless you are familiar with the local taxi fare system and know the usual taxi fares. In any case, your taxi journey from Kuala Lumpur to KLIA Airport should last about 70 minutes and cost approximately RM100 ($22,80/€21,90). However, taxi journeys can be up to 130 minutes and may be considerably costlier during rush hours.

Our Tip: You should call for your cab or book a taxi through a taxi app to ensure availability and be sure that you’ll be at the airport on time for your flight.

More Tips and Hints about Kuala Lumpur Taxis

• Female passengers are advised to avoid catching cabs from the street. Booking a taxi through a taxi app is a much safer option, while lady taxis are another alternative.
• Kuala Lumpur taxis may be hard to find during rainy days.
• You should never negotiate fares with Kuala Lumpur taxi drivers, as metered rates are typically lower than the set prices they may offer.
• If the driver refuses to start the taximeter, you should catch another taxi.
• Many Kuala Lumpur taxi drivers can communicate in English. Still, it is always advisable to have the address of your destination written on a piece of paper.
• The use of GPS will help you avoid being overcharged, as some drivers may take longer routes to increase the final rate.
• A few accessible taxis can be found in Kuala Lumpur. Previous reservation is necessary.
• Tipping the Kuala Lumpur driver isn’t obligatory. In fact, it isn’t even expected.
• Taxi rides can be long and expensive during rush hours, especially from 07:00 am to 10:00 am, and from 04:30 pm to 08:00 pm.

FAQs

How do I call a taxi in KL?

You can easily hail a Kuala Lumpur taxi from the street, especially if you are in a city’s central area. However, to avoid scamming incidents, you should either call for a cab or, even better, use one of the taxi apps to make your reservation.

Is it easy to get a taxi in Kuala Lumpur?

Numerous taxis circulate in Kuala Lumpur, while taxi ranks are located close to the main transit hubs, the major hotels, and the most popular city attractions. Therefore, you’ll easily catch a Kuala Lumpur taxi. That being said, booking it through a taxi app is always recommended to avoid being overcharged and to ensure the quality of the services provided.

Do you tip taxi drivers in Kuala Lumpur?

Tipping the taxi driver isn’t obligatory or common in Kuala Lumpur. Still, if you are satisfied with the service, leaving a small tip is always appreciated. Thus, it’s up to you whether or not to tip your Kuala Lumpur taxi driver.

Do taxis in KL take credit cards?

Most taxis in Kuala Lumpur accept only cash payments. Moreover, payments can be made only in the local currency. On the other hand, some premium blue taxis accept payments via credit cards as well, while cashless payment methods are available when booking a ride-hailing service.