Jakarta taxis are the best, least frustrating option for visitors to get around Jakarta. Keep in mind – it’s hot, the traffic is often heavy, and it’s likely to take a while to get anywhere. Why not relax in a nice, cool air conditioned car?
Jakarta taxis are generally safe, but as in any large city, caution needs to be exercised. I have lived in Jakarta for three years and have never had a serious problem with a taxi driver that threatened my safety.
Jakarta has too many taxi companies to mention – there are thousands of taxis on the streets of Jakarta. Most of them are quite good, but there are the cowboys out there who you’ll want to avoid. The time of day makes a big difference as well. After around 9:00 p.m. someone seems to open a gate somewhere and turns the cowboys loose, so expect more problems at night.
Personally, I have never had a problem with a Jakarta taxi during the day. All the problems I have had have been at night – the driver refusing to use the meter is the main issue. The driver taking the long way around happens on occasion, and drivers get lost sometimes, but all in all, taking taxis in Jakarta is relatively hassle free if one stays alert, and vigilant.
Jakarta’s reputable taxi companies don’t tolerate dodgy drivers. Many of the companies operate on a point system in which drivers get points if a customer complains. After they accumulate a certain number of points, they are fired.
The better Taxi companies have all have fairly new cars, so an old beat up taxi usually means the driver can’t get a job with one of the good taxi services. That’s not always true – some drivers own their car and lease it to a company, and it’s the best they can afford. But, if you’re new to Jakarta, don’t know your way around, and don’t speak the language, stick to taxi services that operate new cars.
The driver’s appearance is also a good indication. Most reliable companies require their drivers to wear a uniform, or at the very least, wear clean clothes, and be well groomed.
What does the car smell like? Some drivers live in their cars; an obvious fact from the smell of dirty socks. Or, the car can smell of gasoline, which means poor mechanical condition – not worth the risk.
