How to get a Portland Maine Taxi

Many people have the same questions?   How do I get a Portland Maine Taxi? Is it proper etiquette to “flag” or “Hail” a Portland Maine Taxi, or should you call and request one to your location?  What times are the toughest times to get a taxi?   What should you expect for pricing for a Portland Maine Taxi?

Those are all good questions, and here are the answers:

If you are at a residence, it is best to call for a taxi.  The dispatcher will be able to tell you about how long it will take to get your Portland Maine Taxi to you.  Most times it should not take any longer then 15 minutes, but there are times when it can take a lot longer–New Years Eve, bad weather, 10:00 P.M. to 1 A.M. on Friday and Saturday nights, etc.  If you are in a hurry, you should let the dispatcher know, so you can be a “Priority” pickup!

Flagging or Hailing a Portland Maine Taxi is common practice in the City.  If you are attending a high traffic event, or in the Old Port, you are actually better of to “flag” a Portland Maine Taxi, then you are to call.  Most companies will not dispatch a cab to a bar in the Old Port between 12:30 and 1:30 A.M.  This is because there are to many people in the area, and it is usually very difficult for the driver and passenger to hook up.

Pricing for Portland Maine Taxi’s are governed by the City of Portland.  $1.90 to start, and .30 every 1/10 of a mile (or $3.00 a mile).  If you get out of the cab and have the driver wait, .40 a minute waiting time is added to the fair.  The metered zone is Portland, South Portland, Falmouth, Scarborough, Westbrook, Cape Elizabeth and Cumberland.  Anywhere else, most cab drivers will give a flat rate (See Portland Maine Taxi Rates ).  Flat rates can fluctuate from time to time For example, If you are going Biddeford at 5 P.M., you can expect to pay $45 to $55 dollars (Biddeford pool flat rate is $60 to $70 dollars).  However, when the demand for taxi’s are the greatest, you could pay a lot more.  When requesting a flat rate, the driver and passenger agree on a price before the ride starts.  If you do not request a flat rate, the meter will decide the price.