Prague taxis do not enjoy the best reputation. They have been infamous since the velvet revolution when taxi drivers became businessmen who did not know their limits. Gradually, regulations on running business in this field have been established and nowadays customers do not face overcharging as often as in the 90’s.
Whoever wants to use taxi services in Prague can find their cab at marked taxi ranks. Those that are marked by a ‘Fair Place’ label are controlled by Prague’s City Hall and provide reliable and quality services at prices set by the City Hall. Moreover, most decent taxi companies have their own telephone depot and their cars are of yellow colour. If you use them for calling your taxi, they will guarantee a quality service. In Prague, the price for a kilometre is fixed. It should correspond, primarily on inflation, with the price of fuel and the like.
Every taxi is obliged to be marked with a black and yellow sign “Taxi ” on its roof. On both front doors, there should be not only the evidence number but also a basic price list. A similar, but more detailed one can be found inside the car, as well as the driver’s card and the taximeter. When a customer finishes his/her ride, he must be given a counterfoil from the taximeter printer and he/she pays the price indicated on the taximeter. When the taxi driver wants to negotiate the price, it is a sign that he is requesting more than the right price would be.