Chicago taxi services
There are over 7 thousand Chicago taxis available around the city, and even a few water taxis in downtown Chicago. If you’re looking for a way to get around the city quickly, safely, and with zero stress, using a taxi service in Chicago is the way to go. Taxis in Chicago are bright yellow with a large ‘TAXI’ sign on top, so are very easy to spot in the busy city streets.
You can easily hail a taxi in the street, walk to a designated Chicago taxi rank, call a phone dispatch taxi, or use a Chicago taxi app. For time-sensitive journeys, such as your Chicago Airport taxi, you can also pre-book your rides through a private company.
With so many taxis available throughout the city, it’s important to only travel with a regulated and licensed driver. Be sure to check for the unique taxi number on the side of the vehicle, the company emblem and phone number printed on the front or the side of the car, a programmed meter inside the car, and the large “TAXI” sign on the roof before entering any taxi in Chicago.
Hand picked & english speaking drivers
Same price as a regular Taxi from the line
Drivers are always on time
24/7 Email & Phone support
How much does a taxi cost?
| Taxi prices | Day time (05:00 - 24:00) | Night time (00:00 - 05:00) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| FROM O'HARE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN | 38 € | 38 € | 35 MIN |
| FROM O'HARE AIRPORT TO UNION STATION | 35 € | 35 € | 30 MIN |
| FROM MIDWAY AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN | 38 € | 38 € | 30 MIN |
| FROM UNION STATION TO NAVY PIER | 12 € | 12 € | 10 MIN |
| FROM DOWNTOWN TO LINCOLN PARK ZOO | 12 € | 12 € | 11 MIN |
| FROM CHINATOWN TO MILLENNIUM PARK | 16 € | 16 € | 15 MIN |
| FROM FEILD MUSEUM TO ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | 12 € | 12 € | 10 MIN |
What are the Chicago taxi rates?
The Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Department of the City of Chicago determines all taxi rates. The official Chicago taxi rates were set in 2022 and to ensure every driver follows them, they must use officially calibrated taximeters to calculate your journey fee. There’s both a distance and time element to the meters: the distance element will be used when the car is in motion, and the time element will be used when you are stuck in traffic for long periods of time. Your fare will be calculated as follows:
Base fare: $3.25 USD (€3)
Price per mile: $2.25 (€2)
Price per 36 seconds: $0.25 (€0.20)
For example, a 10-minute journey from Union Station to the Chicago Navy Pier will cost around $10 (€8). If you take a taxi from Chicago Airport to downtown, you will pay around $40 (€38) and the journey will take 30 minutes.
Please keep in mind that there are additional fees for things such as additional passengers after the first three ($1 (€0.80) for the first passenger and $0.50 (€0.40) for each one after that), keeping your driver waiting, taking a taxi from the airport ($4 (€3.80) and any tolls that may be incurred during your journey.
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How to get a taxi in Chicago
Taxis in Chicago are yellow with a large “TAXI” light on top. Each taxi will have a unique taxi number, company logo, and the company phone number on both of the front doors.
One of the easiest ways to get a Chicago taxi is by hailing one from the street. If you’re in the downtown area, simply look out for the yellow cabs and stick out your arm if it’s empty. If you’d prefer, you can also walk to a taxi rank and take a cab from there. You can find official Chicago taxi ranks at the main transport hubs, such as Union Station and O’Hare Airport, at many of the main tourist attractions, and the major streets such as; Logan Square, Jefferson Park, Indiana Av, Wolf Point Plaza, and Streeter Drive. For a more personalized experience, you can also call a phone dispatch taxi, use a Chicago taxi app, or pre-book your rides with a private company.
How to get a taxi from O-Hare International Airport
Each terminal at Chicago O’Hare Airport has a taxi rank. These ranks are open 24 hours a day and offer rides into downtown Chicago and beyond. You can find the ranks at each terminal as follows:
Terminal 1: The taxi rank is on the Lower Level outside of door 1A.
Terminal 2: You will find taxis on the Upper Level between gates 2A and 2E.
Terminal 3: Taxis are available on the Lower Level curb outside of the Baggage Claim.
Terminal 5: You will find the taxi rank on the Lower Level outside of the Arrivals Hall.
Taxis from these ranks use a taximeter to calculate the cost of your journey, and you can expect to pay around $40 (€38) for a taxi from Chicago Airport to downtown.
How to get a taxi from Chicago Midway Airport
Chicago Midway has one large passenger terminal that’s split into 3 concourses. the terminal has a large taxi rank that’s located on the Lower Level, just outside of the Arrivals Hall. The rank is open 24 hours a day and all taxis must use a taximeter to calculate your fare. You can expect to pay around $40 (€38) for the 30-minute journey from Chicago Midway Airport to downtown Chicago.
How to get a taxi from Union Station
There’s a dedicated Chicago taxi stand at Union Station that is serviced by numerous taxi companies. The rank is open from 05:00 to 24:00 and is located on the west side of Canal Street, north of Jackson Street. Taxis from this rank use meters to calculate their journeys.
How to get a Chicago water taxi
Taking a water taxi in downtown Chicago is a fun way to explore the city. There are three different locations for taking a Chicago boat taxi: Ogilvie-Union, Chinatown, and Michigan Avenue. You will find the bright yellow Chicago water taxi ranks as follows:
Ogilvie-Union: Located at the northwest corner of the Madison Street Bridge in the West Loop.
Chinatown: Located at the Pagoda of the Ping Tom Memorial Park.
Michigan Avenue: Located along the riverwalk between the Wrigley Building and the Trump International Hotel and Tower, one mile west of the Navy Pier.
A one-way ticket on a Chicago water taxi will cost $10 (€8.50), while a day pass costs $20 (€18). You can check the full Chicago water taxi schedule on their website.
Booking through a Chicago taxi app
During bad weather or late-night rides, it’s much more convenient to stay inside and use a Chicago taxi app to order a ride. There are many different apps to choose from, both local and international, including Chicago Taxi App, TaxiWithUs, American Taxi Dispatch, Uber, Curb, and Lyft. Although you have a wide variety of ride-sharing apps to choose from, there may be long wait times and price increases during rush hour or from remote locations.
To avoid the long wait times and price spikes that come with the Chicago taxi apps, you can always pre-book your taxi rides with Welcome Pickups.
Calling a Chicago taxi number
If you’d like to avoid downloading another app to your phone, you can also call a Chicago taxi number to request a phone dispatch taxi. There’s no extra fee for this service, however, many companies will begin the taximeter on the way to collect you, so the fare may end up being higher. A few of the most trusted phone dispatch taxi cabs in Chicago are:
Yellow Cab Chicago: +1 (312) 829 4222
American Taxi Chicago: +1 (847) 252 9237
Chicago Checker: +1 (312) 243 2537
303 Taxi: +1 (847) 303 0303
Flash Cab: +1 (773) 561 4444
American United Chicago: +1 (773) 248 7600
Why book your Chicago taxi in advance?
There’s nothing better when arriving in a new city than knowing that all your transport needs are taken care of. If you book your Chicago taxi in advance, you don’t need to worry about walking the busy city streets looking for a taxi, or waiting for your phone dispatch or taxi app cab to be dispatched.
Booking your taxi service in Chicago with a trusted company such as Welcome Pickups will give you the peace of mind that your fare is pre-paid, your pick-up time is guaranteed, and that you have a 24-hour customer support line, should you need any assistance during your time in Chicago.
Chicago taxi tips
- Make sure your driver resets the taximeter to the base fare before you begin your journey to avoid being overcharged.
- There’s no difference in the Chicago taxi rates when traveling during the evening or late at night.
- Passengers are responsible for any tolls incurred during their journey.
- Tipping your driver around 15 to 20% of your fare is customary in Chicago.
- There’s no additional fee for baggage or storing things in the trunk of the taxi.
- Chicago taxis don’t come with a baby seat as standard but you can bring and fit your own for free.
- You can pay for your taxi cab in Chicago by credit card without a convenience fee or surcharge.
- Pre-booking your taxi in Chicago will give you the peace of mind of guaranteed on-time pickups, hand-picked local drivers, competitive fixed-rate fares, and 24/7 customer support.
Wheelchair-accessible taxi service in Chicago
There are over 20 licensed taxi companies that offer ADA-compliant, wheelchair-accessible taxis in Chicago. They all have a rear or side entry ramp and can fit up to 4 other passengers aside from the wheelchair user.
Wheelchair-accessible taxis in Chicago can be requested on-demand or in advance, costing the same as any metered taxi in the city. Bookings for wheelchair-accessible taxis in Chicago are made through a centralized system, by calling Open Taxis at +1 (855) 928 1010 or +1 (773) 657 3006.
Chicago taxi safety and complaints
Although there have been some problems with unlicensed or rude taxi drivers in Chicago in the past, the city has been going to great lengths to improve both the safety and experience of taking a local Chicago taxi. On all taxis, you will now see a “How’s my driving? Compliments or Concerns, Call 311 Report Taxi Number” sign on the bumper, which is helping the district government make these improvements.
If you experience an issue with your fare, rudeness or safety while riding in a Chicago taxi, you can call +1 311 to make a report to the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection. You will need to leave your name and contact, along with the taxi number and company you traveled with, so be sure to have this on hand when calling.