• Nothing Found

Seattle Taxis

Seattle Taxi - General Information and Tips

TRAINED DRIVERS

Hand picked & english speaking drivers

LOW PRICES

Same price as a regular Taxi from the line

FLIGHT MONITORING

Drivers are always on time

QUALITY SUPPORT

24/7 Email & Phone support

Getting a Seattle taxi

Getting a Seattle taxi cab is the easiest way to navigate the city. With hundreds of Seattle taxis operating around the city at any given time, you can count on them to provide direct, reliable, door-to-door services to any destination. 

Official Seattle taxi cabs come in an assortment of colors, but yellow cabs are the most famous. They offer metered fares set by Seattle and King County so your fare should be the same regardless of which taxi company you choose. You can easily hail a cab on the street, call a local taxi number, or use a Seattle taxi app to arrange your transportation on demand. Seattle Water Taxis are also an option that connects West Seattle to downtown in just 10-15 minutes. The water taxi service in Seattle is a popular choice for locals and tourists as it’s a fun way to get around while enjoying waterfront views.

TRAINED DRIVERS

Hand picked & english speaking drivers

LOW PRICES

Same price as a regular Taxi from the line

FLIGHT MONITORING

Drivers are always on time

QUALITY SUPPORT

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 SEA TO DOWNTOWN 40 € 40 € 15 MIN
FROM DOWNTOWN TO SEATTLE ART MUSEUM 8 € 8 € 8 MIN
FROM DOWNTOWN TO GASWORKS PARK 10 € 10 € 10 MIN
FROM DOWNTOWN TO SNOQUALMIE FALLS 83.20 € 83.20 € 45 MIN
Getting from Seattle Airport to Downtown by private transfer

How much are the Seattle taxi rates?

Taxi cabs in Seattle calculate their fares using a taximeter, based on the time and distance traveled. The cost of a ride is regulated by the state and all taxis charge the same price. Moreover, the City of Seattle tests all meters at least once a year to ensure accuracy and to prevent tampering.

However, there is an exception for SEATAC airport taxis: a fixed price of $45 (€40) is charged to all passengers traveling from the airport to downtown Seattle.

With this in mind, here is a quick guide to Seattle taxi rates:

Initial fee: $2.60 (€2.30)

Each Additional mile: $2.70 (€2.40)

Waiting time per minute: $0.50 (€0.44)

Please note that there are no price differences for day/night, weekend, or holiday trips.

Surcharges

Taxis in Seattle apply surcharges to their fares. For example, if there are more than two passengers, a surcharge of $0.50 (€0.44) per person will be applied to your fare (excluding minors). Some taxi companies also charge an extra $1 (€0.80) if the gas prices are higher. 

Fixed rates are extremely rare unless you are traveling outside Seattle. However, Seattle Airport taxis offer a fixed rate of $45 (€40) to take you from Seattle Airport to downtown.

What our customers say about Welcome

"Anabelia, our tour guide was wonderful. She guided us through history and food and made great suggestions and enabled us to understand Greek culture and the food. I would highly recommend this tour.”

How to get a Seattle taxi

As Seattle is a popular city for both business and tourism, it has hundreds of taxis roaming the streets, making it easy to hail one down when needed. A Seattle cab is easy to recognize with mostly yellow, orange, green, or white vehicles. If you can’t find an available one, you can always head to an official taxi rank or popular locations, i.e. near hotels or tourist attractions, where you will find many taxis. Alternatively, you can always call a yellow cab in Seattle or book with a company online.

How to get a Seattle taxi from Seattle Airport

Seattle Tacoma Airport has plenty of airport taxis at the taxi ranks on the 3rd floor of the parking lot between the Airport’s North and South Curb. The area is well signposted. 

Note that there is a set rate fare of $45 (€40) for trips from Seattle Airport to downtown.

How to get a Seattle Water taxi

Water taxis in Seattle connect West Seattle to downtown. Generally, the journey only takes 10-15 minutes and costs $5.75 (€5) per person.

How to get a Seattle taxi from King Street Station

Unfortunately, there is no parking or taxi rank around King Street Station. Instead, it’s best to take the exit onto 4th Ave and hail a taxi from the street.

How to get a Seattle taxi from the Seattle Space Needle

There is no taxi rank outside the Seattle Space Needle due to limited parking facilities. However, you can easily hail a cab from 5th Ave or Broad Street. There is also a pickup point if you want to call a taxi number.

Most popular Seattle taxi apps

If you find it more convenient to go online to call a cab, a Seattle taxi app could be useful. The most popular options are Uber and Lyft. These formerly offered favorable rates over local Seattle taxicabs, however, locals report the prices are about the same. 

Due to surge pricing and the variability in service, many prefer to go with local official cabs. 

That said, if you want the convenience of a fixed rate fare paid in advance, we suggest pre-booking your Seattle taxi with a reliable, professional transfer company like Welcome Pickups. That way, you get a higher quality service at a fixed fee for a seamless travel experience.

Useful Seattle taxi numbers

If you’re far from downtown or traveling in rush hour, it may be more convenient to call a Seattle taxi number. 

Here are some reputable companies:

Yellow Cabs – +1 (206) 622-6500

A1 Seattle Taxi – +1 (206) 466-9500

FarWest Taxi – +1 (206) 622-1717

Benefits of booking a Seattle taxi in advance

There is nothing better than knowing your Seattle cab will be waiting for you, wherever and whenever you want, especially if you are new to a city. With Welcome Pickups, you can plan and budget your holiday accordingly.

We offer friendly local drivers, fully personalized transfers, guaranteed on-time pickups, and premium 24/7 customer service. If you prefer to avoid surcharges, long waits and unpleasant surprises, pre-book your Seattle taxi service with Welcome Pickups.

Seattle taxi tips

  1. Make sure your Seattle cab driver resets their taximeter before starting your ride.
  2. Taxi rides from Seattle Airport to downtown offer flat-rate fares of $45 (€40).
  3. There are no price differences for day, night, or weekend trips in Seattle.
  4. Almost all taxis (including Yellow Cab and STITA) accept major credit cards and traveler's checks including Visa, American Express, and MasterCard.
  5. It is important to tip your Seattle cab driver. A tip of around 15% to 20% is the norm.
  6. To help you budget for your tip, we recommend using an official Seattle taxi fare calculator. You can find one on the Yellow Cab website.
  7. If you need a baby seat or child booster, we suggest bringing one with you. Seattle taxis don’t offer these as standard.
  8. If you’d like to pay for your taxi fare in cash, we suggest carrying exact change plus tip.
  9. You’re entitled to a receipt if you request one. This can be helpful if you wish to complain to the taxi service about your driver.
  10. Discounts are available for veterans.
  11. Most taxis in Seattle are not wheelchair-accessible as standard. However, there are plenty of taxi companies that provide adapted vehicles on request.
  12. Locals in Seattle often report that rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are rarely cheaper than official taxis.
  13. There are no surcharges for carrying luggage or strollers.
  14. All payments must be made in US Dollars.

Wheelchair-accessible taxis in Seattle

Standard taxis in Seattle are not equipped to accommodate wheelchairs yet. For that reason, you will have to get in touch with a private taxi company. Many private companies offer wheelchair-accessible vehicles, such as Wheelers Van Rentals or Wheelchair Jimmy. Yellow Cab also offers adapted vehicles on request.

Seattle taxi safety and complaints

If you encounter a bad experience with your taxi service in Seattle, you can file a complaint, either by calling the Seattle Customer Service Bureau at +1-206-684-2489 or by filling out an online form.

It is important to be as specific as possible about your experience, so if possible, please include:

– Date, time, and location of the incident
– Vehicle description (color, company, car number).
– Driver description
– Where your trip started (inside Seattle or outside Seattle)
– The way you requested the ride (on the street, by phone, or through an online application).

Valid complaints will be resolved in the form of a written apology, reimbursement of fare, or any other reasonable action.

Frequently asked questions

How do I call for a taxi in Seattle?

You can easily get a reputable taxi cab Seattle service by calling a Seattle taxi number from a radio taxi company like Yellow Cabs (+1 (206) 622-6500). If you’re in the city center, it’s likely not necessary to call a taxi company as you’ll find official cabs roaming in the street.

Is there a taxi app in Seattle?

Yes, the most popular Seattle taxi apps are Uber and Lyft. However, they are often more expensive than official local taxis due to changeable surge pricing. A good alternative is to use the Yellow Cab mobile app which connects you to official taxis, or you can pre-book your cab with a trusted international company like Welcome Pickups for a guaranteed set-rate. 

Is it easy to get a taxi in Seattle?

It is very easy to find a Seattle taxi. You can either hail a Seattle cab directly off the streets, go to an official taxi rank or major tourist hub, call up one of the many taxi services, or book a taxi online or via a mobile application. If you’re outside the city center, it may be trickier to find a taxi passing by in the street. In this case, it’s better to call one or book it in advance.

Can I pay cash for a taxi in Seattle?

Yes, you can pay for your taxi cab in Seattle by cash, card, or traveler’s checks. If you’d like to pay by cash, we recommend carrying exact change as local drivers rarely carry small bills. 

Was this helpful?
Book your Seattle Transfer