Taking a taxi with luggage: what you should know

So you are thinking about taking a taxi as part of your travels because it is the best suited or most efficient method compared to the other options available for this part of your journey. However you are asking yourself about the taxi company’s luggage policy and the extra charges that you may incur due to excess baggage charges. So we have decided to explain further and in detail how best to take a taxi with luggage.

Taking a taxi with luggage: our advice

There are many different types of luggage that you might wish to take with you when you travel: suitcases, backpacks, sports bags, holdalls on wheels, or even sports equipment such as skis, golf clubs or bicycles. So how should one go about booking a taxi with luggage when the term luggage can be interoperated in so many different ways? This is what we are going to find out about now. Let us start with the general rules. The most universally accepted taxi luggage allowance is that you have the right to travel with a standard sized suitcase (or holdall or backpackers backpack) as well as with one piece of hand luggage (which can be a briefcase, handbag, daypack or shopping bag). These two types of luggage are authorised and it is formally forbidden for taxi drivers to apply excess baggage charges for taxis when taking just these two types of luggage.

Ordering a taxi with luggage: mention it at the time of reservation

On the other hand do not forget that taking a taxi with a suitcase is an added inconvenience for the driver. To begin with in terms of available space, but also in terms of work as most nice and helpful taxi drivers will load and unload your personal effects for you. This is one reason we advise you to inform the taxi company of all of the bags you will be taking with you at the time of the booking, in order to avoid any surprises to the taxi driver. Especially as ordering a taxi with a suitcase in advance will ensure the taxi company provides a vehicle with a large enough boot space. What is more if there are more than one or two people travelling together with a suitcase in a taxi it then becomes mandatory to book in advance and explain this so that the taxi company can work out whether there will be enough space in one car and what type of vehicle they should send.

Taking a taxi with suitcases: reserving in advance is recommended

There will of course be certain unexpected situations that arise that mean reserving in advance is just not possible. However more often than not we know where we are going to be in advance and when we will need a taxi. Imagine for a minute a situation where normally we could take the first taxi we find in the taxi rank, on exiting a train station for example, but then if you add to this situation a metric ton of suitcases it is going to be a lot more complicated to find a taxi within the taxi rank that has a boot big enough. So in order to avoid having to take two taxis it is much better to phone ahead or book online ensuring to make it clear that you will be taking a taxi with suitcases.

Booking a taxi with bags: how much do they charge for excess baggage?

Let us now look at the financial aspect of booking a taxi with extra luggage which is probably the matter the most significant for you, which is absolutely understandable. So as you may well have imagined there is often a fee to add extra bags to a taxi journey. However more often than not, and unlike on airlines, the excess baggage fee for taxis is relatively minimal: often only 1€ per bag. How do the taxi companies justify this extra cost if there is still room available? This is often unclear but some claim it has to do with heavy loaded taxis consuming more fuel. Whatever the explanation the cost is often so unimportant that to avoid hassle it is best to just not say anything.

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