How to Book a Taxi in Jordan - Full Guide 2024 (2024)

Trying to work out how to book a taxi in Jordan in 2024? You’ve come to the right place!

It is almost impossible to visit Jordan without taking a taxi ride. Most people who visit Jordan take many taxi journeys. We did run into a concerning problem with a taxi in Jordan. We need to share this to help you.

Taking a taxi in Jordan is not necessarily straightforward. So, whether you like it or not, learning about taxis in Jordan is an essential part of planning your Jordan trip. Please read this article carefully. When we traveled to Jordan with our kids, we did run into some problems taking taxis. We hope that we can help you avoid the same problems by sharing our experience and advice.

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to help you travel around Jordan using taxis. In this article we share fair taxi prices to help you negotiate a good deal. We will help you identify the main things that you need to agree with taxi drivers (this is very important). In this article we also discuss the use of Taxi apps in Jordan. And we will share some safety issues when you are taking taxis in Jordan.

PLANNING AN EPIC JORDAN TRIP? – Don’t miss our intrepid & independent 7 day Jordan Itinerary

NEED TO BOOK LONG DISTANCE BUSES? – Full guide to booking a bus in Jordan

LEARN MORE ABOUT TRANSPORT IN JORDAN? – Read our guide to Transport around Jordan

Advantages of Taking a Taxi in Jordan

There are many advantages of taking a taxi in Jordan. Firstly, a taxi is a relatively cheap, fast, and convenient way to get around. Taking a taxi in Jordan offers door-to-door transport. Once you have taken your taxi, you can relax into the journey and let the driver navigate. If you’re traveling in Jordan in the summer, it is also intensely hot, and taking a taxi can allow you a cool and refreshing break. If you are traveling with lots of baggage, taking a taxi is also a lot nicer and more convenient than taking a bus or walking. So there are lots of great reasons to take a taxi in Jordan.

How Much Does It Cost to Take a Taxi Ride in Jordan?

The key to getting a fair price for a taxi in Jordan is knowing roughly how much the journey should cost. Here is a rough guide to taxi prices in Jordan:

• Short journeys around town: 1 – 5JOD (£1 – £5 or $1.20 – $6)
• Medium trips out of town: 10 – 30JOD (£10 – £30 or $12 – $35)
• Long day trips out of town: 50 – 150JOD (£50 – £150 or $60 – $180)

These are common taxi routes that you are likely to use if you are visiting Jordan. These are approximate fair prices to help you negotiate with local drivers. Drivers in Jordan may try and charge a lot more than this. Remember, you don’t need to go with the first person you speak to. You can always ask around and find someone who is genuinely happy with the price.

Two Ways to Book a Taxi in Jordan

There are two ways to book taxis in Jordan:

Firstly, you can go old school and flag a taxi or speak to a driver who is waiting. If you choose to get a taxi this way, you will need to agree on the price before you go. It is important to know reasonable prices; remember to shop around and don’t feel pressured.

Secondly, you can book a taxi in Jordan using the Uber taxi app. This allows you to take taxis for a reasonable and a fair local price. Using Uber is a very convenient and easy way to book taxis in Jordan. We particularly recommend this if you are uncomfortable with the idea of bartering.

If you’re looking for a great driver in Amman we recommend Mamoon. You can drop him a message on Whatsapp +962795444919. He speaks good English & agrees to fair prices. He cannot offer airport pick ups but he is able to do airport drop offs and day trips in Jordan.

How Do You Use Uber to book a taxi in Jordan?

If you wish to use Uber in Jordan, you will need to purchase a local SIM card with mobile data. You will also need to download the Uber taxi app from your app store. You can register an account using your local phone number and email address. Once you have your account up and running, it is very easy to request taxis online. Simply add your destination. The app will use your phone’s location as the pickup point. It is possible to enter a different pickup point.

If you are planning to use Uber to book a taxi in Jordan, you will also need to enter some payment card details. The payment is taken directly from the app. A big advantage of using Uber in Jordan is that you can select a comfort option. This should request a newer vehicle, which is likely to be better maintained. Getting a new vehicle is safer, and you are more likely to have a working seat belt in the rear. A disadvantage of using the Uber taxi app is that you cannot book complicated journeys with return trips and waiting times.

We do not recommend using Uber to arrange longer taxi rides around Jordan. Instead, we recommend speaking to local drivers. It is also important to recognize that Uber taxis may be limited or unavailable if you’re traveling to more remote destinations. Don’t rely on Uber to get a return trip if you’re planning to visit somewhere more remote.

How Do You Book Long-Distance Taxis in Jordan?

If you’re planning to arrange a long-distance taxi journey in Jordan, we recommend speaking to drivers directly and negotiating the price. Many taxi drivers are keen to get long journeys. You will not find it difficult to get a taxi for a long trip. If you are planning a long taxi journey in Jordan, we recommend making an agreement with a driver at least one day in advance. Even if you don’t have a local number in Jordan, we still recommend that you take the phone number of your taxi driver. Many taxi drivers in Jordan use WhatsApp, and this is a very efficient way to communicate with your driver.

Things to Check if You Are Booking a Long-Distance Taxi Ride in Jordan

If you are booking a long-distance taxi journey in Jordan, it is very important to be completely clear on all the details with your driver. For a longer day trip, we recommend finding a driver who has a good level of English. Sadly, some taxi drivers may play on ambiguity and communication problems if they are trying to dishonestly make more money. Before you make a final agreement with a driver, make sure the following details are clear and agreed:

• Total price for the trip
• Make sure that the total price applies to your whole group
• Make sure it is clear whether you are going one way or taking a return trip
• If you’re taking a return trip, agree on waiting times
• Agree on any other stops or destinations that you hope to see

Challenges and Disadvantages of Taking a Taxi in Jordan

We don’t like to be negative, but we do want to share a few challenges and disadvantages of taking a taxi in Jordan. Understanding the disadvantages can help you keep your expectations in check and prepare for problems.

One of the challenges of taking a taxi in Jordan is the language barrier. Many Jordanians speak a little bit of English, but you will need to work on communication with your driver. In some cases, you may find it helpful to use a translation app such as Google Translate. We also recommend that you have some maps on your phone to show your destination. Remember, if you’re booking a longer journey, find a driver who has a reasonable level of English.

Another challenge of taking taxis in Jordan is safety. Many of the taxis in Jordan are poorly maintained. We also found that taxis in Jordan rarely have working seat belts in the rear of the vehicle. This can be very concerning when you see how busy, fast, and crowded the roads are around Jordan. If you’re concerned about the safety of a vehicle, we recommend finding a different taxi. In some cases, you may be able to pull seat belt buckles up from under the rear seat. You may get an odd look from the driver, but your life is worth more than their opinion of you.

And finally, taking a taxi in Jordan can also create problems if there is misunderstanding, miscommunication, or dishonesty on the part of your driver. It is very important to make sure the details of any taxi ride are fully understood before you get in. It is also important to be firm and stand your ground.

One Problem we experienced in Jordan

We just want to finish by sharing a personal story. Overall, we found taxi drivers in Jordan to be very friendly and honorable. In general, they were willing to agree to fair prices and stick to these prices. However, we did have one driver who tried to cause problems.

We made a very clear agreement with this driver for a day trip to the Dead Sea and also discussed waiting times. When we made the agreement, he was adamant that we could take as long as we liked at the Dead Sea, and he wasn’t concerned about waiting times.

However, after a few hours, the driver became stressed, so we rushed toward the end of our time at the Dead Sea. When we returned to Amman, he started trying to charge more money than we agreed to. Over the years, we have become very confident and unfazed when people behave like this. We firmly insisted that we had an agreement and walked away from him. He didn’t follow us or pursue the matter any further, and we were able to just move on and enjoy the trip.

However, we realized that an experience like this could be troubling and spoil someone’s trip. Our best advice is to make a very clear agreement at the start. If the driver seems to be playing on ambiguity or the language barrier, just find someone else. If possible, try to get the details agreed in writing. For example, check prices, times, and destinations on WhatsApp. If they do try to charge more than they have agreed, you can then show them the messages. If a driver is insisting on charging more than you have agreed to, we recommend remaining calm. Don’t get into any aggressive confrontations; just calmly walk away. If you are concerned for your safety, make sure you take the driver’s number plates and report the incident to the Jordan Tourist Police.

How to book a taxi in Jordan – Summary

We want to finish on a positive note. We found that the taxis in Jordan are very affordable and convenient. Taking taxis in Jordan was a nice way to connect with locals and get around as a family. There are plenty of different ways to get taxis in Jordan, and you will find that drivers are very welcoming and keen to take guests around their beautiful country. A little knowledge of local prices and the local culture will go a long way.