Getting Around Kuala Lumpur by Taxi

Getting around Kuala Lumpur by taxi is not the cheapest options - nor is it the fastest - but it gets you right to the doorstep. All taxis have meters, but during the evening rush hours, it is often trying to get them to use. If you are unfamiliar with where you are going, by all means, insist that the driver use the meter or take another taxi. A metered journey is almost always cheaper than a fixed price.

Within Kuala Lumpur itself, there are some 200,000 taxis - more than what you will find in the rest of Malaysia combined. If you have to, you can call up a cab to come fetch you (I'll provide you the numbers below). Expect to pay a service charge of RM1.00 above your metered fare for the convenience. However, be forewarned that the taxi might not appear if you call during rush hour.

The flagfall is RM3.00, and then RM0.90 for every kilometer thereafter. The meter calculates the fare through a combination of distance and time. So if you get caught in a jam, expect the meter to continue running. Appearing confident and street-smart go a long way in convincing unscrupulous taxi drivers that you are no easy kill. It wouldn't hurt to do your homework with regards the best route to take, to prevent drivers from literally taking you for a ride.

After midnight, there is a surcharge of 50% on top off the metered fare. That's perhaps the only time when it may be cheaper to agree on a fixed price.

Call a Taxi

Here are the numbers you've been waiting for, in alphabetical order. Drop the "03" when you are calling within KL itself.

• Airport Limousine: 03 8787 3030
• Comfort: 03 8024 2727, 03 6253 1313
• Hotline Cab: 03 2095 3399
• Khidmat Saujana: 03 2162 8888
• KL Taxi: 03 9221 4241
• New Supercab: 03 7875 7333
• Outstation Taxi: 03 2078 0213
• Public Cab: 03 6259 2020
• Radio: 03 9221 7600
• Shah Alam Taxi: 03 5543 1455
• Sunlight: 03 9057 5757
• Uptown Ace: 03 9283 2333
• Wira Cab: 03 4042 2643

Back to Discover Kuala Lumpur mainpage