Taxis in the Dominican Republic

In Santo Domingo and Santiago, Uber, DiDi and inDrive all operate and are the easy choice, since they set the fare in advance and remove the negotiation. They also feel safer, since the driver and route are tracked.

In resort areas like Punta Cana, app coverage is patchier and hotel taxis and transfers dominate, so the app approach is mainly for the cities.

From Punta Cana (PUJ), most resort guests prebook a transfer through the hotel or a shuttle company, which is the smoothest option. Official airport taxis are fixed-rate and pricey (often US$30 to US$40 even to nearby resorts).

From Santo Domingo (SDQ), an app or an airport taxi both work. Wherever you land, agree the price before you set off if there is no meter and no app.

The habit to build: regular Dominican taxis do not use meters, so agree the fare before you get in, and confirm the currency (a quote may be in pesos or dollars). Have a rough idea of the fair price from your hotel first.

Be wary of motoconchos, the motorbike taxis: they are cheap and everywhere, but riskier for a visitor (no helmet, traffic), so most travelers skip them. And expect the occasional tourist-rate quote, which is where an app or a hotel-arranged car helps.

Pay an agreed fare or an app fare in pesos or US dollars, both widely accepted in tourist areas, though pesos give better value for a street deal. A small tip or rounding up is a kind gesture but not required for a ride.

For more, see tipping in the Dominican Republic, cash or card in the Dominican Republic, and the Dominican Republic money guide.

Common questions

Quick answers.

More on Dominican Republic

The little money things nobody warns you about.

• Do I need cash in the Dominican Republic, or can I use cards?Short answer: cards at resorts and hotels, and peso cash for small vendors, taxis and corner stores. Dollars are accepted in tourist areas, but pesos give better value. Here is how to handle it.
• Tipping in the Dominican RepublicIn the Dominican Republic, a 10% service charge and an 18% tax are added to restaurant bills, so the total runs well above the menu. A small extra for your server is customary. Here is what you actually owe.
• Do I need the E-Ticket for the Dominican Republic?Short answer: yes, and most people miss that you need it twice, once to arrive and once to leave. It is free and takes about ten minutes. Here is the official site and how not to pay for it.
• Common money scams in the Dominican Republic, and what they cost youThe Dominican Republic is safe for the great majority of visitors, most trips are resort-and-beach and entirely trouble free, and almost none of this is dramatic. The traps that actually take money off US travelers here are quiet ones: a card that leaves your table, a fare nobody agreed, a website charging for a free form, a bill that grew by a quarter between the menu and the checkout. Here is each one, what it costs, and how to sidestep it.
• Dominican Republic hotel taxes and fees, explainedShort answer: roughly 28% more than the rate you were quoted, which is a bigger jump than almost anywhere in the Caribbean. The unusual part is that both charges are fixed in law rather than set by the hotel, so for once the numbers are not a range. Here is what stacks, and what changes when your stay is all-inclusive.
• Staying connected in the Dominican Republic.If your week is an all-inclusive in Punta Cana, the resort wifi is probably all you need and we would rather tell you that than sell you something. If you are leaving the gate to drive, hike or move between towns, the answer changes.
• What does getting sick in the Dominican Republic cost a visitor?The Dominican Republic is one of the few countries where the US government states the money rule in a single sentence: medical care here requires upfront payment, even in emergencies. The second sentence it supplies is the size of the tail: a medical evacuation to the United States can cost well over 50,000 dollars.