Taxis in Jamaica, and the red-plate rule

The one thing to know in Jamaica is the license plate. A legitimate taxi is a licensed public passenger vehicle, and it carries a red plate, along with a Transport Authority sticker on the windscreen, a Taxi globe on the roof, and often the words Route Taxi on the doors. An unlicensed car working as a taxi is known locally as a robot, and it carries an ordinary white plate.

Robots are everywhere and cheap, and locals use them, but they are operating illegally, they are often overloaded, and the point that matters for you: if there is an accident, the passengers are not insured. As a visitor, keep it simple and use only red-plate taxis, tourist-board-approved taxis such as JUTA, or your hotel's own drivers.

Uber and the big ride apps do not really operate in Jamaica. The listings you will find online for Uber Montego Bay are private-transfer companies borrowing the name, not the app itself, so do not plan around it. What you use instead is a licensed taxi or a booked transfer.

Taxis outside Kingston are technically metered, but drivers often will not use the meter, so always agree the price before you set off, and expect roughly 25 percent more after midnight. Shared route taxis, the red-plate kind, run fixed point-to-point routes cheaply, while a charter taxi is private and costs more. For anything longer, know the going rate first or book a fixed-price transfer.

At Montego Bay's Sangster International (MBJ), the official Authorised Airport Taxi desk sits just outside the customs exit and is shared by the two licensed operators, JUTA and JCAL. You can take a cab from the rank in front of arrivals or pre-book a transfer. Because there are no meters, you agree or prepay the fare, and a pre-booked private transfer gives you a fixed price and a driver waiting with your name, which is the least stressful option after a long flight.

Kingston's airport is Norman Manley (NMIA), and the same rules apply there. Wherever you land, ignore anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a ride, and head for the official desk or your booked driver.

Agree the number before you get in. Both US dollars and Jamaican dollars are widely accepted for taxis, so carry small notes, and a licensed taxi should be able to show you its fares. Confirm whether the quote is in US or Jamaican dollars, since the difference is large and a vague quote is where misunderstandings happen.

Tipping is a kind gesture rather than an obligation, and around 10 to 15 percent for a helpful driver or a tour is appreciated, though it is not expected on a fixed-price transfer. For the wider money picture, including how much cash to carry and which currency to use, see the Jamaica money guide.

Common questions

Quick answers.

More on Jamaica

The little money things nobody warns you about.

• Do I need cash in Jamaica, or can I use cards?Short answer: cards at resorts and hotels, and Jamaican-dollar cash for small vendors, markets and route taxis. US dollars are accepted in tourist areas, but local currency gives better value. Here is how to handle it.
• Tipping in JamaicaJamaica leans US-influenced on tipping: 10 to 15% at restaurants, though many add a 10% service charge. Check the bill, and know that resort policies vary. Here is what you actually owe.