If you need a ride in Israel, it’s not so easy to get a taxi without being ripped off. The society is complicated there. Often taxi drivers will refuse to turn on the meter, instead you have to “bargain” for your ride. If you are looking for Uber service in Israel, try Gett.
Why Using an App to Call a Taxi?
It can get problematic getting an honest taxi driver in Israel who don’t take advantage of tourists. Maybe this is an universal problem, and the reason why Taxi Apps are popular in many places. For example, refusing to turn on meter, taking a longer route, taking you to another destination etc.
Taxi Fare Calculator
The meter rate in Israel is the same, whether you use Gett Taxi App. You can estimate your fare from Taxi Fare Finder. I find it to be accurate. (The estimation from Google Maps is accurate too)
So in Tel Aviv, for a 3 km distance, and 13 minutes ride, I was charged 41.2NIS.
Registration Steps
Find “Gett” from Playstore.
Download it…. and it will automatically change to the Israeli version, if you are in Israel.
Skip skip skip.
And then you need to have an Israeli number to register. A text for verification will be sent. You can start using your account after successful verification. No credit card info needed.
Getting a Taxi by Gett
Choose your car type. I have no idea how to use Gett Delivery. I chose Gett Express. And then you can pre-order taxi, choose your location and destination.
This was my driver. He didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Arabic. But Gett connected us.
While waiting, you can find out more info on your driver. He only started using Gett 5 days ago…. but well, I only started using Gett like 5 minutes ago. I think it makes sense if he has more issues in trusting me.
My Experience Riding with Gett in Tel Aviv
I kept waiting and waiting. It was supposed to be 4 minutes but I waited for 10 minutes because of traffic. In the mean while, 2 taxis passed by and I had to wait for my Gett taxi which seemed like it would never show up at that time. But when he did come, the advantage of using Gett revealed. He clearly knows where I was going because of this app!
The driver used a regular meter. The base fare was 11.5NIS. And it seemed like every 10 seconds of waiting then 1NIS accumulates to the fare.
By the way, in Israel the best navigation is Waze, not Google.
However I don’t get Waze. I still like Google Maps.
This is my recept. The driver orally told me it was 41NIS. I couldn’t see my receipt on the app. So after paying, it appeared later on.
(Failed) My Experience Riding with Gett in Jerusalem
On shabbat, it’s so hard to get a taxi. And I failed 2 times. In the end I had to bargain to get a taxi. 2 km, and I paid 50NIS. So expensive.
Final Verdict
If you need to get a taxi in Israel, use Gett. It’s much easier than haggling!
