GrabTaxi is a smartphone-based taxi booking and dispatching service. It’s hard to get a decent ride in the city especially if the rains are strong or if it’s rush hour. I got the chance to try this service out this morning when I was stranded on my way home. My husband had tried GrabTaxi before and had a pleasant experience, so I was open to trying it. I have a few friends who’ve tried the service as well and said it was safe and efficient, so that was all the encouragement I needed to try this new taxi booking service.
Here’s how I used GrabTaxi and my thoughts on this smartphone-based taxi booking service.
How to Use GrabTaxi
Step 1: Download the app & register.
It’s free! You can download the GrabTaxi iOS app in the App Store and Android app in the Google Play Store. Register. Make sure to turn on your Location Services feature.
Pardon the messy screen and just focus on the GrabTaxi icon! 😛
Step 2: Identify pick-up and drop off points.
Launch the app. You’ll get the GrabTaxi logo and then the following screen. Click the “From” area to input your current location. The app can also identify where you are, so simply verify if the location is correct. Mine was Puregold.
And so it begins…
The app will then identify how many GrabTaxi cabs are in you area. See how many GrabTaxis were available when I was booking? It’s in the lower right area of the map. 20 cabs.
Then identify your desired destination by tapping in the box where you see “Tap to select drop off”.
You’ll also get a range of how much your fare will be (not in pic).
Step 3: Book your GrabTaxi.
Once you’re super sure about your booking, tap on “book now”. At this point, the drivers in your area will be “bidding” on who will be your ride. It goes by pretty fast. In a few seconds, a GrabTaxi was identified for me. The driver’s name and cab plate number appeared on my screen. See here:
Once you book a GrabTaxi, this appears on your screen. The lime green arrows and handwritten font are my notes.
On the screen, you’ll also see estimated time it will take for your cab to get to you. This is pretty cool since you get to see the little taxi icon traveling towards your pick-up point.
Tap on “Call Driver” if you need to give the driver specific instructions. I did that just to make sure the driver doesn’t mistake another passenger for me. 😀
Step 4: Ride your GrabTaxi.
You’re on your way to your destination! Rest easy now. You’ll see that the screen of your GrabTaxi app will change:
Riding in the Cab
The cab driver will only begin the meter once you get in the cab. In the green box on top of the screen, you’ll get an estimate of how much your fare will be. Please note that GrabTaxi charges an additional P70.00 on top of the flag down and meter rate. The P70 is the booking fee. This covers the driver’s expense to get to where you are. I consider it an investment in safety.
The driver will also note in his smartphone that you’ve begun your journey. That’s why your screen changed (“In journey with — the cab’s plate number –“). This is how the inside of my cab looked:
Manong’s Smart Phone by the Mirror
That’s where he inputs the data that he’s picked you up or has brought you to your destination. Pretty cool, ‘no? I wish these drivers much safety!
Once you get inside your cab, you’ll also get an e-mail from GrabTaxi containing details of your ride. This is how part of the e-mail looked:
Safety in the Details
Step 5: Mark that you’ve arrived at your drop off point.
See the red “End” button a few images back? Once you arrive at your drop off point, hit “End.” Two options will appear: Cancel Booking or Journey Has Ended. I forget the exact terms but that’s more or less what appeared. 😉 Hit the latter one and this appears:
Journey has completed!
You can leave a comment about your GrabTaxi ride. My driver was very polite and drove safely despite the strong rains. I gave feedback, hit the thumbs up sign and hit “send”.
The estimated fare was at P229-344. I paid a total of P240.00 inclusive of the P70.00 booking fee. Not bad for a long and safe ride home.
My GrabTaxi Customer Review
I was very pleased with my GrabTaxi experience! Here are the things I liked about GrabTaxi:
- How I could track where the driver was on his way to the pick-up point.
- The transparency — giving the driver’s names & cellphone number.
- The e-mail feature where I’d get all my booking details. Details help me feel safe!
- The driver assigned to me was polite and drove carefully.
- I don’t mind the plus P70.00 booking fee — I consider it an investment in my safety, as well as my investment in the certainty that I’d have a cab ride home. No more flagging down taxis who could reject my request for a ride.
I’m looking forward to advanced booking services. Hopefully they get that up and running soon! 
I’ll definitely try this booking service again. Based on this experience, I’d recommend that you give it a try. I hope that the next GrabTaxi experience I’ll have will be as smooth!
GrabTaxi contact details:
- Website: http://grabtaxi.com/
- Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GrabTaxiPH
- Twitter page: https://twitter.com/GrabTaxiPH
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/GrabTaxiPH
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
Giselle
August 20, 2013 at 10:50 pm (10 years ago)Very useful post. Will keep this in mind next time I need a cab ride. Thanks for posting!
Toni
August 21, 2013 at 8:06 pm (10 years ago)You’re very welcome!
Jess
August 21, 2013 at 3:26 am (10 years ago)will definitely give this a try! i will download the app now! thank you for sharing!
Toni
August 21, 2013 at 7:57 pm (10 years ago)You’re very welcome! Safe journeys!
Tina
August 21, 2013 at 10:37 am (10 years ago)I once rode a cab who had a GrabTaxi app inside, too, but I wasn’t sure if the service was really reliable. But thanks for this review! Downloading the app now.
Toni
August 21, 2013 at 7:56 pm (10 years ago)I hope the service will go as smoothly for you!
Daphne
August 22, 2013 at 11:00 am (10 years ago)Wow this is a really informative and helpful post for commuters like me who take the taxi, regularly. My only problem is I don’t have a smartphone. LOL I am probably 1 of the only 2 persons left without a smartphone, the other person would be my hubby. We are relics that way. Why buy a smartphone if our old reliable cellphone is still in mint condition? Extra expense pa! 😀
Toni
August 27, 2013 at 7:31 pm (10 years ago)Hi Daph! Go to grabtaxi.com and they have some numbers you can call! They have a fleet of tacis that can be called for the pick-up service.
So even without smartphones, you can still experience Grabtaxi as a booking service.
M
September 23, 2013 at 6:27 pm (10 years ago)Wow! This is really amazing and useful. Thanks for sharing Toni!
Toni
September 24, 2013 at 7:09 am (10 years ago)Thanks M! If you book this September you can qualify to join their raffle. They’re giving away an iPad mini! 😀
Source
July 22, 2014 at 10:18 pm (9 years ago)As well as fascinating, You’re an extremely knowledgeable tumblr. I joined your current rss and also be right up for inside look for added of this amazing article. Also, I have got shared your site around my internet sites
alex
August 11, 2015 at 9:04 am (8 years ago)grab taxi didnt work for me for 2times, kinda disappointed.
griff
November 8, 2015 at 4:20 pm (8 years ago)if i have 2 persons with me is there any chance that the fare would go high or just the same?
Toni
November 11, 2015 at 7:41 pm (8 years ago)It would be the same fare.
Joszhel
January 7, 2016 at 3:50 pm (7 years ago)Hi! I just wanna know how to cancel a trip using the app?
K
February 2, 2016 at 7:12 pm (7 years ago)I just paid additional P40 on top of the flag down rate.
Rhandz
February 3, 2016 at 1:24 am (7 years ago)Do I need an internet access ( wifi, data) to use this app??
fathma mamacotao
June 13, 2016 at 10:28 pm (7 years ago)how do you book an advanced booking on grabtaxi
sual cevap
June 30, 2016 at 5:41 pm (7 years ago)Hi! I just wanna know how to cancel a trip using the app?
alex
June 30, 2016 at 5:43 pm (7 years ago)As well as fascinating, You’re an extremely knowledgeable tumblr. I joined your current rss and also be right up for inside look for added of this amazing article. Also, I have got shared your site around my internet sites
olga
July 27, 2016 at 4:58 pm (7 years ago)As well as fascinating, You’re an extremely knowledgeable tumblr. I joined your current rss and also be right up for inside look for added of this amazing article. Also, I have got shared your site around my internet sites
richard
September 12, 2016 at 6:07 am (7 years ago)Wow this is a really informative and helpful post for commuters like me who take the taxi, regularly. My only problem is I don’t have a smartphone. LOL I am
khael espero
November 5, 2016 at 9:36 am (7 years ago)do you need an internet connection before while using the app, or while on journy
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January 11, 2017 at 1:33 pm (6 years ago)you can book a cab on this site while traveling in south india http://www.chennaitopondicherrytaxi.com
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