I was out with one of my girlfriends tonight at Yu Yuan and we were searching for a taxi.

We came across a bunch of them, parked near the McDonald's. The color of the taxi was a dark red. So my friend says to me "Don't take those taxi's because they have an "x" in the license plates.

It is now my understanding that these are "fake" taxis which are not regulated by the Chinese government. They look real but upon closer inspection, their license plates are wrong and they don't have a big taxi sticker on the door.

Why does the government allow them to operate in the city?

Great question. Can fellow shex members with insight on the government workings of Shanghai comment on this phenomena?

Send a complaint to the Mayor of Shanghai...

But do it quick! Wait too long and there's a risk he'll be in jail on corruption charges like the prior one..

Ok

I have posted my finding on Twitter so it should be rectified shortly or discussed on CNN.

Either way, people will know!

When the Shanghai government officials arrive at your rental place to give you the Keys to the City make sure you tell your illegal Filipino ayi to stay in the shed out back.

greeneyedlady wrote:I was out with one of my girlfriends tonight at Yu Yuan and we were searching for a taxi.

We came across a bunch of them, parked near the McDonald's. The color of the taxi was a dark red. So my friend says to me "Don't take those taxi's because they have an "x" in the license plates.

It is now my understanding that these are "fake" taxis which are not regulated by the Chinese government. They look real but upon closer inspection, their license plates are wrong and they don't have a big taxi sticker on the door.

Why does the government allow them to operate in the city?

The government allows them to operate in the city because they paid the proper fees and applied for the required permits. Dark red taxi = independent operator. As in a guy who bought a car and equipped it with taxi gear. They have no sign on the doors because they don't have a large taxi company behind them.

You need a fleet of a certain size before you can choose a color for exclusive use by your taxis.
If I recall correctly dark blue is used for smaller taxi companies.

There are fake taxis running about Shanghai, but they will be fakes of the well known taxi companies, not just independent operators, and the government is trying to chase them down. When caught they seize the car until a large fine is paid. A problem the government has is that the cost to buy and outfit a replacement fake taxi can be less than the fine to be paid to get the original car out of impound.

There are also "black" taxis. You probably won't see these any place you normally travel to in Shanghai. These are guys with cars who are out to earn a bit of extra money giving people rides. These are not fake because they don't pretend to be proper licensed taxis.

Thank you Mister for your post.

I was approached by at least 6 black taxis asking me if I wanted a ride. So there are out there in the open. I didn't see anyone accept a ride from these guys.

A rogue taxi can't read your transpo card (although they have a fake machine). I've had them switch my card for an empty card and put on the old 'your card is not working' sh|t. Everyone should beware of this. I'd sooner take a ride from a black taxi than those animals.

So basically the rogue taxi's do not have the government regulated machines?

That tells me that they are fake and not accepted no matter how "small" they are as a regular approved taxi. Independent operators are not approved?

^Sorry, I should clarify that I don't know whether all rogue taxis are without working machines, but I always pay with my transpo card and have never had a rogue taxi that could accept it.

They don't have the machines then...

I once had a bit of an issue with an airport cab who tried to charge me 220 from Pudong to Jing'an area.

After refusing to pay and a round of phonecalls, I got put on to the Shanghai international helpline (although I do speak Chinese, it seems to be the default to pass-on the foreigner complaints here).

They basically told me I was stupid because I took a taxi that wasn't one of the 'big 5' companies and that I should be very careful with any other company. Since then, I have never taken a black cab.

I assume the big 5 are as follows, but would be grateful if someone could confirm:

大众 （dazhong - light blue)
强生 (qiangsheng - yellow)
锦江 （jinjiang - white)
海bo (haibo - sorry not sure of the character for bo)
蓝色联盟 （lanse lianmeng - dark blue)

I think there used to be another - 巴士 （bashi - light green) - Although they appear to have been taken over by 强生 - Could someone confirm that my understanding is right?

If I got that right, I would love it if the foreigners of Shanghai could unionise against these black cabs...let's get capitalist on these guys!

Yes Bashi were acquired by Qiangsheng earlier this year. You still get the green cars but they have the Qiangsheng name and phone number now. Stick to Dazhong, Qiangsheng and Jinjiang and you will be mostly fine.

From time to time the government do try to clear the unregulated taxis. The Maglev station at Longyang Lu used to be a huge rip off taxi spot for arriving tourists and apparently the area around Super Brand Mall used to be controlled by some dodgy illegal taxi organisation. Both areas have improved a lot.

Basically avoid the maroon cars and you'll be fine.

So Jzzzzzzz has your holiday begun?

jzzzzzzz wrote:
Basically avoid the maroon cars and you'll only be cheated when you stop paying attention.

Fixed that for you.

snoochtothedooch wrote:^Sorry, I should clarify that I don't know whether all rogue taxis are without working machines, but I always pay with my transpo card and have never had a rogue taxi that could accept it.

Has it occurred to you that this might be because your definition of "rogue taxi" is "any taxi that does not accept my transpo card"?

snoochtothedooch wrote:So Jzzzzzzz has your holiday begun?

YES!

In a raining day during rush hour, I will get in any taxi that stops in front of me, rogue or not...

^ Beware if the driver has an eye-patch and a parrot on his shoulder.

LOL, really there are fake taxi's out there ? How long have you been living here?

Andreas wrote:LOL, really there are fake taxi's out there ? How long have you been living here?

Inside or outside the bubble?

Andreas wrote:LOL, really there are fake taxi's out there ? How long have you been living here?

Been living here 6 years and I know there are fake taxi's (i.e. the black ones). What I didn't know is if there is an "x" in the plate it's considered fake and not regulated.

I think this thread has been quite helpful for people. At least it's not about boobs or silly stuff.

The stuff about the X in the license plate is nonsense. You can't tell a fake taxi that way.

McFly's summary above of the taxi companies is pretty good. The only thing I would add is that there is another company that comprises a lot of the maroon cabs. If you go with Dazhong, Expo, Jingiang, Bashi and Qiangsheng you'll be fine 98 percent of the time.

The maroon cabs are the ones to really watch out for. They are the bottom-feeders and the closest to unregulated cabs you'll find outside of actual black cabs. Black cabs are the unmarked cars you find outside Longyang, Superbrand mall or anywhere else that supply exceeds demand. They are uninterested in using a meter at all and will therefore obviously not accept traffic cards. Another thing to note is that the rules and practices surrounding cabs get looser and looser as you get further out from laowai-land. Yangpu and Baoshan, the outer reaches of Pudong and Hongqiao are likely where you'll run into problems. Also hot-spots like Longyang and the train stations. Places where the drivers think yokels are likely to be getting off the train/bus.

Overall we've got it pretty good in Shanghai. Some of the drivers are the biggest morons you'll ever meet in China. Others are cool. The industry is quite well regulated though and slanted in the passenger's favor at all times. Much better than Beijing or other cities and miles better than Vietnam, Bangkok etc...

Last month I was cheated by a blue taxi. I think he rigged the meter. I got a receipt and filed a complaint but nothing happened. So blue ones (I don't care which one, as long as it's blue) are off my list. I rather wait a while longer for something else.

Maybe he didn't cheat you. Or maybe they are still working on it.

Without knowing all the cab companies my general preference in color order is:

Light blue (dazhong)
White (Jinjiang)
Expo (Vans with the yellow roof)
Gold, Mint green on the same level (qiangsheng, Bashi)
Dark Blue, Cherry red or red/white two-tone on a lower level
Maroon

A year ago Expo would have been higher on this list. But since the end of expo they've undertaken a massive plunge in quality. Also - their drivers were arrogant pricks from the get-go.

I think the "black" taxis are very different to the "fakes".
The blacks operate mainly from places like the airports and are privately owned cars, and you will be up for the parking fees, as they have to park in the public car park.
Those robbers will try to charge you 600-700 Rmb from Pudong to downtown, (if you have a white face)
The worst thing is: there is NO insurance for you in an accident.
DO NOT USE BLACK TAXIS.

I have found little to complain about here, even after 6 years. 95% of taxi drivers are honest, unlike other Chinese cities or SE Asia - Vietnam and Bangkok both made me appreciate Shanghai taxis all the more. I don't think I've ever been the victim of a meter-rigging scam, and I know the city pretty well and generally they take the best routes.

Watch out for the maroon taxis though. I always try and avoid them, as they are far and away the worst of the registered companies.

My only real complaint would be the general level of disgustingness of the cab interiors and drivers themselves. I don't understand how in so much poorer countries (Cambodia, for example) the men can somehow maintain a decent level of hygiene, but it seems totally beyond the locals here. The smell, the filthiness, the molehairs / spitting / fingernails / greasy hair . . . . I'll stop, it's all been said before.