Is it better to pay taxis in Mozambique with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
My advice for Mozambique is simple: carry cash. Taxis don’t accept cards, and there aren’t any mainstream ride-hailing apps to solve the problem. Everyone I dealt with in Maputo asked for meticais, though a few would take US dollars. But if you want fair pricing, always use the local currency. Also, bring small bills, because drivers rarely have change. Forget about cards-it’s not going to happen in Mozambique taxis. Cash is the only reliable and accepted way to pay.
Mozambique is not a place where you can rely on cards for taxi rides. Cash in meticais is the norm, and no driver I met had a machine. Even at the airport, where you’d expect more convenience, drivers asked for cash only. It was frustrating the first day because I assumed I could pay by card. Since then, I’ve always withdrawn cash before leaving the airport. Cards simply aren’t part of the taxi system here, so don’t expect otherwise.
I spent time in Maputo and Beira, and taxis there always wanted cash. Drivers don’t have card terminals, and there aren’t reliable taxi apps like in other parts of the world. Local currency is the metical, though a few drivers might accept US dollars at a bad rate. I’d suggest you avoid that and just carry meticais. Having small notes helped me because change wasn’t always available. Honestly, there’s no way around it-you need cash for taxis in Mozambique.
Mozambique taxis are cash only. I never saw a single driver with a card machine, and apps aren’t really used for taxis here. Meticais are the currency you’ll need. I had to learn quickly that drivers didn’t even consider electronic payments an option. At the airport, it was the same-cash only. It’s wise to withdraw or exchange before you leave the airport so you’re ready. Don’t expect to use cards for transport, cash is the standard everywhere.