Is it better to pay taxis in Germany with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
I used Free Now across Hamburg and Berlin and never had to touch cash for taxis. It’s like Uber and worked great with my Revolut and Monzo cards. If you’re in a rush or don’t speak much German, it also helps avoid fare negotiation. But in smaller towns or rural areas, I'd definitely keep some cash ready because taxis there rarely have working terminals.
In Frankfurt the airport taxi queue mostly took cards but a few asked for cash. One driver accepted card but added a small fee on top, which I wasn’t expecting. If you're going from the airport or major hotels, cards are usually fine. Just confirm before you get in and try to avoid situations where you're relying on it.
Is it better to pay taxis in Germany with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
In Munich I had no problem paying by card in official city taxis, especially the ones I booked through Free Now. The app handles payment by card and it's super smooth. But when I hailed one from the street late at night the driver wanted cash and claimed the terminal wasn’t working. So yeah, app-based rides are safer for card use. Street taxis can be hit or miss.
In Berlin most taxis I took accepted card payments, but you often have to ask before the ride starts. Some drivers say the machine is broken or they prefer cash, even if they technically take cards. I paid a couple times with my Visa but had one driver who insisted on cash even though there was a card terminal right there. So I’d recommend carrying enough euros just in case.