Is it better to pay taxis in Turkey with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
Took a cab from Sabiha Gökçen Airport in May and the driver had a POS machine but refused to use it, saying it was “too slow.” He wanted Turkish lira or euro. Luckily I had both. In tourist-heavy spots like Bodrum or Fethiye, a few taxis may accept cards, but overall, cash is still the norm.
I was in Izmir recently and used BiTaksi for almost every trip. It lets you pay by card through the app and even gives you receipts. Regular street taxis were hit or misssome had card readers but claimed “no internet.” Best to assume cash unless it’s an app booking.
I took several taxis in Antalya last month and none of them accepted card. Even though I saw card logos on the window, they insisted on cash when it came time to pay. I withdrew lira at a Ziraat ATM just to cover my rides. Apps like BiTaksi are better if you don’t want to deal with that.
In Istanbul, most yellow taxis still prefer cash, especially for short rides. I asked two drivers if I could pay with cardboth said their machines were “broken.” One even tried to push for euros instead of lira. Cash is safest unless you're using BiTaksi or Uber, which support card payments in-app.
As a safety precaution, I only use app-based taxis (BiTaksi or Uber) which require no cash exchange. When I must take a street taxi:
Confirm payment method before entering
Sit in the back seat
Have exact change ready
Some drivers in tourist areas "forget" their card machine to pressure you into paying more. If this happens, offer to go to an ATM together - they'll usually find the machine works after all.
Outside Istanbul, cash is nearly mandatory. In Antalya, only about 1 in 5 taxis accept cards, and even then they may add a 10% "convenience fee." Dolmuş (shared taxis) are always cash-only. I keep a separate stash of 5-20 TL bills specifically for transport. Pro tip: Withdraw taxi money from Ziraat Bank ATMs during the day to avoid carrying large amounts at night.
In tourist areas like Sultanahmet or Cappadocia, card payments are more common, but cash is still king. My strategy:
Use BiTaksi app for airport transfers (card payment)
Carry 200 TL in small bills for street hails
Have the Uber app ready as backup
Many drivers prefer cash for short rides under 100 TL. Watch for "broken" card readers - sometimes they miraculously start working when you say you have no cash.
While most yellow cabs in Istanbul now have card machines, about 40% of drivers will claim the machine is "broken" to avoid paying bank fees. I always ask "Kart ile odeme yapabilir miyim?" (Can I pay by card?) before getting in. For guaranteed cashless rides, use BiTaksi or Uber - these automatically charge your card and show the fare upfront. Keep 100-200 TL in small bills as backup.