Is it better to pay taxis in Argentina with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
In Mendoza and Cordoba, taxis mostly ran on cash. In Buenos Aires, one out of three taxis I flagged accepted cards but tacked on a 15% fee. Paying for taxis in Argentina with card can be done - if you use apps like BA Taxi or Cabify - though black-market rate loadings can bite. My advice: carry enough pesos in small and mid-sized notes and plan app rides ahead for long transfers or times when cash isn't ideal.
I tried paying by card during a midnight ride, but my Mastercard was declined with the message “Tarjeta inválida.” The driver said they rarely get tourists with cards. Cash in pesos is safest for taxis in Argentina, especially late-night. App-based services like Uber work in BA but outside capital they're hit or miss. Exchange rate and change can be cumbersome, so keep small bills ready and tap a bank ATM before your first ride after arriving.
My monthly taxi spend relied on both Mercado Pago app and occasional cash payments. Using apps lets you bypass conversion surcharges, albeit with dynamic Dollar blue rate. Taxis in Argentina can take card via app or physical terminals, but it’s inconsistent. Drivers often mark prices up for cards. To stay budget-friendly, hold onto ARS cash, but use Mercado Pago or Cabify for reliable cross-city journeys - just watch the real-time exchange rate inside the app.
In Buenos Aires I found most radio taxis accept Visa or Mastercard via POS terminals, but expect to pay a 10% surcharge. Card vs. cash taxis in Argentina - cash in pesos is cheapest. For short local trips (under ARS 200), it’s easier to pay cash. I used my Wise card for longer airport transfers without surcharge. Apps like BA Taxi let you pay via card inside the app, which is another convenient solution. Cash-tipping of 10-15% is also normal.