Is it better to pay taxis in Chile with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
Taxis in Chile can sometimes accept cards, but I wouldn’t count on it. I tried twice in Santiago, and one driver processed it fine, while the other refused. It seems unreliable. Cash in pesos was accepted everywhere, and it made rides faster. My advice is to always carry some local money for taxis. For travellers who prefer card payments, Uber or Cabify are excellent options and widely used in cities. In smaller towns, though, taxis only take cash-no apps, no readers, just cash.
When I was in Valparaíso, every taxi driver I dealt with wanted cash. Even when I saw card logos on the door, the driver said the machine wasn’t working. It’s just simpler to carry pesos. Chile is modern in many ways, but taxis are behind on digital payments. If you really don’t want to carry much cash, then stick to ride-hailing apps in cities. Otherwise, prepare yourself to pay drivers directly in pesos. It’s just how things work in most areas.
My experience in Chile was a mix. A couple of taxis in Santiago airport had card readers and they worked, but most street taxis wanted cash. Outside of the main cities, don’t even expect electronic payment-it’s all Chilean pesos. I recommend carrying small bills because drivers rarely have change for larger notes. Honestly, I used Uber most of the time, which solved the card issue altogether. If you’re set on using taxis, assume cash, and keep pesos ready for convenience.
In Santiago, some taxis claim to accept cards, but in practice, cash is far more reliable. I tried paying by card once, and the machine “wasn’t working,” which felt more like a preference than a real problem. Most locals I spoke with just paid in pesos. If you want to avoid cash entirely, ride-hailing apps like Uber and Cabify work well in the bigger cities, and those take cards linked to the app. For airport taxis and small towns, cash in pesos is the way to go.