Hailing a cab can be dangerous and confusing. Make sure to find a populated street or avenue. Cab drivers tend to flock to busy streets and city landmarks, like Penn Station on 34th Street, the New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and Carnegie Hall on 7th avenue. You do not have to be near a popular city landmark to get a cab, but if you are nearby and having trouble, you may want to walk in the direction of a popular area.
Once you find a good cab-hailing destination, approach the edge of the sidewalk at an unpopulated street corner away from parked cars and crosswalks. Make it as easy as possible for the taxi to pull right in front of you. Cab drivers can be aggressive, so be sure that there is no one trying to cross the street where you are trying to hail a cab and stay out of the road as much as possible.
Raise one hand high in the air in the direction of the street. If a cab is available to pick up a fare, the number in the center of the sign at the top of his cab will be lit. This number is also the number that will be on his license plate, so be sure to take note of it before you get in the taxi. If the driver is off duty, do not attempt to flag him down. You will know by the two "off duty" lights that will be lit on either side of the license number on top of the cab.
Once the cab has stopped, tell them your destination before getting in, especially if you are going to a different borough, like Brooklyn or Queens. Cab drivers are required to go to all boroughs, but a lot of times they will refuse and make you get out. Ask, "will you go to Brooklyn?" before proceeding.
After you've stepped into the cab, be sure to affix your seat belt. Take note of the driver's name and photo on his driver's license, which should be clearly displayed on the Plexiglas in front of you. Clearly state your destination address or street corner loudly, and ask him if he knows where the address is located, especially if you are traveling outside of Manhattan.
Keep an eye on the meter as the driver takes you to your destination. Your final total will be the sum of the number on the left and the number on the right when the driver stops in front of your destination, so be sure you have enough cash to take you all the way there.
When the driver stops in the area of your location, you can tell him which street corner to drop you in front of. Be sure to tip and say "thank you!"
