Taxis, Kuala Lumpur

The definition of what constitutes a taxi in Malaysia is as follows:

“A motor vehicle which is used for the purpose of transporting passengers on any type of journey in return for a fee. The engine capacity of the vehicle must not be less than 1450cc, must use a meter, has an operating zone, with controlled rates / charges, and the age of the vehicle must be no older than 7 years.”

The Land Public Transport Commission ("SPAD") is the authority in charge of the licensing of taxis and enforcement.

Operating Zones

There are a few operating zones for taxis throughout the country, but in Kuala Lumpur, the major operating zone that the general tourist would encounter is known as the Klang Valley ("Lembah Kelang") zone.

The Klang Valley is an area that is named after the Klang river, the principal river that runs through the valley towards the coast. Geographically it is delineated by the Titiwangsa mountain range to the east and the north, the Straits of Malacca to the west and the town of Seremban in neighbouring Negeri Sembilan state to the south. In effect, the Klang Valley covers the whole of Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, and the Selangor districts of Petaling, Klang, Gombak, Hulu Langat and Sepang.

Taxi Categories

Three categories of taxies generally exist throughout Malaysia:

Budget – engine capacity between 1500 – 2000 cc. (Klang Valley taxis can only operate in the Klang Valley zone, but not from the airport). The colour of budget taxis are as follows:

1.      Red-and-white OR in the colours of the National Flag (owned by a company)
2.      Red-and-blue (owned by an individual)
3.      Corporate colours (taxi company with more than 250 vehicles in its fleet)

Red-&-White Taxi

Red-&-Blue Taxi

National Flag Taxi

Sunlight Taxi in its corporate lime-green colour livery.

Teksi1Malaysia in elegant brown livery.

In 2013, the Teksi1Malaysia or TEKS1M was introduced by SPAD. These are locally produced Proton Exora cars in brown livery, which are envisaged to provide a more comfortable ride and allow payment by credit cards. TEKS1M will eventually replace budget taxis totally.

Premier - engine capacity above 2000 cc. (Klang Valley taxis can only operate in the Klang Valley zone, but not from the airport). You will hardly find any taxis in this category.

Executive – engine capacity above 2000 cc and can operate throughout the whole peninsular (but not from the airport). The colour of the taxi is dark blue.

Dark-Blue Executive Taxi

In the Klang Valley operating zone, all taxis are supposed to use the meter and haggling / negotiating over fares are supposed to be illegal.  

Budget taxis charge according to the following approved metered rates:

Distance - RM3.00 for the first kilometre, RM0.10 for every subsequent 115 metres (RM0.87 per 1km)

Time (when stationary / traffic jam) - RM3.00 for the first three minutes, RM0.10 for every subsequent 21 seconds (RM0.28 per min)

Other charges: 50% surcharge between 12am to 6am, actual toll charges need to be paid, RM2.00 for telephone bookings, RM12 airport surcharge for taxis going to KLIA-Main Terminal and LCCT (but not Subang Skypark).

In March 2015, SPAD announced that the budget taxis metered rates would be raised as follows:


Distance - RM3.00 for the first kilometre, RM1.25 for every subsequent kilometre.

Time (when stationary / traffic jam) - RM0.42 for every subsequent minute.

TEKS1M would charge the following metered rates:

Distance - RM4.00 for the first kilometre, RM1.50 for every subsequent kilometre.

Time (when stationary / traffic jam) - RM0.50 for every subsequent minute.
 
Currently due to a protest by the public, the date of implementation of the above rates are uncertain.

Executive taxis charge higher meter rates, and can operate throughout Peninsular Malaysia.

Distance - RM6.00 for the first kilometre, RM0.20 for every subsequent 100 metres.

Time (when stationary / traffic jam - RM6.00 for the first two minutes, RM0.20 for every subsequent 21 seconds.

Airport Taxis

Airport taxis are a different category of taxies that are strictly for bringing passengers to and from an airport in return for a fixed fee. The taxis operate from a base in an approved vicinity within the airport. 

Three categories of airport taxis exist, namely:

1. Budget (typically 3 passengers but some vehicle models may be able to take 4 passengers, maximum of 2 medium size luggage bags and 1 hand luggage)
2. Premier (for not more than 4 passengers, maximum of 3 medium size luggage bags and 2 hand luggage)
3. Family (for 5-9 passengers and 6 medium size luggage bags)

The above are not hard-and-fast rules for determining which category of airport taxi you are asked to take, and will generally be to the discretion of the taxi counter clerk. Yes, airport taxis use the coupon system, whereby you purchase fixed-rate coupons from a taxi counter before you exit the arrival hall at the airport terminal. The coupons are then handed over by you to the taxi-driver at the taxi rank who will bring you to your destination. No money should change hands between you and the taxi driver.

Generally expect to pay RM74.30 for a budget taxi from KLIA to anywhere in the Kuala Lumpur central business district; RM102.10 for a premiere taxi and RM199.80 for a family taxi. Between 12am to 6am, an additional 50% surcharge will apply.

The taxi counters at KLIA2. The blue counters are for coupon Airport Taxis and the red counter for Metered Taxis.

As an alternative to the Airport Taxis, you can also opt to take metered taxis from either KLIA or KLIA2. Theoretically metered taxis are cheaper than metered taxis but of course it would be dependent on the taxi drivers honesty as payment would be to the taxi driver and subject to the meter and distance of travel.

General tips on using taxis

You will find that some taxis will refuse to use the meter, especially taxis that are stationary, or parked outside hotels or tourist areas. Avoid using these taxis, and try to hail moving taxis on the road, as these would be more likely to use the meter. If you have absolutely no choice but to use one of these non-meter using taxis, at least negotiate a fixed fee before you board the taxi, to avoid potential arguments later on.

Alternatively, if you have access to a mobile phone, call for a radio taxi. Radio taxis use the meter but will charge an additional RM2. Some of the popular companies in the Klang Valley include:

Public Cab
Tel: +603 6259 2020

Sunlight Radio Taxi
Tel: +603 9057 1111, +603 9057 5757

UpTown Ace SuperCab
Tel: +603 9283 2333

If you have a working smartphone, a useful application to have is the myteksi or easytaxi apps. These applications allow you to book taxis in the Klang Valley area with the nominal RM2 booking charge through your smartphone.

You will also find that a few shopping malls and other places such as the KL Sentral train station, Terminal Bersepadu Selatan and other transportation hubs have also implemented the coupon system similar to the airport taxi system. Although the fixed fee is nominally higher than it would be if you just hail a cab off the street and use the meter, it does eliminate the need for haggling / negotiating with a recalcitrant taxi-driver who refuses to use the meter and removes the feeling of being short-changed.

Shopping malls that implement the system include 1Utama, Mid-Valley Megamall, Berjaya Times Square and Sunway Pyramid.