If you are visiting a place for the first time, it is normal that you are not aware of the locality or the road directions to your hotel. Plus, after a long flight, you’ll just want to relax instead of driving a car to where you want to go. So what is the solution? Well that’s easy. You can hire a local taxi.. Yes, it is the most practical option.

Having said that, hiring the right taxi can be more difficult than you think because a lot has certainly changed in recent years. A few years ago there were some limited companies that offered taxi services, but these days, there is no shortage of these types of companies. What’s more confusing is that they all offer exactly the same type of services.

So how will you determine if the taxi company you are hiring is really good or not? They all look the same, right?

Well, the qualities of a driver are one aspect that often helps to differentiate good companies from the rest.

It goes without saying that not all drivers will be the same, and it is this distinction that will help you determine the best taxi company to hire. Some of the qualities to look for are:-

· Reliable and punctual: This is by far the most important quality that taxi drivers must have. When you are hiring a taxi service, one of the first things that you will expect is that the drivers will come to pick you up just in time. Precisely for this reason, look for drivers who have a reputation for being reliable and punctual.

· Free of criminal record: Now, if the taxi company does extensive background checks on their drivers, this shouldn’t be a problem. But just to be safe, you should always look to hire a taxi whose driver does not have a criminal record or has been involved in major accidents. This will at least give you peace of mind knowing that you are not in danger.

· Very aware of the locality: If you’re hiring a local taxi, one of the first things you’ll expect is that the drivers are very knowledgeable about the place you’re visiting. Which routes to take to avoid heavy traffic and which shortcuts to take to get to your destination quickly are something drivers need to know.

· You are trained to drive safely: You are hiring a taxi because you do not necessarily want to drive alone and you would like to relax during the trip, right? Well, for precisely this reason, you should look for drivers who have the right kind of training when it comes to safe driving.

· You must be able to communicate freely: Proper communication is imperative between you and the driver. Otherwise, things easily get out of control when it comes to addresses. The driver should be able to communicate freely with you if he understands the destination you want to go to and what routes he will take to get there.

These are some of the things to look for in a taxi driver when hiring.