Taxi scams and fake drivers at SDQ — how to avoid them
The five things that go wrong at the arrivals door, and the one habit that prevents all of them.
Updated: 2026-09-11
Short answer
Nobody legitimate approaches you first at SDQ. Real drivers hold a printed sign with your name and wait inside. The common tricks are a quoted 'special price' that changes on arrival, a stranger carrying your bag to a different car, a claim that your booked driver 'sent them', and payment demanded upfront. Confirm your driver's name on WhatsApp before you walk out.
How the approaches work
Someone helpful takes your trolley before you ask, walks you outside, and hands you to a car with no markings. The fare is then negotiated at the kerb with your bags already in the boot — the worst possible bargaining position.
A second version: a man says your driver is 'parked outside' and leads you away. Your driver never leaves the arrivals hall, so this is always false.
What a real pickup looks like
Printed sign with your name, driver waits inside, price already fixed in writing, no payment until you arrive, and the vehicle is where the driver says it is. If any of those is missing, stop and message us.
If you are already outside
Do not get into an unmarked car with an unquoted price. Walk back into the terminal — it is allowed — and call. Nothing bad happens from being ten minutes late; a lot goes wrong from being rushed.
Frequently asked questions
Are airport taxis at SDQ illegal?
No — the union taxis are official. The issue is price: they quote at the desk and rates are typically well above a pre-booked private transfer.
Should I tip the person who grabbed my bag?
If they already carried it, a small note ends it politely. Better: keep your hand on the trolley.
How do I verify my driver?
We send the driver's name and vehicle the day before. Match the name on the sign and ask him to say your surname.
Is it dangerous?
It is overcharging, not violence. The realistic risk is paying three times the fair price while tired.
What if my flight lands at 2am?
Same procedure, and no night surcharge with us. Late arrivals are when pre-booking matters most.