Boston taxi companies offer 50% discounted coupon books to elderly and handicapped Boston residents, each person is allowed to buy 4 books of $10 coupons worth $5 apiece. These coupons are the equivalent of cash. No Boston licensed cab can refuse to take a coupon. Better not tell the driver you have coupons; simply pay him at the end of the ride.

At present there are six taxi associations in Boston. They are the Boston Cab 536-5010, the Checker Cab 536-7000, the City Cab 536-5100, the ITOA 825-4000 , the Metro Cab 782-5500 and the Town Taxi 536-5000. As for the fare, it is fixed at $1.75 for the first 1/8th mile or less and $0.30 for each additional 1/8th of a mile. Waiting time charge is $24.00 per hour. Meantime, it is to be noted that Dedham and Lexington are no longer flat rate communities and are charged metered rates. The charge is $2.60 per minute. This rate has been in effect since September, 2002 and for assurance to the passengers, the Boston Weights & Measures Division oversees that the meters be adjusted, tested and sealed.

For safety measure it has been suggested by the Boston Police Department that the customer should always get a printed metered receipt with the cab number, date and time and report it to the Boston Police Hackney Carriage Unit. Any passenger can tell the driver the route he or she wishes to travel. If then this route is longer and costs more, that is the customer's responsibility. Any other complaints should be directed to the Hackney Unit, 343-4475. While traveling in the Boston taxi, if you have misplaced something then can contact the cab company directly or use the hotline 536-Taxi. These Boston taxi companies in fact use independent drivers who follow the lease/ shift rates as specified by the Police Commissioner and they can request permission to charge a lease rate higher than the maximum by filing an appeal.