Do you want to avoid getting scammed by taxis in Varanasi? You have come to the right spot. One of India’s most visited spiritual cities, Kashi attracts millions of travellers every year. However, it makes the first-time visitors, especially foreign and unsuspecting local tourists, to fall prey to taxi-related scams, such as overcharging, fake taxi operators, and misleading touts, with rising incidents day by day.
To help travellers, especially first-time tourists and foreigners, we have provided this guide to help you avoid taxi scams in Kashi and ensure a safer trip with a verified and honest cab throughout the city. With Chiku Cab’s strong local presence, verified drivers and transparent price structure, you get the most reliable and safest cab in Kashi for Kashi Darshan.
Simply dial 844-844-5504 and book your ride within seconds with Chiku Cab, the cheapest taxi service provider in Kashi for all your travel needs.
Read More – Foreigner Tourism Guide to Varanasi: Local Transport vs Taxi
How to Report a Taxi Scam in Varanasi?
If you face overcharging or fraud, note the vehicle number, driver description, location and time. File a complaint with the local police station. Reporting scams helps protect future travellers.
BONUS Tip: If possible, ask the driver to follow your directions (open Google Maps navigation) and guide him towards the nearest police station. It surely sounds evil, but it will help him get rewarded for his Karma for sure!
Common Taxi Scams in Varanasi that you must Avoid
Visitors must be aware of the following risks when travelling in Kashi, where you could come across:
- Overcharging Cabs, Autos and Totos/TukTuks
- Misleading and Forced detours to longer routes, hotels, restaurants or jams for overcharging
- Unmetered autos claiming extra fees
- False claims about temple timings: Opening/Closures/Aarti Darshan
- Promising “cheap” rides, then doubling the fare later
- Taxis refuse luggage unless paid additional charges
- Fake taxi drivers near Cantt
- Airport taxi scam in Varanasi (posing as prepaid agents)
Knowing these common scams would help you stay alert and save your savings.
Why Do Taxi Scams Happen in Varanasi?
With densely crowded narrow lanes, Kashi witnesses a mass footfall daily, adding to the list. Places like Godowlia, Assi, Lanka, Cantt Railway Station and the Airport witness large numbers of tourists waiting for quick rides, making them easy targets for fake taxi drivers or unregistered entities. Visitors unfamiliar with the city geography and fare prices often fall prey to such scams. Hence, understanding these patterns is the first step towards avoiding taxi scams in Varanasi.
How to Identify Fake Taxi Drivers in Varanasi?
Identifying and differentiating between fake and authentic cab drivers is easy. Look for the following signs:
- Drivers who are standing and calling out to tourists aggressively at the entry gates might be scammers
- Check for their Yellow number plates (Commercial Registration Plates). Scammers usually lack proper commercial registration plates.
- Ask them to show their ID, driving licence or commercial taxi papers, which the scammers typically avoid.
- Many drivers hesitate to confirm the fare upfront or avoid taking digital payments.
- Some scammers claim “best price later” or “pay after ride”, which leads to overcharging.
An authentic/genuine driver in Kashi will always recommend checking the vehicle plate, their driver ID card, the company confirmation message, and the ride details before starting your journey. Chiku Cab assigns driver details in advance, making verification easy.
Call 844-844-5504 and book the safest cab service in Varanasi with Chiku Cab today.
Why Choose a Safe Taxi Service in Varanasi?
To avoid taxi scams in Kashi, the best way to book a cab is through verified operators, who ensure:
- Verified taxi drivers in Varanasi
- Background-checked and trained staff
- Safety for tourists, especially solo female travellers
- Clear fare confirmation before the ride
- GPS tracking and safe navigation
- Instant booking confirmation via call or app
- No hidden charges or forced detours
- 24×7 customer support
- Professional behaviour with tourists
Chiku Cab has been established and operating taxis in Kashi since 2018, and has ensured to consider the above important aspects to provide you with the safest, easiest and most comfortable taxi services in Varanasi.
You can simply download our Chiku Cab app and get a flat ₹250 cashback for your comfortable local sightseeing, outstation trips, as well as airport transfers in Kashi.
Safe Taxi Options from Varanasi Airport to the City
Many travellers report airport taxi scams involving unauthorised drivers charging excessive rates. To avoid overcharging taxi drivers in Kashi, always confirm the fare before the ride and avoid touts standing outside the terminal.
Chiku Cab provides safe taxi services from Kashi airport to the city for Kashi Darshan/local sightseeing with fixed prices and verified drivers so that you can exit the terminal without stress or time-consuming negotiation.
Overcharging Boat Rides
Where Taxi Scams Are the Most Common?
In the densely crowded zones, scammers get a way to try their luck on unaware and unsuspecting tourists. These places include:
- Varanasi Junction (Cantt) railway station (BSB)
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction (DDU), Mughalsarai
- Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport arrival gates (VNS)
- Godowlia crossing
- Assi Ghat and nearby areas
- Lanka and BHU
- Busy tourist markets
These locations attract touts, so it’s better to pre-book your taxi before arrival. Dial 844-844-5504 and hire the best taxi services in Kashi with Chiku Cab today!
How to Book a Genuine Taxi in Varanasi?
To avoid getting cheated by local taxi drivers in Kashi, always book through an official channel. Chiku Cab supports bookings through phone calls, website or app. Download the app to get a flat ₹250 cashback, which you can use for your cab bookings. Alternatively, you can also visit our website or dial 844-844-5504 to book a cab easily.
Best Practices for Safe Cab Travel in Varanasi
Here are some of the best ways to prevent getting robbed during broad daylight or even after midnight. These steps would help you prevent most taxi-related scams in Banaras.
- Confirm the final fare before your ride
- Check the vehicle plate number (Yellow Plate) and driver ID
- Avoid accepting rides from strangers
- Share trip details with family/local guardian
- Use GPS during the ride
- Do not accept detours to unknown shops
- Avoid cash-only drivers, if possible
- Verify if the driver belongs to the company you booked
If you are a solo female traveller worried about your safety, you must not accept lifts or random bookings with unverified drivers. Dial 844-844-5504 and hire a Kashi taxi with Chiku Cab and get a women-friendly taxi, the safest and most reliable in Kashi for all your travel needs.
Tilak scam
Why is Chiku Cab the Safest Taxi Option in Varanasi?
With verified fleet operations, experienced local taxi drivers in Kashi, transparent policies, and proven service reliability since 2018, Chiku Cab has ensured to provide the best cab services in Kashi, the Spiritual Capital of India. Our drivers are trained to assist with tourist luggage, guide foreigners respectfully, and ensure your safety, comfort and convenience at all times. Whether travelling from the airport, station or local ghats, Chiku Cab ensures safe travel tips that Kashi tourists genuinely need.
- Trusted Local, Outstation and Airport Transfers
- Flexibility and Customisability in our services
- Verified & Insured Pan-India Commercial Vehicles
- Easy Pickups from Railway Stations and Airport in Varanasi
- Experienced local drivers to help you travel quickly like a local
- Customizable pick-up/drop from anywhere in Kashi and Sarnath
- 24/7 Customer Support and Booking on call/a dedicated Chiku Cab mobile app
- Driving at your pace – Special consideration for senior citizens and patients
So what are you waiting for? Dial 844-844-5504 and hire the best taxi service in Kashi simply over a phone call and avoid scams with a reliable driver, who will guide you through the best way to spend your time in Kashi. Get an additional 10% discount on senior citizens’ pilgrimage trips and ensure your safety and comfort at all times.
Other Types of Scams in Varanasi You Must Avoid
Here are some of the other major types of scams that might steal a lot of money from your hard-earned money. It includes:
- Hotel Booking Scams
- Overcharging Boat Rides
- Scam for Sympathy by a ‘Lost Tourist’
- Fake Tour Guides
- Shoe Locker Scams
- Silk Saree Shop Scams
- Fake Sadhu or Aghori Scams
- Priest, Tilak, Prasad, Aarti and Darshan Scams
- Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghat Scams
Varanasi is a beautiful, sacred and culturally rich city. However, due to the scammers, travellers are required to avoid scams. By choosing verified taxis and following simple precautions, you can enjoy the city safely. For honest taxi travel, fixed fares, verified drivers and safe navigation, book your ride with Chiku Cab.
FAQs
Q: How to avoid overcharging taxi drivers in Varanasi?
Confirm the fare upfront, use GPS and Google Maps and book a ride with trusted operators like Chiku Cab, who provide fixed fares.
Q: Which taxi is safe in Varanasi?
Chiku Cab is one of the safest taxi options in Varanasi with verified drivers, fixed pricing and 24/7 customer support. Book a Kashi taxi by dialling 844-844-5504.
Q: How to avoid taxi scams in Varanasi?
You can easily avoid the scam taxis by booking through a reliable and verified cab operator like Chiku Cab, which you can easily book with the simple Chiku Cab mobile app.
Q. Is Chiku Cab a reliable taxi service provider in Kashi?
Yes. Established in 2018, Chiku Cab has three local office locations in Kashi and 24×7 customer support, ensuring your satisfaction, safety and comfort in the holy land of Lord Shiva. So dial 844-844-5504 and book your ride instantly with Chiku Cab.
Q: What to do if a taxi scams you in Varanasi?
In case of a taxi fraud, you must note the vehicle number, distance travelled, and fare demanded, and then report it to the local police station or the tourist helpline. If possible, you can ask the driver to follow your map directions directly to land you in a police station with him.
With 7+ years of experience as a professional content writer, I specialise in blog and academic content writing. For me, writing is simply more than my profession—it’s a journey of self-discovery through spiritual exploration and soulful expression, often inspired by music and mindfulness.
