To call a taxi in Grand Theft Auto IV, stand near a cab with its roof light on and press the Action button (E on PC, LB on Xbox, L1 on PlayStation) so Niko whistles it over. Then hold the Enter Vehicle button (F, Y or Triangle) to climb into the back seat; tapping it instead makes Niko carjack the driver.
The second way is Roman’s car service on Niko’s phone, which sends a free cab to wherever you are once your friendship with Roman is high enough. Below we cover both methods step by step, how to choose a destination and skip the drive, why taxis sometimes refuse to stop, and how Roman’s service unlocks.
Hailing a Taxi on the Street
Taxis are not available from the very first minute. They unlock after the early story mission Bull in a China Shop; from then on, any yellow cab in Liberty City is a ride.
- Find a free cab. Look for a taxi with its roof light on. A cab with the light off already has a passenger and will drive straight past you.
- Whistle. Press E (PC), LB (Xbox) or L1 (PlayStation) while it is close. Niko whistles and the driver pulls over.
- Hold the Enter Vehicle button. Hold F, Y or Triangle until Niko opens a rear door and gets in.
Step 3 is where almost everyone goes wrong. The game uses the same button to enter as a passenger and to steal a car: a quick tap drags the driver out, a hold puts you in the back. If you keep ending up behind the wheel of a stolen cab, you are tapping.
Choosing a Destination and Skipping the Ride
Once you are seated, a screen in the cab lists places to go.
- Preset destinations. Safehouses, mission start points and landmarks around the city. On PC, use W and S to move through the list and Enter to confirm; on controller, follow the on-screen prompts.
- Your own waypoint. Set a marker on the map before you get in (or from the pause menu map) and it appears on the cab’s screen as an option.
After you pick a destination the driver sets off, and the game offers to skip the trip for extra money. Skipping cuts straight to the arrival; per the community’s fare breakdowns, it roughly doubles the fare. There is also an option to tell the driver to hurry, which makes him drive a lot more aggressively. The fare is distance-based either way, and on Liberty City’s money it rarely matters.
One thing to keep in mind if you are hunting achievements or trophies: the “It’ll Cost Ya” award asks for a full taxi ride between islands without skipping, so sit that one out.
Ordering a Cab Through Roman
Niko’s cousin runs a cab company, and becoming close friends with him unlocks a free car service.
- Raise your friendship with Roman. Accept his calls and take him out (bowling, darts, drinks and so on). The threshold is 60% like, and Roman calls Niko to say the service is available.
- Open the phone (Up on the keyboard arrows or the D-pad) and go to the phonebook.
- Select Roman, then choose Car Service.
- A cab from Roman’s company drives to your location. Get in and pick a destination the same way as a street taxi, with no fare to pay.
Roman’s cabs have two perks over a street taxi: they will still come if you have a wanted level (a normal cabbie flees the moment you attract the police), and the driver does not bail if shooting starts. The limits are that you cannot order them back to back (Roman says no cars are available), and the service goes offline for a stretch of the story between the missions Roman’s Sorrow and Blow Your Cover, returning by text message afterwards.
Why a Taxi Will Not Stop or Take You
- You have a wanted level. Street cabs will not carry a wanted man, and a driver who sees you attract the police mid-ride stops and runs. Lose the cops first or use Roman’s service.
- The roof light is off. That cab already has a fare.
- You were acting up. Pull a weapon or throw a punch and the driver bails.
- You are before the unlock. Early in the story, hailing does not work yet.
Which Method to Use
Hail on the street in busy parts of Algonquin, Broker or Dukes, where a free cab comes past every few seconds. Call Roman when you are somewhere quiet, when you are wanted, or when you simply want the ride for free. Both beat driving across the city while you are still learning the map, and if you would rather drive, our guide to saving cars in GTA 4 keeps your favorite ride safe. Long drives are also the moment to turn off the radio if the stations are grating, and our guide to dialing numbers in GTA 4 covers the rest of Niko’s phone.
Every other guide we have for the series is on our GTA guides hub, and the best GTA games ranked covers where GTA 4 lands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you hail a taxi in GTA 4? Stand near a cab with its roof light on and press E on PC, LB on Xbox or L1 on PlayStation. Niko whistles and it pulls over.
How do you get in a taxi as a passenger in GTA 4? Hold the Enter Vehicle button (F, Y or Triangle) instead of tapping it. A tap carjacks the driver; a hold puts Niko in the back seat.
Can you call a taxi on the phone in GTA 4? Yes, through Roman. Once your friendship with him is high enough, open the phonebook, select Roman and choose Car Service for a free cab.
Why won’t the taxi stop for me? Either it already has a passenger (roof light off), you have a wanted level, or you are too early in the story for taxis to be available.
Can you skip a taxi ride in GTA 4? Yes. After you choose a destination the game offers a skip for a higher fare, which drops you straight at the destination.