Taxi Drivers

File:Taxi in GTA IV.jpg
A taxi in GTA IV

Taxi Driver are one of pedestrians found in the GTA series. As the name implies, they drive taxi cabs around the cities, and can have foul tempers.

The Taxi Drivers

Over the years of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, the taxi and cabbie drivers have evolved considerably.

GTA III era

The Taxi drivers in GTA III and Vice City are mostly immigrants and usually run away if you steal their Taxi. However, you may encounter a driver who will fight for his cab. He then tries running after the player driving the cab (usually wielding baseball bats or shovels), then if they manage to catch the player. the driver will engage in a one on one brawl with the player for stealing their taxi. However, if the player points a gun at the driver, but does not shoot. the driver will throw his hands up, usually saying good things to the player to prevent the player from shooting, then walk away and forget about the taxi. You can usually hear the cab driver saying "Hey my cab!" or "Give me my taxi, bitch!" in a Middle Eastern accent. Throughout GTA San Andreas, the taxi drivers have not really evolved, and are still immigrants. For unknown reasons, the taxis and cabbies are usually one of the most common vehicles that are chased by the police. In Liberty City Stories, the drivers are also immigrants but mostly or possibly are Indians, as evidenced when the player enters a taxi and Radio Del Mundo will play. Most taxi drivers in GTA San Andreas may like talk shows as when the player enter their taxi, WCTR will play.

GTA IV era

The taxi drivers in GTA IV are even ruder and more ill-tempered. Most of the cabbies are Greek, as indicated by the "Malaka!" insult they shout when you crash into them (Greek term for "wanker"). Occasionally, following a traffic accident, they will exit their cab and attempt to pull you out of your car and start a fight. If this occurs when a police officer is nearby, or if they are near a Police Cruiser, they will take immediate action, arresting the driver and taking them away.

In the GTA IV era, you are able to use taxis to get to your pre-determined location, and not having to drive there themselves, for, of course, a fee. Whereareas, in the GTA III era, you could only steal taxis and drive yourself, or do the "taxi driver" side mission, for some money on the side.

The Taxi drivers in GTA IV don't care if you pull out a passenger and get in yourself, but run away if you shoot out the window.

Trivia

  • When hitting the car, the driver will come out and attack you, the same is done if you squirt the taxi with a Fire Truck, or ramming into them with a car.
  • It is possible to get a free taxi ride by shooting out the window when your near your destination, though this requires waiting through the whole drive.
  • After becoming more friendly with Roman Bellic, he will offer you a job driving taxis, or you can get a free ride from one of Romans employees earning you the "Driving Mr.Bellic" achievement. Though this employee is short tempered and constantly hurls insults at Niko calling him a free loader. This man can be killed for money and will resurrect.
  • You can ask the taxi driver to change the radio station. You can also change the destination but this might cost you more.
  • Getting a lift from one island to another without skipping gets you the "It'll Cost Ya" achievement.