Taxis within a country often share common properties, but there is a wide variation from country to country in the vehicles used, the circumstances under which they may be hired and the regulatory regime to which these are subject.

Africa Egypt

Taxicabs are common in Egypt, particularly in the larger cities. The taxi system is highly decentralized, with the cab generally belonging to the driver and operated as a private business by him. Consequently, there is some variation in the types of cars used as taxis, although the Tofaş Şahin (including the licensed version produced by Nasr) and Hyundai Accent predominate.

Drivers must obtain a taxi license from the government, generally through the offices of the Governorate in which they are based; however, taxis are permitted to operate between cities. Drivers must also paint their cars according to a livery unique to each governorate, including painting the license plate number of the cab on its doors in both Arabic and English.

The traditional liveries of Cairo (black and white) and Alexandria (yellow and black) are well known to all Egyptians and indeed across the Arab world from their appearance in Egyptian film and television.

Meters are technically required by Egyptian law, but they generally go unused and in many cases do not even work. The prime exception is in Cairo, where a new class of taxis with a different livery (white with a black checkered band around the middle) have electronic meters installed and used. In most other cases, the price of a journey is generally determined through negotiation or bargaining between the passenger and driver, either just after the cab is hailed or just after the destination is reached.

Many if not most Egyptian taxi drivers have some education and frequently work in white-collar professions that nevertheless come with low pay (generally low-level government work, including education); taxis are a common source of supplemental income for many Egyptian families. Consequently, taxi drivers are a common source of vox populi for foreign media sources.

Eritrea In Eritrea all taxis are yellow. In the capital, Asmara, they are all new yellow Kia, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz. There are often five passenger seats. The taxis are owned by the same company all over Asmara. The taxi traffic starts slowing down after 9 pm in the northernmost part of the city's suburbs, but the inner city and southern side of the town have a lot of taxis. The taxis in Massawa are often large like minibusses, but are still taxis. They are also yellow.

Ghana

Most taxis in Ghana have orange coloured wing panels. According to some observers, the vast majority of vehicles on the roads are taxis. Taxis either take a customer anywhere on a pre-negotiated fare, or pick up passengers for a fixed fare on a specific route.

Kenya

Matatus are a uniquely homegrown transportation industry in Kenya, evolving from informal services in the 1950s and 1960s to a significant economic enterprise today.Originating to serve areas neglected by colonial bus systems, the name "matatu" derives from the Kikuyu term mang'otore matatu, referencing the historical thirty-cents fare. The industry is largely locally owned, employing a significant portion of Kenya's informal sector workforce. Early vehicles were basic, contrasting with modern matatus featuring elaborate art and customization. These vehicles also function as social spaces, reflecting and shaping urban socio-political dynamics. Challenges include tensions with government regulation and difficult labor conditions marked by corruption and lack of formal protections.

Madagascar In Madagascar, the most common taxicabs found in the country are the cream coloured Citroën 2CVs and the yellow coloured Renault 4s.

Morocco

Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) Taxicabs in the Republic of the Congo are almost exclusively Toyota, often old cars imported from Asia or Europe. In Brazzaville, taxis are green and white. In the second largest city in the country, Pointe-Noire, taxis are blue and white.

South Africa South Africa has three main kinds of taxis:

Minibus taxis, which are vehicles specifically built for carrying many passengers. Along with buses and trains, they form the bulk of public transit in SA. The traditionally used vehicle is a 16-seater Toyota Ses’fikile, which is a specially-produced variant of the 5th generation (H200) HiAce, manufactured locally by Toyota South Africa Motors. They are made to meet the regulatory requirements of the South African taxi market. E-hailing services, via apps such as Uber and Bolt. Since 2025, the South African Government has mandated that e-hailing drivers operate within the specific jurisdictions for which they are registered. These companies use a variety of cars. Budget e-hailing vehicles include the Toyota Corolla, Suzuki Ciaz, Kia Cerato, Honda Amaze, and Kia Seltos. Upmarket e-hailing vehicles include the Lexus RX, Lexus LX, Mercedes Benz S-Class, Volvo XC90, and BMW X5. Meter taxis, which are hailed by calling a local company of choice. These operate point-to-point services, and commonly use Toyota Avanzas.

Asia

Israel

There are two taxi systems in Israel, with one operating as a standard taxi service and the other (taxi - ) as a cross between a taxi and a private bus system. The latter tends to run longer journeys or particular routes and is effectively a shared taxi – hence set pick-up and set-down locations, but also potentially picking up or dropping off anywhere en route.

Although fares are officially meter-based, it is quite common to agree on the fare in advance with the driver. They have a directory guide for prices and will show the estimated alternative to the meter price, either to be accepted, negotiated or rejected by the traveler if the meter is preferred.

The wisdom of the choice may be based on time of day and traffic and whether the passenger has bags, etc. which could cost more on the meter as each piece adds a set amount. Either way, the eventual fare is not usually significantly different so many Israelis choose the meter without a thought. Tipping is not required but rounding up is common.

Standard taxis are always painted white with decals on the sides that say "Taxi" in Hebrew, English, and Arabic, as well as a 5-digit identification number. Sherut taxis have actual liveries, with them often consisting of a yellow front, blue sides, and a white rear-end.

Both systems have a yellow sign on top of the car which says "Taxi" in Hebrew and English and the identification number, which illuminates as the driver turns on his vehicle's headlights. Taxis registered before 2013 have their plate number suffixed with 25, and taxis registered after 2013 have their plate number suffixed with 26.

Palestine (Gaza Strip and the West Bank) Taxis in Palestine have either black and white stripes or are yellow colored depending on the location.

Private taxi companies in the Gaza strip often use Škoda Octavia wagons as their main vehicles while individuals in south of Gaza use 80s 6 door Mercedes limousines as taxis, the Hyundai Verna is also used as taxis.

Oman

Taxicabs in Oman are usually with orange panels and mostly Toyota or Nissan models. The number plate is red and starts with K, KA, KB (for saloons) and KK (for vans). They do not have any meters installed. The fare is generally decided by bargaining with the driver, though most commuters have a good idea of what can be considered a reasonable price.

The rider may choose to have the taxi "shared", or "engaged." In an engaged taxi, the driver will not take any more passengers (as opposed to a shared taxi). Usually, drivers charge much more to have the taxi engaged, sometimes as much as eight to ten times the price of a shared taxi. In a shared taxi, the driver will usually get more people who need to go along the same way. Due to low costs of fuel and fairly high purchasing power parity in Oman, taxicabs are extremely cheap when compared to other parts of the world, even in the engaged mode.

A variation of the shared taxi also exists. These are usually 12-seater Toyota vans. These taxis follow a fixed route, stopping mostly at bus stops to pick up and drop off passengers. Passengers usually get into the taxi that is headed towards their destination. To attract more passengers, taxis stick to highways and main roads. If one wishes to go towards a place, not along the main road, it is generally more economical to use a shared van to commute between two bus stops and then switch over to another taxi headed for the destination, as opposed to taking the regular taxi to commute between the two places.

Bangladesh

Taxis in Bangladesh are generally Toyota Corolla (E160)s, Toyota Premios or Toyota Allions in yellow. Taxi fares generally start from 80 taka per kilometer. Almost all taxis now run on LPG as well as diesel.

China

Taxicabs are very common throughout China. Different vehicles are used throughout China due to various provinces and cities' taxi company choices. Formerly, commonly used taxi cars were the Volkswagen Santana, Citroën Fukang and Citroën Elysée. Following Shenzhen, many cities in China started using fleets of EV taxis, using vehicles such as the BYD e6.

Regulation require taxicab drivers working for ride hailing apps to have three years of experience, have a licence from a local taxi regulator and have no criminal record. Their vehicles cannot have over 600,000 kilometers on the odometer and are required to have GPS tracking.

Didi Chuxing is the largest ride hailing app in China; it mainly services larger cities. Even in very small villages, there will be cars for hire. In smaller towns and villages, taxicabs are generally unregulated and may consist of a bike with a carriage, or more commonly, motorcycles with extensions that allow three people to sit in the rear. Even in large cities, taxicabs are generally very lax forms of transportation. Taxicabs in Shanghai may not refuse to go to any destination within the city. Relative to the west, taxicabs are very cheap, and in smaller areas, the fare may be 1 yuan per person.

Macau

Hong Kong

During the early colonial times, sedan chairs were the only form of public conveyances. Public chairs were licensed, and charged according to tariffs which would be prominently displayed.A Hong Kong Sedan Chair, Illustrations of China and Its People, John Thomson 1837-1921, (London,1873-1874) Chair stands were found at all hotels, wharves, and major crossroads. Their numbers peaked in about 1920.Nury Vittachi, Riding out the rickshaw days , The Standard, March 28, 1998

The pulled rickshaw, first imported from Japan in 1870, was a popular form of transport for many years, peaking at more than 7,000 in the early part of the 20th century. The rickshaw and sedan chair vied for customers depending on their budget, haste, or terrain to be negotiated. The rickshaw was more rapid, but was not suited to climbing the steep terrain of Hong Kong Island.

Rickshaws' popularity waned after World War II. There were about eight in 1998, and only four left in 2002. The last sedan chair was reportedly abandoned in 1965; and the rickshaws have disappeared since the ferry's closure at the end of 2006.

The earliest modern taxi service was first officially recorded by the government in 1947 with 329 cars.HK Gov. "Taxi Annual Traffic report. ", Transport Department, HK Government, Retrieved on 2007-02-23

In Hong Kong today, there are three types of taxis, painted in different colors, serving different parts of the territory. The most common one, which is painted in red. The red taxi serves throughout Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Green taxis serve the New Territories and light blue taxis serve Lantau Island. Taxis pick up passengers from streets, or by radio-dispatch by phone. Fares are charged according to the distance measured by meters. Surcharges include tolls, luggage, and pets.

India

Indonesia