A Miami taxi credit card charge on your statement is a fare from a Miami-Dade County licensed taxicab. The county sets those fares by the meter, forbids any extra processing or convenience fee for paying by card, and requires the driver to give you a detailed receipt. If the amount looks off, you have two parallel routes to fix it: a complaint to Miami-Dade County and a formal dispute with your card issuer.
What the Fare Should Be
Miami-Dade fares are set by Resolution R-700-22, adopted July 19, 2022. Flat rates are gone. Every ride runs on the meter, including trips under the Airport Regional Taxicab Service (Blue Cabs) at Miami International Airport.1Miami-Dade County. Taxicab Fares
- Base fare: $2.95 for the first 1/6 of a mile.
- $0.85 for each additional 1/6 mile up to one mile.
- $0.55 for each 1/6 mile after the first mile.
- Wait time: $0.40 per minute, or $24 per hour.
- Minimum fare of $15 for any trip starting at Miami International Airport or the Port of Miami. If the meter reads higher than $15, the meter amount applies.
- A 30% surcharge above the meter for SUVs and vans. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are exempt.
Extra passengers, luggage, service animals, and child car seats carry no additional charge.1Miami-Dade County. Taxicab Fares
No Fee for Paying by Card
County law bars any convenience fee, processing fee, or equipment rental fee on a credit card payment in a licensed Miami-Dade taxi. Every cab must have a working back-seat card terminal, and drivers cannot refuse a card.2Miami-Dade County. Ordinance 14-08, File 141114 If you paid the metered fare plus any tip you added, that is the full amount that should appear on your statement. A separate line for a card fee, or a total higher than the receipt, is not allowed under the ordinance.
Check the Charge Against Your Receipt
Every taxi trip must generate a receipt showing the start and end date and time, distance traveled, fare charged, the taxi company’s name and phone number, the vehicle permit and chauffeur registration numbers, and complaint contact information.2Miami-Dade County. Ordinance 14-08, File 141114 Pull that receipt and compare three numbers: the meter fare, any tip you authorized, and the amount posted to your card. If they don’t reconcile, or if the fare on the receipt itself doesn’t match the metered rate for the distance driven, you likely have grounds to dispute.
How to Dispute the Charge
File a Complaint With Miami-Dade County
The Public Transportation Regulatory Division handles taxi billing complaints and refund requests. You can file online, call 305-679-7873, or email PTRDComplaint@miamidade.gov. The county forwards your complaint and any documentation to the taxi company as part of its dispute process. Complaints become public records under Florida law. Anonymous submissions are generally investigated only if a code inspector determines the violation poses an imminent public safety threat.3Miami-Dade County. File a Complaint – Passenger Transportation
Overcharging at the airport has been enforced actively. A driver found guilty of charging unapproved rates or refusing a passenger under the Ambassador Cabs program is removed on the first offense and permanently disqualified on the second.4Miami-Dade County. Ambassador Cabs Program, File 131789
Dispute the Charge With Your Card Issuer
The federal Fair Credit Billing Act lets you dispute unauthorized or erroneous credit card charges, and it caps your liability for unauthorized charges at $50. Send a written dispute to the card issuer’s billing-inquiries address within 60 days of the statement that contains the error. Include your name, address, account number, a description of the disputed charge, and copies of any supporting documentation, such as the taxi receipt. The issuer must acknowledge your dispute in writing within 30 days and resolve it within 90 days.5FTC. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges
While the investigation is open, you can withhold payment on the disputed amount without being reported as delinquent. If the issuer fails to follow the proper settlement procedures, it forfeits the right to collect up to $50 of the disputed amount even if the charge turns out to be legitimate.5FTC. Using Credit Cards and Disputing Charges If the issuer denies your dispute, you can complain to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.6CFPB. How Do I Dispute a Charge on My Credit Card Bill
Report Fraud to Florida Agencies
If the charge involves outright fraud, the Florida Attorney General’s fraud hotline is 1-866-966-7226, and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services runs a general consumer hotline at 1-800-435-7352.7Florida CFO. Report Fraud and Scams An undisclosed fee on a card transaction can also be reported to the Attorney General as a potential deceptive trade practice.8Florida Attorney General. How to Protect Yourself – Credit Card Surcharges
If the Driver Wasn’t a Licensed Cab
The county rules above cover licensed Miami-Dade taxicabs. Unlicensed operators posing as rideshare or taxi drivers are a separate problem, particularly at the airport. Since 2022, county officials have issued more than 650 citations to unlicensed transportation providers and impounded more than 90 vehicles, with drivers caught soliciting rides without a commercial license facing $2,000 in combined fines.9NBC 6 South Florida. Watch Out for Fake Rideshare Drivers These operators often lack background checks and commercial insurance, so if the charge came from an unsolicited ride rather than a licensed cab, your county complaint route is limited and the card-issuer dispute becomes your main remedy.