TAXIS
How do you know a taxi is available in Washington, D.C.?
He stops for you. Unlike New York, few of the cabs have lights on the roof telling you whether or not they're available. Some D.C. cabs flip down "On Call" signs from their sunvisors, but sometimes that's just to excuse them from picking up shady-looking passengers.
Where's the best place to catch a cab?
It is easier to hail a cab in front of a nice hotel. Otherwise, you can find them anywhere downtown. In the evenings, you might have to head to one of the busier streets to find one, as they tend not to scour the neighborhoods for fares.
How do you signal you're looking for a ride?
Just wave your hand when you see one - even if they're headed in the opposite direction, they'll make an illegal U-turn if you look like you can pay the fare.
Unlike most cities, D.C. cabs operate on a zone system. Therefore, there's no worry about a cabbie running up the fare while he takes you on the scenic route to your destination. Just make sure you study a zone map or use the online fare calculator before or once you enter a cab to find out how much you should be charged. If your trip originates or ends along on a zone border, merely crossing the street before hailing the taxi or having the cabbie let you off across the street from your destination could eliminate one zone from the fare calculation. Note that there will be surcharges for extra suitcases, additional passengers, during snow emergencies, rush hour trips and fuel during times of high gas prices.
RENTAL CARS
Visitors will probably find that having a rental car in D.C. is more trouble than it’s worth. Traffic in and around the city is heavy and frustrating, especially during rush hour. Most attractions around the Mall do not have convenient parking, and metered parking is limited. Garage parking is expensive and not particularly close to sightseeing. The extensive Metrorail system has stations within walking distance to all of the major attractions, such as the museums and government buildings, as well as to the business districts in Maryland and Virginia within the Capital Beltway, so tourists and business travelers should have no need for a car.
However, those who prefer to get around by car will find a good selection of major rental companies located at each of the three area airports: Reagan Washington National Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport and Dulles International Airport.
A rental car can help if you're hoping to, say, go to Baltimore or the more historical areas of Virginia - otherwise, it's probably safer, easier, and cheaper to use public transportation. If you only need a car for a short time, consider Zipcar or Flexcar, where you can rent a car or truck by the hour - locations are scattered throughout the city, and insurance and gas is included. However, the initial registration process and expense involved with Zipcar and Flexcar make these programs more practical for those staying for extended periods..
Off-Site Links:
http://dctaxi.dc.gov/dctaxi/frames.as...
http://citizenatlas.dc.gov/atlasapps/...
http://www.wmata.com
http://www.mwaa.com/national/carrenta...
http://www.bwiairport.com/ground_tran...
http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles...
http://www.zipcar.com
http://www.flexcar.com
