Uber, 99 and taxis in Brazil

Uber and 99 both run in Brazil’s large cities, and ride-hailing apps are the easiest way for a visitor to get around them. In October 2026, the average UberX price from Rio to Galeão airport was R$ 60 (about US$12, checked Oct 2026). Book only inside the app, and never hail a taxi on the street.

Conversions use R$ 5.08 per US$1, the rate used on money in Brazil.

App rides solve three problems at once in Brazil. You do not need to explain an address in Portuguese, you see the price before you ride, and the trip is tracked. Licensed taxis remain useful at airports and in cities where app coverage is thin. This guide covers Uber, 99, taxis, typical fares and the safety routine for every ride.

Uber in Brazil

Uber runs in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Brasília, Manaus, Recife, Porto Alegre, Curitiba and many other cities. It serves more than 70 airports in Brazil.

The ride types at Brazilian airports include:

• UberX
• Comfort
• Black
• Priority, with priority pickup
• Bag, offered in Brasília (São Paulo has Black Bag)
• Táxi Promo, with access to the bus lane
• Electric, offered in Rio and Brasília

An UberX usually fits 2 suitcases and an UberXL usually fits 3. UberXL is a van or SUV for up to 6 people.

What rides cost

These are average prices from the city to the airport. They are not fixed fares, and they rise with demand, rain and rush hour.

All prices checked Oct 2026. On the São Paulo route, Comfort averaged R$ 142 (about US$28) and Black R$ 170 (about US$33).

Traffic matters more than distance. São Paulo’s rush hours can double the trip time to Guarulhos, so leave early for a flight.

Airport rules

Request an airport ride only after you collect your bags and clear customs. For an on-demand UberX, Comfort or XL, meet the driver within 2 minutes of arrival to avoid wait-time fees. Black riders get 5 minutes.

You can reserve an airport ride up to 90 days ahead. Reservations can be cancelled free up to one hour before pickup.

At GRU, Uber uses boarding totems on the second curb outside each arrivals hall. The app gives you a 6-digit PIN to share with the driver. Do not accept trips arranged outside the app, even from someone who says they are an Uber driver.

Paying and signing up

You can pay with Pix in the Uber app in Brazilian cities. Cash is an option in some regions. You need an email address and a phone number to sign up.

Check before you go: set up your Uber account at home, add your foreign card, and take one short ride or check that the card is accepted before you fly. If the app rejects the card in Brazil, try a second card or switch to cash where the app offers it.

99

99 is a Brazilian ride app with a large pool of drivers, often with shorter waits than Uber outside the biggest cities. Its passenger categories are:

• 99Pop, the standard car, with the largest pool of drivers
• 99Plus, with top-rated drivers and roomier cars
• 99Taxi, licensed taxis booked through the app
• 99Moto, a motorbike ride
• 99electric-Pro, a premium tier with electric cars

99 offers these safety tools: route sharing, a police emergency button, audio recording and real-time trip monitoring. All drivers and passengers are verified before their first ride.

You can pay in the app by card, PayPal, Apple Pay or 99Pay, or in the car by cash or debit card. If your card fails, do not pay the driver directly; sort it out with 99 support in the app.

Check before you go: install 99 at home and try to register with your foreign card and phone number. If it does not accept them, keep Uber as your main app and use cash for 99 rides.

Motorbike rides on 99Moto are cheap and fast in traffic, but they carry real accident risk. Many travel insurance policies do not cover them.

Taxis

Taxis are licensed by each city. Registered taxis have white license plates with red characters, or red plates with white characters.

Good habits with taxis:

• Use marked taxis, such as those waiting at major hotels or official ranks.
• Ask hotel or restaurant staff to call a cab when you can.
• Do not hail taxis on the street. If you must, note the plate and the cab number.
• Do not get in if anyone besides the driver is inside.
• Check that the meter is running from the start.

Booking a taxi by app

99Taxi books partner taxi drivers through the 99 app. You can also request a taxi in the Uber app where Uber Taxi is available. In Rio, the city government runs its own taxi app, TAXI.RIO.

Airport taxis

Most Brazilian airports have authorized taxi booths. Three examples:

• GRU: Guarucoop works at the arrivals of Terminals 1, 2 and 3, 24 hours a day. It takes credit and debit cards. Ask for the fare at the counter before you go.
• GIG: Regular taxis wait at Level 0, Door A, near domestic arrivals. Fares follow the meter or the city’s regulated table.
• SSA: Two accredited cooperatives work 24 hours a day.

Taxi fares

São Paulo set its common taxi fare from August 11, 2025 at R$ 6.55 (about US$1.30, checked Oct 2026) to start plus R$ 4.80 (about US$0.95, checked Oct 2026) per km. Bandeira 2 adds 30% to the per-km rate.

Rio set its common taxi fare from January 2, 2026 under Resolução SMTR 3.893 of December 29, 2025. The start fee is R$ 6.30 (about US$1.25, checked Oct 2026) plus R$ 3.85 (about US$0.75, checked Oct 2026) per km on Monday to Saturday from 6:00 to 21:00. Tarifa II, at R$ 4.62 (about US$0.90, checked Oct 2026) per km, applies at night, on Sundays and holidays, and on steep hills. Some city pages may still show the older 2025 values. Use the 2026 rates as your guide and check the tariff sticker inside the cab.

Safety in cars

Express kidnappings, assaults and robberies have happened in unlicensed taxis. Some cars also run on fraudulent ride-hailing accounts. Victims have been driven to ATMs to withdraw money.

Your routine for app rides:

1. Book through the official app.
2. Wait in a safe place until the car arrives, such as inside a shop or hotel lobby.
3. Check that the plate and driver match the app.
4. Watch the app for detours or a changed destination.
5. Keep your phone and valuables out of sight.
6. Use trip tracking and location sharing.
7. Avoid drivers with few or low ratings.
8. Arrange pickup in a secure area, not on a dark corner.

Sit in the back seat, and keep your bag on your lap or in the trunk rather than on the seat beside an open window.

Before your first ride

Install Uber and 99 and sign in before you fly, while your home number still receives texts. Add a card with no foreign transaction fee. You also need mobile data to call a car, so read the Brazil eSIM and SIM card guide.

Outside the big cities, app coverage can be patchy. In small towns, ask your pousada for a trusted local driver, and agree the fare before you set off.

For each arrival airport, see airport to city. For street safety, read is Brazil safe, and for payment tricks, read common scams in Brazil.