Ready for a short ride through useful taxi phrases? This lesson is quick and practical — you'll hear the phrases, practice them, and say them out loud.
Level A2: Lesson 111 is CEFR-aligned and focuses on handy taxi and ride-share phrases for real trips. You'll practice questions about the car, asking the driver to follow navigation or slow down, changing destinations and adding stops, the meter, extra charges, and reporting a lost item. By the end you'll feel more confident speaking inside a taxi.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Learn and use 9 common taxi phrases for real rides (Level A2).
Practice asking about safety, navigation, stops, and fares.
Speak the phrases aloud to build confidence for real taxi situations.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
What's the license plate number?
Ask for vehicle identification
Meaning: Ask for the vehicle's license plate number (vehicle ID).
When to use: Use this when you want to check the car before getting in or if you need to report a ride.
Before I get in, what's the license plate number?
Before I get in, what's the license plate number?
I want to be safe—what's the license plate number?
I want to be safe—what's the license plate number?
Please follow the map.
Ask driver to follow navigation
Meaning: Ask the driver to follow the navigation map.
When to use: Say this when you prefer to use your phone map or ride app directions.
Please follow the map on my phone.
Please follow the map on my phone.
Please follow the map; it's the fastest route.
Please follow the map; it's the fastest route.
I need to change the destination to ___.
Change destination during a ride
Meaning: Tell the driver you need to change the destination during the ride.
When to use: Use this when you want to correct or update where to go.
Tip: Beginners sometimes say "change destination" without "to" (use "change the destination to ___").
I need to change the destination to the train station.
I need to change the destination to the train station.
Sorry — I need to change the destination to 45 King Street.
Sorry — I need to change the destination to 45 King Street.
I need to make one stop at ___.
Request an additional stop
Meaning: Request one extra stop during the ride.
When to use: Use this when you need to stop briefly for a quick errand.
I need to make one stop at the bakery.
I need to make one stop at the bakery.
I need to make one stop at the ATM first.
I need to make one stop at the ATM first.
Drop me off at ___, please.
Specify drop-off location
Meaning: Ask to be dropped off at a specific location.
When to use: Say this when you reach your final place.
Tip: Learners sometimes forget the preposition "at" and say just "Drop me off Main Street" (use "at").
Drop me off at Main Street, please.
Drop me off at Main Street, please.
Drop me off at the corner of Pine and 3rd, please.
Drop me off at the corner of Pine and 3rd, please.
I left something in the car.
Report a lost item after a ride
Meaning: Tell the driver or company you left an item in the car.
When to use: Use this after the ride if you notice a lost item.
I left something in the car — a blue backpack.
I left something in the car — a blue backpack.
Excuse me, I left my phone in the taxi.
Excuse me, I left my phone in the taxi.
Could you turn on the meter, please?
Ask the driver to start the fare meter
Meaning: Ask the driver to turn on the fare meter.
When to use: Say this at the start of a taxi ride to ensure the meter is running.
Tip: Some learners forget to be polite; adding "please" makes it clear and polite.
Could you turn on the meter, please?
Could you turn on the meter, please?
Please turn on the meter before we go.
Please turn on the meter before we go.
Is there an extra charge for ___?
Ask about an additional taxi or ride-share fee
Meaning: Ask whether there is an extra fee for something.
When to use: Use this to check if a stop, luggage, or toll will cost extra.
Is there an extra charge for luggage?
Is there an extra charge for luggage?
Is there an extra charge for waiting?
Is there an extra charge for waiting?
Please slow down a little.
Ask the driver to drive more safely or comfortably
Meaning: Ask the driver to slow down a bit for safety or comfort.
When to use: Say this if the driver is going too fast or the ride feels rough.
Please slow down a little — it's a bit fast.
Please slow down a little — it's a bit fast.
Could you please slow down a little? I'm nervous.
Could you please slow down a little? I'm nervous.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna and David are sharing a taxi. Anna notices the driver missed a turn and wants a small change.
Who asks to change the destination?
Anna
What's the license plate number?
Ask for vehicle identification
David
Could you turn on the meter, please?
Ask the driver to start the fare meter
Anna
Please follow the map.
Ask driver to follow navigation
David
I need to make one stop at a pharmacy.
Request an additional stop
Anna
Actually, I need to change the destination to the train station.
Change destination during a ride
Driver
Sure — I will follow the map and make that stop.
Driver agrees to follow the map and stop
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase asks the driver to start the fare meter?
Which sentence is a polite request to be dropped off at a specific place?
If you are worried about extra fees for a stop, which question should you ask?
Which phrase would you use right away if you realize something is missing after the ride?
Anna: Actually, I need to change the destination to the airport — we changed plans.
Anna: Actually, __ the destination to the airport — we changed plans.
Passenger: Before we go, what's the license plate number? I want to check the car number.
Passenger: Before we go, ___? I want to check the car number.
Rider: Could you please slow down a little? I'm nervous when it's too fast.
Rider: Could you ___? I'm nervous when it's too fast.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
Say this phrase out loud:
What's the license plate number?
Ask for vehicle identification
Say this phrase out loud:
Please follow the map.
Ask driver to follow navigation
Say this phrase out loud:
I need to change the destination to ___.
Change destination during a ride
Say this phrase out loud:
I need to make one stop at ___.
Request an additional stop
Say this phrase out loud:
Drop me off at ___, please.
Specify drop-off location
Say this phrase out loud:
I left something in the car.
Report a lost item after a ride
Say this phrase out loud:
Could you turn on the meter, please?
Ask the driver to start the fare meter
Say this phrase out loud:
Is there an extra charge for ___?
Ask about an additional taxi or ride-share fee
Say this phrase out loud:
Please slow down a little.
Ask the driver to drive more safely or comfortably
