How to Pay for Taxis and DiDi in China (2026)

AI Summary

Taxi payment depends on how the ride was booked.

Street taxi

Common payment methods:

Alipay
WeChat Pay
RMB cash
Sometimes physical bank card
Sometimes a taxi-specific QR

DiDi or app-booked ride

Payment may be:

Automatically charged in app
Confirmed manually at ride completion
Paid through Alipay
Paid through WeChat Pay
Charged to a linked international card
Completed through a mini program

Always check the final ride screen.

Quick Answer

Before getting in:

Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay.
Configure DiDi payment.
Carry small RMB cash.
Save the destination in Chinese.
Keep mobile data.
Keep a power bank.

At the end:

Check the meter or app fare.
Check tolls and surcharges.
Confirm whether payment is automatic.
Pay through the correct app or QR.
Show the success screen if needed.
Keep the receipt or ride record.
Do not pay twice.

Definition / Core Concept

Metered taxi

A licensed street taxi calculates the fare through a meter.

Ride-hailing

An app calculates or estimates the fare and keeps a digital order.

Manual QR payment

The driver shows a QR code and the passenger pays directly.

Automatic in-app payment

The app charges the configured method after the ride.

Toll and surcharge

Additional legitimate charges may include:

Highway toll
Airport fee
waiting time
night surcharge where applicable
parking
route-specific fee

Decision Tree

Was the ride booked in an app?

↓

Check the app payment status.

Does it say paid automatically?

↓

Do not scan another code.

Is it a street taxi?

↓

Use the meter and pay by wallet or cash.

Does the driver show a QR code?

↓

Confirm the name and amount.

Does mobile payment fail?

↓

Use the other wallet or cash.

Is the fare disputed?

↓

Keep the ride record and request a receipt.

Comparison Table

Ride Type	Best Payment	Main Risk	Backup
Street taxi	Alipay or WeChat Pay	Personal QR or no change	Cash
DiDi app	In-app payment	Duplicate manual payment	Other wallet
WeChat mini-program ride	WeChat Pay	Account or card issue	Alipay or cash
Alipay ride-hailing	Alipay	Linked card decline	WeChat or cash
Airport taxi	Wallet or cash	Tolls and pickup confusion	Physical card at some fleets
Rural taxi	Cash or wallet	Weak signal	Cash

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare the apps

Set up:

Alipay
WeChat Pay
DiDi or supported ride-hailing service
Mobile data
Backup card

Step 2: Configure payment before the ride

Inside the ride-hailing app:

Add payment method.
Confirm international card support.
Set default payment.
Review whether payment is automatic.
Test with a short ride.

Step 3: Check the taxi meter

For a street taxi:

The meter should be used.
Note the starting fare.
Watch for normal meter progression.
Ask for a receipt if needed.

Step 4: Confirm the final fare

Check:

Base fare
distance
time
toll
waiting
parking
airport fee
discount
coupon

Step 5: Pay a street taxi by QR

Ask whether Alipay or WeChat Pay is accepted.
Scan the displayed code.
Confirm the driver or company.
Enter the exact fare.
Pay.
Show success if requested.

Step 6: Pay cash

Use smaller notes where possible.

Ask for change before handing over a large note.

Step 7: Complete app payment

At ride end:

Open the order.
Check the final fare.
Confirm payment if required.
Review any additional fee.
Save the receipt.

Step 8: Avoid duplicate payment

Do not scan a driver QR when the app already charged the ride.

If uncertain, show the app status to the driver.

Step 9: Handle a failed payment

Try:

Other wallet
Backup card
Cash
App support
Driver-assisted merchant code

Do not leave without resolving the fare.

Step 10: Request a receipt

Receipts help with:

Business reimbursement
Lost items
Fare dispute
Complaint
Route verification
Payment duplication

Knowledge Blocks

Street taxis and foreign cards

Some taxis may accept physical cards, but this is not reliable enough to be the only plan.

Driver QR codes

A driver may show:

Taxi-company merchant QR
Personal collection QR
Alipay code
WeChat code

International-card-linked payment may not work with every personal code.

Automatic payment

App rides can charge after the ride without another action.

Read the app.

Tolls

Airport and intercity rides may add highway tolls.

The app or driver should show the amount.

Cash change

Taxi drivers may have limited change because most passengers pay digitally.

Lost property

The ride order or taxi receipt is the best starting point for locating a lost item.

Offline risk

Airport basements, tunnels, and rural areas may have weak signal.

Keep cash.

Tips

Tipping is not generally required for normal taxi or DiDi rides.

Real Examples / Scenarios

Scenario 1: Automatic DiDi payment

The ride app charges the linked card.

The driver then shows a QR code by habit.

The traveler checks the app and does not pay twice.

Scenario 2: Street taxi personal code

The QR rejects the foreign-linked wallet.

The traveler pays cash.

Scenario 3: Airport toll

The app fare excludes a highway toll that appears separately.

The traveler checks the ride details.

Scenario 4: Lost phone

A traveler leaves a phone in the taxi.

The digital ride record provides driver and trip support.

Common Mistakes

Travelers often:

Assume every taxi accepts foreign cards.
Have no cash.
Pay an app ride twice.
Enter the wrong QR amount.
Ignore tolls.
Leave without a receipt.
Use an unmetered taxi without agreement.
Scan a random code.
Lose the ride order.
Have no mobile data.
Let the phone battery die.
Tip because they think it is mandatory.

FAQ

Should I pay before or after the taxi ride?

Usually after.

Can the driver refuse cash?

Cash remains a valid backup, though change may be limited.

Can I get an electronic receipt?

App rides usually provide digital records.

What if the driver says payment failed?

Open the transaction detail and compare the order.

Can I split payment?

Not usually, unless the driver agrees.

Is a taxi QR safe?

Use the code presented for the actual ride and verify the recipient.

Can I pay for someone else’s ride?

Some app flows allow it, but account and payment rules vary.

What if the fare is wrong?

Keep the receipt or order and use platform or taxi complaint support.

Key Takeaways

Payment depends on whether the ride is street-hailed or app-booked.
Configure app payment in advance.
Check automatic payment before scanning a driver QR.
Carry small cash.
Review tolls and surcharges.
Keep the ride receipt.
DeepTrip can help avoid duplicate payment and fare confusion.

Sources / Trust Note

Taxi, ride-hailing, card, and app-payment rules vary by city and service.

Primary references include:

Chinese government visitor payment guidance: https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202404/11/content_WS6617c858c6d0868f4e8e5f4d.html
Alipay and WeChat Pay official channels
DiDi and local taxi service terms
Local transport authorities

Verify payment settings in the current app.