Taxis for groups and eight-seaters
When the group does not fit in an ordinary car — or the cases do not — you need a taxi with more seats or a larger vehicle. In Lanzarote that is asked for in advance from the dispatch of the municipality: at an ordinary rank a vehicle of this kind is not usually waiting for you.
What an eight-seat taxi is
It is a licensed car with a plate authorising more seats than usual, so the group travels seated with nobody squeezed into the middle row. The number of authorised seats appears on the vehicle's own plate; if you are unsure what has arrived at the rank, ask before you start loading luggage.
Luggage: the factor most people underestimate
Hard cases take up more room than people, and a pushchair takes up more than a case. Nobody gets left behind at the rank, but the driver may refuse to start the journey if everything does not fit, or ask you to call another vehicle. When booking, say how many pieces there are and how big they are.
How to ask and when to give notice
You call the dispatch of the municipality you are leaving from and give four things: the number of people, the luggage, the time and the pick-up point. For departures in the small hours or on public holidays it is worth leaving the notice the night before and confirming in the morning. This page does not book: you make the call yourself.
When a car is not enough
For very large groups the taxi stops being the answer and you need a bus or a minibus, hired as a service with an agreed itinerary and timetable rather than picked up at a rank. It is worth asking for a quote with a few days' notice and comparing it with hiring a vehicle with a driver.
Frequently asked questions
Does all the luggage fit in an eight-seat taxi? ＋
Not necessarily: passenger seats and boot space do not grow at the same rate. Always say how many cases you have before confirming; if they do not fit, the answer is a larger vehicle or splitting the group in two.
Does it cost more than a normal taxi? ＋
The amount is set by the meter under the fares in force, and passenger capacity adds no charge per person. What changes the amount is the journey, the fare that applies and the supplements: ask about them when you get in and keep the receipt.
Can I bring a child seat? ＋
Ask when booking if you need a child-seat anchor point: not every vehicle has one fitted and the driver cannot always fit it on the spot. For long journeys with children, that notice is part of the booking.