Last updated: October 2026 · Reviewed by Lija Scheiman, CEO, leading the TaxiBambino Content Audit Team
Philadelphia makes the money side of an airport taxi simple: there's a flat fare of $32 from PHL to Center City, plus a small fuel surcharge. The car seat side is not so simple. Pennsylvania's child seat law has no exemption for taxis, and you can't count on the taxi at the rank having the right seat for your child. So the fare is fixed, but the seat is your problem unless you arrange one.
Pennsylvania's child seat law
75 Pa.C.S. §4581 applies to any person operating a passenger car in Pennsylvania:
Child | Required |
Under 2 | Rear-facing seat, until the child outgrows the manufacturer's height and weight limits |
Under 4 | Child passenger restraint |
4 to under 8 | Seat belt plus a properly fitting booster seat |
8 to under 18 | Seat belt |
No taxi exemption
The statute's exemptions cover only medical reasons, and a few seat belt exceptions such as rural mail carriers and very old vehicles. Taxis, Uber and Lyft are not exempt.
Fines
A child seat or booster violation is a summary offence with a $75 fine, plus surcharges and court costs. It isn't counted as a moving violation, and the charge can be dismissed if you show proof that you've since obtained a suitable seat.
Leaving PHL
Taxis: the flat rate
The Philadelphia Parking Authority sets a flat rate of $32 between the airport and Center City (in force since February 2023), plus $1 for each additional passenger over 12 and the Parking Authority's monthly fuel surcharge (around $1 to $1.50 per trip). Children 12 and under don't add to the fare. Taxis pick up at Zone 5 on the Commercial Roadway, signed from baggage claim. Outside Center City, taxis run on the meter: $2.70 for the first tenth of a mile, then about $3 per mile, plus a $1.50 airport exit fee on metered trips.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft pick up at Zone 7.
SEPTA Airport Line
The train stops at every terminal and reaches Center City in about 19 to 24 minutes, running every 30 minutes. On SEPTA, children under 12 ride free with a fare-paying adult.
What Philadelphia families booked with us
In the past 12 months, families completed 21 Philadelphia transfers through TaxiBambino:
Our Philadelphia bookings, last 12 months | |
Typical price (median) | €144 |
Middle half of bookings | €111 to €183 |
Groups of 4 or more | 33% |
Booked within 2 days of travel | 38% |
Busiest months | April, March, June |
Unlike the flat taxi fare, our price includes a seat fitted for each child and a driver who meets you in arrivals. Philadelphia families also plan ahead more than most: only 38% booked within two days of flying.
Philadelphia with children
Please Touch Museum: built for children aged 1 to 7, in Memorial Hall, a building from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition.
Philadelphia Zoo: America's first zoo, opened in 1874.
The Franklin Institute: home of the walk-through Giant Heart, a favourite since 1953.
Liberty Bell: free, with no tickets needed, open 9am to 5pm daily.
Independence Hall: free timed tickets, booked online up to 30 days ahead for a $1 fee per ticket.
Reading Terminal Market: open since 1893, with more than 80 merchants under one roof. A good lunch stop with picky eaters.
Sesame Place, Langhorne: in Bucks County, the first theme park certified as an autism centre.
Choosing a seat
Rear-facing infant or convertible seat: under 2, and longer if the seat allows.
Forward-facing harness seat: toddlers who have outgrown rear-facing.
Booster: ages 4 to 8.
All seats we arrange meet US federal standard FMVSS 213. For bigger families, see our vehicle fleet.
Travelling on along the East Coast? See our guides for New York, Newark Airport and Boston Logan. Browse all our car seat options or every city on our destinations page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Philadelphia taxis exempt from the car seat law?
No. Pennsylvania's §4581 has no taxi or rideshare exemption.
How much is a taxi from PHL to Center City?
A flat $32, plus $1 for each extra passenger over 12 and a small monthly fuel surcharge.
Do kids ride free on the SEPTA Airport Line?
Yes. Children under 12 ride free with a fare-paying adult.
Where do I catch a taxi at Philadelphia Airport?
At Zone 5 on the Commercial Roadway, signed from baggage claim. Rideshare uses Zone 7.
When can my child use a booster in Pennsylvania?
From age 4. Children aged 4 to 8 must use a booster with the seat belt.
Travel Safely with TaxiBambino
Knowing the law is one thing; having the right seat ready when you land is another. TaxiBambino.com connects families with certified child-seat taxis and airport transfers in Philadelphia and 150+ destinations worldwide. Infant seats, forward-facing seats and boosters for all ages, booked in advance so nothing is left to chance on arrival.
About this page
TaxiBambino is operated by Avaren Group AB (org. nr 559536-5247), Nacka, Sweden, and arranges family airport transfers with child seats fitted in advance through vetted local partners. Contact: [email protected].
Sources: 75 Pa.C.S. §4581 · CBS Philadelphia: rear-facing law signed · Philadelphia Parking Authority: taxi fares · PHL: taxis and limousines · PHL: public transportation · National Park Service: Independence Hall tickets
This page is reviewed and updated regularly. For the most current official rules, always check your destination country's government transport authority.