Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft have become ubiquitous — but for Westchester County residents, there are compelling reasons to choose a licensed local taxi service instead. Here's what you need to know.
1. No Surge Pricing — Ever
Uber and Lyft use dynamic pricing algorithms that can multiply your fare by 2x, 3x, or even more during peak hours, bad weather, holidays, and high-demand periods. During a snowstorm or on New Year's Eve, you might pay three times the normal rate for the same ride.
With Ernie's Taxi and Car Service, you always pay a fixed flat rate. The price we quote you is the price you pay — regardless of time, weather, or demand. No surprises, ever.
2. Professional, Licensed Drivers
Ernie's Taxi operates under WCTLC Base License No. TLC WC: 2600666. All our drivers are licensed, background-checked, and professionally trained. We're not a gig economy platform — we're a licensed transportation business with over 50 years serving Westchester County.
3. Real Flight Tracking for Airport Rides
When you book an airport pickup with a rideshare app, the driver typically arrives at the scheduled time — whether your flight is on time or not. With Ernie's Taxi, we track your flight in real time and adjust pickup time automatically at no extra charge.
4. No App Required
Not everyone wants to download yet another app, create an account, and store their credit card information. With Ernie's Taxi, you simply call or text (914) 666-7373. That's it. No app, no account, no hassle.
5. Supporting a Local Westchester Business
Ernie's Taxi and Car Service has been serving Westchester County for over 50 years. When you ride with us, you're supporting a local family business — not sending money to a Silicon Valley corporation.
What “local” actually means: the 15-mile zone
A local taxi only beats an app if a car can reach you quickly. Ernie’s runs in-town taxi rides within about 15 road miles of our bases at 16 Kirby Plaza in Mount Kisco and 2945 Lexington Ave in Mohegan Lake, plus our Yorktown Heights basing point. Measured along real roads, that zone takes in 77 of the towns we list: 61 in Westchester, 12 in Putnam and a few just over the Orange County and Connecticut lines. A sample:
| Town | Nearest base | Road miles from base |
|---|---|---|
| Chappaqua | Mount Kisco | 5.5 mi |
| Katonah | Mount Kisco | 4.7 mi |
| Armonk | Mount Kisco | 6 mi |
| Pleasantville | Mount Kisco | 6.8 mi |
| Ossining | Mount Kisco | 8.8 mi |
| Croton-on-Hudson | Yorktown Heights | 8.2 mi |
| Peekskill | Mohegan Lake | 4.3 mi |
| Somers | Yorktown Heights | 8.6 mi |
| Cortlandt Manor | Yorktown Heights | 5.6 mi |
| Mahopac | Yorktown Heights | 8.8 mi |
| Carmel | Yorktown Heights | 14.5 mi |
| Brewster | Yorktown Heights | 14.8 mi |
Farther south (Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Rye, Port Chester), we are not the right call for a five-minute errand, because the car would drive farther to reach you than you would ride. We still serve those towns for airport and long-distance trips by reservation. The full list is on our areas we serve page, and the details of in-town rides are on our local taxi service page.
Everyday local trips, measured
Most local calls are short: the train, the hospital, the mall. Here is how long those trips take from each base in normal traffic, from road-network routing:
| Trip | From Mount Kisco | From Yorktown Heights | From Mohegan Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest Metro-North station | Mount Kisco (Harlem Line): 1 min (0.4 mi) | Katonah (Harlem Line): 15 min (7.5 mi) | Peekskill (Hudson Line): 14 min (6.1 mi) |
| Northern Westchester Hospital | 2 min (0.6 mi) | 20 min (8.7 mi) | 34 min (15.4 mi) |
| NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital | 30 min (16.1 mi) | 16 min (7.6 mi) | 11 min (4.1 mi) |
| Westchester Medical Center | 20 min (12.1 mi) | 26 min (15.4 mi) | 35 min (19.9 mi) |
| Jefferson Valley Mall | 27 min (12.7 mi) | 13 min (5.5 mi) | 9 min (3.7 mi) |
On trips this short, the ride itself is rarely the problem. What matters is whether a car is actually nearby at 6:15 AM for the 6:40 train, and whether the price is the same on a rainy Monday as on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Those two things are where a local base and an app differ most.
Uber and Lyft versus a local taxi, side by side
| Ernie’s local taxi | Rideshare app | |
|---|---|---|
| How the price is set | Flat rate quoted when you book | Set by the app; can rise with demand (surge) |
| How you book | Phone or text (914) 666-7373; no account | App account with a stored card |
| Who oversees it | WCTLC-licensed base, license TLC WC 2600666 | State rules for transportation network companies |
| Regular trips | Standing schedule for commutes and appointments | Usually booked trip by trip |
| Payment | Cash or major credit card | Card stored in the app |
When an app may still be the better choice
We would rather you knew this up front. Our dispatch and local taxi run from 6 AM to 10 PM every day. Local rides outside those hours have to be booked in advance and may carry an after-hours charge (see our Terms of Service). If you need a short ride at 1 AM with no notice, or you are well outside our local zone, an app or a taxi company based near you is the practical option.
Airport trips are different. Airport and long-distance rides run 24/7, 365 days a year, as long as you reserve during dispatch hours, so a 4 AM run to JFK is booked the afternoon before. For how the two compare on airport runs specifically, see rideshare vs car service for airport trips.
Getting the most out of a local taxi
- Book regular trips once. Commuter train runs, dialysis, physical therapy and school pickups can go on a standing schedule, so you are not calling every day.
- Give us the train, not just the time. For train station taxi pickups, the driver meets the actual arrival rather than the timetable.
- Mention mobility needs. Folding wheelchairs and walkers ride in the trunk and the driver helps you in and out. We do not operate wheelchair-lift vans; see our medical transportation page for details.
- Ask for the rate when you book. The flat rate is quoted before the ride. Waiting beyond 15 minutes and extra stops can be added, so mention them up front.
Our two bases have their own pages with directions and hours: Mount Kisco and Mohegan Lake. Town pages such as Yorktown Heights and Chappaqua list the stations, hospitals and drive times for each town.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an app to book Ernie’s Taxi?
No. Call or text (914) 666-7373. There is no account to create and no card to store; you can pay the driver by cash or major credit card.
Which towns get local taxi service?
Towns within about 15 road miles of our Mount Kisco, Yorktown Heights and Mohegan Lake bases: 77 towns in northern and central Westchester, Putnam and a few neighboring towns. Everywhere else we serve, we run airport and long-distance trips by reservation.
Is a local taxi more expensive than Uber?
It depends on the trip and the moment. We quote a flat rate before you ride and it does not rise with demand; an app price moves with demand. Call for a quote and compare on the day you need the ride.
Can I get a local taxi late at night?
Dispatch and local rides run 6 AM to 10 PM daily. A local ride outside those hours must be booked in advance and may carry an after-hours charge. Airport rides run 24/7 by reservation.
Can I book a ride for a parent or a friend?
Yes. Give us the rider’s name, pickup address and a phone number the driver can reach, and we handle the rest. Standing bookings for regular appointments work the same way.
Call Ernie's for a Local Taxi
Ready to experience the difference? Call or text (914) 666-7373 for immediate taxi service anywhere in Westchester County. Fixed rates, professional drivers, and 50+ years of local expertise.
Need a Ride in Westchester County?
Call or text Ernie's Taxi for immediate car service. Fixed rates, professional drivers, airport rides 24/7 by reservation.
📞 (914) 666-7373