Meter starts at the curb outside McNamara and Evans
From both McNamara and Evans terminals at DTW, metered taxis line up directly outside baggage claim on the Ground Transportation level, with signs pointing to “Taxis” near doors 1–4. You walk out, join the marked taxi queue, and an attendant usually directs you to the next car in line during busier times.
All cabs at Detroit Metro operate on a metered system, with the flag drop starting around a few dollars and distance/time charges added on top; recent riders report paying roughly $45–$60 to downtown Detroit and $60–$80 to Royal Oak or Birmingham, depending on traffic and time of day. Fares are per car, not per person, so a group of three often beats rideshare pricing.
Typical runs from DTW to downtown take 20–30 minutes using I‑94, and 30–40 minutes to northern suburbs like Troy via I‑275 and I‑696 in light traffic. Late-night trips after 22:00 go faster, while weekday rush hour around 16:00–18:30 can easily add 10–15 minutes to those times, which pushes the meter up accordingly.
Both terminals have taxis available essentially 24/7, with the heaviest taxi demand right after the morning bank of arrivals around 08:00–10:00 and the evening bank around 17:00–20:00. If you land after midnight, lines are shorter, but expect fewer cars in the lane and a possible 5–10 minute wait while dispatch calls in more drivers.
Drivers accept major credit cards as well as cash; look for the card logos on the rear door or passenger window and confirm before you load bags. Tipping runs like the rest of the U.S.: many locals round up to the nearest $5 or add 15–20% on a $50 fare; you tap or sign on a card reader in the back seat or up front.
For a smoother exit, have your destination’s full street address ready, not just the hotel name, and double-check that you’re in the official taxi lane at Ground Transportation, not a pickup area for shuttles or rideshare, before you hop in.