It’s amazing how people don’t even realize how much Chicago cabbies know about the city. They roam the streets of the Windy City say in and day out, they can probably find their way around with their eyes closed.

And that’s the great thing about legitimate Chicago cabbies, like Universal Taxi cabbies. They’re not just regular drivers who will take you from point A to point B. They’re people who can share a little bit about the city with travelers who have never been this side of the world. They’re those who can lead you to the places only locals know about, the ones that travel magazines haven’t discovered.

But then, not all Chicago cabbies are legitimate, and this could mean a bad thing. It means that they could cheat you out of your money, or take routes you don’t want to take. They can be rude and impolite and not have any accountability at all.

This is why it is extremely important for you to choose licensed cabbies, even if you don’t see one around. Going for an unlicensed cab can heighten the risks that come with your travels. Part of the deal here is knowing ow to spot the fake ones from the real ones. In this case, here are a few things you have to take note of:

• Chicago cabs are granted medallions.

Basically, a medallion can be purchased or leased, but the number of medallions granted are limited simply because the city does not want a huge surge of cabs all over the city. The medallion should be displayed on the vehicle’s hood at the top right side.

• Chicago cabs carry a numeric code.

This numeric code should not only be seen on the medallion, but all over the cab as well. Consider this number as the cab’s personal ID. It’s something that distinguishes and identifies one cab from the other.

• Chicago cabbies are not required to wear uniforms.

Don’t be surprised if you get picked up by a cabbie who’s not wearing a uniform of some sort. See, Chicago cabbies are not required to wear any kind of uniform. There isn’t even any rule about what color their cabs should be – any color will do.

• Chicago cabs are usually required to have partitions, except for independently-owned ones.

The City of Chicago requires cabs to have some sort of partition between the driver and the passenger. However, if the cab is independently-owned or operated, then they are exempted from this rule. This has often cause some confusion among taxi passengers, as they end up assuming that a cab is fake when they do not have the partition.

To make sure you’re getting on a licensed and legitimate cab, use a cab company that you’re familiar with. You can try downloading the Universal Taxi app and booking trips through it. This way, you can make sure that no matter what happens, you’ll have a legitimate cabbie waiting for you right outside your door each and every time.