How do you hail a cab in NYC?

Boy, you weren't kidding. :)

There are car services that you call ahead to arrange a pickup, but the yellow cabs you see driving all over the streets, get hailed. That simply means that you stand off the curb with your arm in the air and wave when you see one.

During a good chunk of the day, cabs pull up at Penn Station, so there's a line right in front (on Seventh Ave., after you exit the escalator). Stand in line if you see one or waive one down if you don't.

"How do you know if its full or not?" Cabs are for one person/group at a time, they're not buses. Whether it's full or only has one person in it, they don't stop to pick someone else up unless they're empty.

Yes, most now accept credit cards, but I'd have cash ready just in case.

Yes, you can give them a direct address. It helps if you can give them an intersection or a nearby landmark. It also helps prevent you from getting ripped off if it seems that you know where you're going. For example, "I'm going to 1710 Broadway, at 55th St."

Tips are NOT included in the price (when are they ever?) and should be based on a percentage (15-20%) for a longer ride and a buck or two for a shorter ride. For example, if you were to go from Penn Station to Times Square, a buck would be ok. If you were going to Central Park, then not.

What I do is go to an area that doesn't have many people trying to hail a taxi. Try to get near the end of a block to make it easier for the taxi to reach you. Just stick your arm out and give a little wave! :D

Most taxis take both credit cards and cash. You can give a direct address, but it makes it easier if you just give cross streets instead near your destination.

Tip: 15% of fare

Hope this helps!

On 7th Ave, outside of Penn Station there is a taxi stand. Cabs will line up there. They actually MUST line up there if they are picking up/dropping off fares to Penn. Get in the line and wait. Or you could start walking towards your destination and try to hail one on the way. While tons of cabs will probably pass you, only the ones with the lighted 'TAXI' light will stop. The cabs without that light on are either occupied or off duty.

Honestly, I just stood beside the street and waved them down.

Edit: But living there and visiting are two different things. If I had never lived there it would be a different story.