The other day, some students asked me what the difference was between get in and get on when talking about modes of transportation. They wanted to know when to use in or on.
The rule is very simple:
If you can walk onto it and stand up inside,
you say “get on”. If can’t stand up inside, you say “get in”
Take the bus. Can you stand up inside it? Yes. So, get on the bus.
Can you stand up inside an airplane? Yes. So, get on an airplane.
Can you stand up inside a taxi? No. So, get in a taxi.
Get in . . . (+ car, truck, taxi, yuk-tuk, van, etc.)