Complete Guide to Taxis in Paris (Rates, Apps, Precautions)

Taxi in Paris is a safe and reliable solution that is independent of the occasional mishaps of the RATP (metro) or the SNCF (RER, suburban trains)…

But, how do you take a taxi in Paris? How much does it cost? Where can you find them?

That’s what I’m going to explain in this article.

 

To sum up, the pick-up charge is €4.40, plus the minimum fare of €8. Then we calculate the distance between the point of departure and the final destination using a grid of three fares (A, B or C).

This gives you the estimated final price of your journey, and for journeys between Paris and the airports, the prices are set in advance by the government, which you will find a little further on in the article.

 

 

Fees for a Taxi Are Regulated in Paris

First of all, the pick-up, for any ride, will be charged at a maximum of €4.40. This price can be lower, and G7, the main taxi company in Paris, charges €3.

There are then 3 different kilometric rates for the cost of the ride itself:

Minimum cost of a ride: €8
Rate A	Rate B	Rate C
€1.22/km	€1.61/km	€1.75/km

Urban Zone (red)	Suburban Zone (blue)	Beyond the Suburban Zone (white)
Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm: Rate A 5pm - 10am: Rate B	Monday to Saturday 7am - 7pm: Rate B 7pm - 7am: Rate C	Rate C Any day and any time
Sundays (including holidays) 7am - 12pm: Rate B 12pm-7am: Rate C	Sundays and holidays Day and night: Rate C
Holidays Day and night: Rate B

 

Surcharges:

People:

• €5.50/additional person beyond the 5th one (2 children under 10 = 1 adult)

Luggage:

• €1 from the second piece of luggage over 5kg

Booking:

• €4, instant booking (ASAP, no appointment time)
• €7, pre-booking (appointment with a precise time)

 

Examples:

• Ride Châtelet – La Défense (9.5km), Monday, 10am (Suburban Zone, rate B): €20-30
• Ride Gare du Nord – Gare de Lyon (5.8km), Thursday, 4pm, (Urban Zone, rate A): €15-20
• Ride Gare de Lyon – La Défense (12.1km), Sunday, 10pm (Suburban Zone, rate C): €30-45
• Ride La Défense – Roissy CDG Airport (26.1km), Saturday, 5.30am (Suburban Zone, rate C): €57.81

 

Specific cases from/to the airports:

Rides between Paris proper and Paris airports (Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly) are subject to flat fees.

They are thus different between the airport and the place of departure or the destination.

Prices are different if the destination is located on the left bank or on the right bank of the River Seine:

	Left Bank	Right Bank
Roissy CDG Airport	€65	€56
Orly Airport	€36	€44

If you happen to change your destination or ask for a detour during a Paris-airport ride, you will be charged for the price of the flat fee and the price of the ride according to the meter, calculated according to the regular rates (cf. rate charts 1 and 2).

A taxi driver cannot refuse to drive you to one of Paris airports (Orly, Roissy CDG, Le Bourget), whatever your initial position is. Leaving from Roissy, the driver is compelled to accept any destination.

 

How To Take a Taxi in Paris?

There are several ways to find and take a taxi in Paris. Beyond the popular wave followed by a “Taxi!”, you can access taxi services by:

• hailing one on the street
• booking one
• taking one at a taxi station (in the train stations, airports, etc.)
  via a dedicated mobile app (cf. § Mobile Apps)

As a customer, you obviously have certain rights when a taxi picks you up:

• in a station, you have the right to choose your taxi; but that is not the case in airports and in train stations.
• you can choose your seating: you may sit in the front or in the back of the vehicle.
• your driver must take the shortest route to your destination unless you ask for a detour or a particular route.

However, a driver can refuse to pick you up for one of these reasons:

• if your luggage cannot be carried by hand (except foldable wheelchairs)
• if you are noticeably drunk
• if you have a pet with you (except guide dogs)
• if your luggage or clothing might spoil the inside of the vehicle
• if you are less than 50 meters away from a taxi station with taxis awaiting
• if you wish to go somewhere beyond the three peripheral departments (Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne)

 

 

Available Mobile Apps for Taxis in Paris

NB: regulated rates listed previously apply for taxi company apps (G7 and Alpha Taxis).

 

Taxi G7

Highlights:

• European leader with a fleet of 9,000 drivers in Paris
• Easy taxi ordering, by phone on 3607 or via the mobile app
• Taxis can be viewed on a map

Weaknesses:

• Use of the app depends on the Internet, and is therefore subject to individual connections.

You can download the app here: Apple App Store / Google Play Store

 

 

Mob1Taxi

Highlights:

• Application approved by ‘Le Taxi’, the government register of taxis.
• Details of vehicles and drivers

 

Weaknesses:

• Little-known application
• Limited to drivers on the register only

 

You can download the app here: Apple App Store / Google Play Store

 

 

Alpha Taxis

Highlights :

• 1,200 taxis in Paris, one of the largest fleets in the city
• Choice of vehicle
• Available 24/7

 

Weak points :

• Booking in advance sometimes less than the final price
• Customer service can be temperamental

 

You can download the app here: Apple App Store / Google Play Store

 

FREENOW

Highlights :

• Easy-to-use application
• Real-time display of available vehicles
• Electric vehicles available on request

 

Weaknesses:

• Higher rates than some competitors
• Dependence on internal connection

 

You can download the application here: Apple App Store / Google Play Store (in French, but you can set the language in the app)

 

Precautions to take

When you arrive in Paris and are unfamiliar with its transport network, it is important not to get into the first taxi available. Some clandestine drivers may offer attractive fares, but their meters are often tampered with, and the fare can rise rapidly.

To recognise a genuine taxi, make sure the vehicle has a ‘Taxi Parisien’ lamp with the LEDs corresponding to the fare system, a sign on the rear window setting out the Parisian taxi regulations and fare standards, a parking permit plate with the number in red on a black background and the word ‘PARIS’ on the front right-hand fender, and an hourmeter inside the vehicle.

Despite these precautions, some people may feel unsafe, particularly women travelling alone or late at night. To meet this need, VTC Femmes Paris offers a fleet of vehicles with drivers exclusively for female customers. They offer services similar to those of traditional taxis or VTCs, with the possibility of booking in advance, 24-hour availability, long-distance journeys, online payment and return journeys.

 

 

Our Advice & Recommendations

If you have to travel within Paris by taxi, I can only advise you to be cautious and always careful.

If you have any doubt about a driver offering you his service, do not get inside the vehicle.

Select drivers who are in a taxi zone in airports and train stations, or pre-book by phone via various companies’ platforms.

You can also check out our article In Paris, is it Better to Travel by Taxi or Uber? where we establish a comparison between regular taxi services and Uber.