Taking a Taxi in Paris

Why is it that Paris taxis have such a bad rep? Why is it that you can never seem to get a taxi when you need one? Why is it that they don’t stop when you flag them down? What does a normal taxi look like? What does the taxi cost from point A to B? All these questions come into the minds of tourists when traveling to Paris. Some of these questions are even in the minds of locals who could probably offer their fair share of taxi horror stories but they are not all bad.

Here are a few helpful tips and facts to help make your next Taxi Parisien trip go smoother or at least provide you with peace of mind.

What You’ll See on a Licensed Taxi

• Light globes with three repeaters (small bulbs) setting forth the rates A, B, and C. These are lights on top of the taxi that indicate the fare rate being applied: A, B, or C. These rates vary depending on the time of day and location (e.g., within the city, suburban areas, or nighttime rates). The presence of three small bulbs or repeaters helps passengers identify the current fare rate before entering the taxi.
• An opaque sheath (to cover the light at the end of service).
• Inside the vehicle, a counter horokilométrique (the taximeter) showing the tariff applied. This device calculates the fare based on the distance traveled and the rate in effect. It ensures transparency in pricing for passengers.
• This is a notice inside the taxi, typically affixed to the left rear window. It provides passengers with a summary of the taxi’s regulations, fare rates, and the vehicle’s registration number. This placard is meant to inform passengers and ensure compliance with local taxi regulations.
• A black plaque on the right front fender of the vehicle with the word PARIS number and a parking permit. This plaque displays the word “PARIS,” a unique identification number for the taxi, and a parking permit. It serves as an official marker, identifying the vehicle as a licensed Parisian taxi.

How to recognize when a taxi is free

A taxi is free when the light “taxi” is on (or more recently when the light is green). When off, only the light color indicating the rate in effect will remain lit – this therefore means the taxi is reserved or occupied. When the taxi is no longer in use, its light is covered with an opaque sheath.

Prices for Parisian Taxis 2024

• Pick-up Charge: €3
• Minimum Journey Fare: €8
• Supplement per Person from the Fifth Passenger Onwards: €5.50

Tariffs

• Tariff A:
  • Per KM: €1.22
  • Per Hour: €37.90
• Tariff B:
  • Per KM: €1.61
  • Per Hour: €50.52
• Tariff C:
  • Per KM: €1.74
  • Per Hour: €42.10

• Flat Rate Pick-up Charge from Paris:
  • €4 for immediate bookings
  • €7 for advance bookings (only if a booking has been made)

• Flat Rate Pick-up Charge from the Outer Suburbs:
  • Application of the hourly tariff (A, B, or C) (only if a booking has been made)

Tariff Application Times

• Monday to Saturday:
  • Midnight to 7 am: B
  • 7 am to 10 am: B
  • 10 am to 5 pm: A
  • 5 pm to 7 pm: B
  • 7 pm to Midnight: C
• Sunday:
  • Midnight to 7 am: C
  • 7 am to Midnight: B
• Public Holidays:
  • Midnight to Midnight: B (Paris Urban Zone and Outside the Suburban Zone), C (Suburban Zone).

The meter automatically applies the hourly rate instead of the kilometer rate when the taxi is stationary or moving slowly. The suburban zone includes the Paris taxi zone outside Paris and service to Orly, Roissy CDG, and Villepinte airports. For disabled passengers, no extra charge will be made for transporting their wheelchair.

For direct taxi fares between Paris and the airports (Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly) in both directions, the fixed rates in 2024 are:

• €56 between Charles-de-Gaulle Airport and Paris’s right bank.
• €65 between Charles-de-Gaulle Airport and Paris’s left bank.
• €44 between Orly Airport and Paris’s right bank.
• €36 between Orly Airport and Paris’s left bank.

Additional Insights to be in the know!

If you have a preferred route let the driver know. Maybe you can google map your route ahead of time if you like but most of the drivers will use a route they know or that they think is faster.

Service Refusal

An interesting thing to know about Parisian taxis is that they are not allowed to refuse a course. Now many people reading this line will probably laugh but it is true. A taxi driver risks a fine of up to 1500 euros for refusing a passenger. However do not be surprised if you are refused if you are less than 50 meters from a taxi stand. They can refuse you if you are drunk or if you are with a dog that risks dirtying their car (except guide dogs).

They are also not obligated to take you if they are at the end of their service (time on the back), and your route will take them far from their final destination.

If their registration allows them to take more than 3 people in their car, they are not allowed to refuse you there either. Note that there is a surcharge for the number of passengers over 3. 2 children count as one adult (this I did not know).

Extra Charges

There is a surcharge for any ride starting at a train station or airport.

There is a surcharge for a 2nd bag in the trunk.

Taxi drivers are under the obligation to provide a receipt for any course that is over 25 euros with the date, the time of day the license plate number etc.

Reserving a taxi ahead of time will cost more money because the meter will be running from the time that the taxi is on its way to you. That said, during rush hour, it can put your mind at ease to know that you will have a taxi for you and not have to find the nearest stand or call and discover there are no available taxis in your area.

The Drivers

Now for the most part the taxi drivers are friendly and professional but admittedly there are far too many who are rude and obnoxious and thus give the entire bunch a bad rep. I’ve heard a few scary stories when it comes to taxis but I have also heard a few great ones including drivers going out of their way to return keys that a guest left in their taxi – thank goodness I had my number on there.

To file a complaint against a Parisian taxi contact the Préfecture de police 36 rue des Morillons, 75732 Paris Cedex 15.

Are Taxis Your Only Option?

Sources:
Dossierfamilial.com
taxilib.com

So with all this knowledge in hand, take your taxi ride in stride. For an estimated cost of taxi fares around the world try the World Taxi Meter.