Early in the 17th century, the first wheeled one-horse carriages with drivers for hire, called fiacres, were introduced in Paris (France). Several companies existed, and rates were set by the Parliament of Paris in 1666. There were thirty-three stations around Paris where they could be hired. Their numbers increase from 45 in 1804 to 900 in 1818 to 2600 in over ten thousand in 1900, about the time for the first automobile taxis were introduced. The last horse-drawn fiacre disappeared in 1922.
The first automobile taxicabs were introduced in Paris in 1898; there were eighteen in service during the 1900 Exposition, and more than four hundred by 1907, though they were still outnumbered by fiacres.
Today in Paris, there are two types of vehicles allowed for taxi service :
– Taxis are the French equivalent London’s black cab. They do not have a distinct color, but can be recognized thanks to the taxi sign on top of the car
– VTC (French: Véhicule de Tourisme avec Chauffeur) are the equivalent of Uber or Lyft. They do not have a distinct sign as taxis, but the must hold a licence to operate as private drivers.
There are about 18 000 taxis and 25 000 VTC in Paris and suburban area.
Prices
Pick-up: € 2.60
Price per kilometer from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 17:00: 1,06 € + 32,10 € / h
Price per kilometer from Monday to Saturday between 17:00 and 22:00: 1,32 € + 39,02 € / h
Price per kilometer on Sunday night and public holidays: 1,56 € + 35,80 € / h
Supplement for a 4th passenger: 3 €.
Extra charge for one piece of luggage: 1 €.
Taxis in Paris generally do not take credit cards. One exception to the credit card rule is Taxi G7, where all cars take credit cards.
There are now flat rates for getting from the airports (including) Charles de Gaulle to central Paris. From CDG to a Right Bank of the Seine the rate is about €50. To the Left Bank the rate is about €55.
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