Private chauffeur,
VTC or taxi?

Luxury taxi, premium ride-hailing, “grande remise”, private chauffeur: the words get mixed up, the services much less so. Here is what really separates them in Paris, from legal status to price. The short answer: a taxi is hailed in the street or taken from a rank and runs on a meter; a VTC (the French term for a booked car with driver, which includes ride-hailing apps) must always be booked in advance; a luxury private chauffeur is a VTC that adds a price fixed at booking, the Mercedes you chose and the same chauffeur from start to finish.

I.The taxi: the only car you can hail

A Paris taxi holds a licence issued by the authorities. That gives it a right nobody else has: picking up a passenger without a booking, in the street or at a rank, within its area. Its price follows a regulated meter. To the airports, the prefecture sets a flat fare: €62 for CDG and €52 for Orly in 2026.

It is the simplest option for a short, unplanned trip. What it does not guarantee: the vehicle, the exact wait at a busy rank, or a welcome with your name on a board.

II.The VTC: always booked in advance

VTC stands for “voiture de transport avec chauffeur”, a car with driver. The driver is listed on the national VTC register and, this is the core rule, can only take a passenger with a prior booking (article L3120-2 of the French Transport Code). Cruising or waiting for passengers in the street is forbidden, including through an app.

Consumer ride-hailing apps are VTCs. The price is shown when you order and often varies with demand; the driver and the car are assigned ride by ride.

III.And “grande remise”?

Grande remise was the historic French status for prestige saloons and limousines with a chauffeur. It was abolished by the law of 22 July 2009 and replaced by the regime of cars with driver, renamed VTC in 2014. The term lives on in everyday French, but a “grande remise” company today operates legally as a VTC operator.

IV.The luxury private chauffeur: what really changes

Legally, a luxury private chauffeur is a VTC: FAIZ TRANSPORT PARIS is listed on the French VTC register. The difference lies in the service, and it shows on five points.

• The price is set and confirmed before departure. No meter, no night, weekend or peak-time surcharge.
• You choose the car: Mercedes E-Class for up to 3 passengers, V-Class for up to 7, S-Class for 1 to 2.
• The same chauffeur from start to finish, reachable directly, who knows your schedule.
• Waiting is included: 60 minutes free at the airport from actual landing, with flight tracking and a board with your name.
• The car can stay with you for half a day or a full day, from meetings to boutiques to dinner.

Booking	Taxi: possible, not required · Ride-hailing app: when you order · Private chauffeur: in advance, with confirmation
Street pick-up	Taxi: yes · VTC and private chauffeur: forbidden
Price	Taxi: meter or airport flat fare · App: varies with demand · Private chauffeur: fixed, confirmed before departure
Vehicle	Taxi: whichever turns up · App: by category · Private chauffeur: chosen, Mercedes E, V or S
Driver	Taxi and app: one driver per ride · Private chauffeur: the same for the whole trip or day
Airport arrival	Taxi: queue at the rank · App: pickup point · Private chauffeur: name board, 60 min of waiting included

V.What does it cost?

A private chauffeur costs more than a taxi, and it would be dishonest to hide it. Our rates are public: transfer between Paris and CDG, Orly or Le Bourget €140 in an E-Class, €160 in a V-Class, €200 in an S-Class; Gare du Nord to Paris €90 in an E-Class; chauffeur at your disposal €390 for 4 hours and €680 for an 8-hour day in an E-Class. Full details on our rates page.

VI.Which one to choose?

The taxi is hard to beat for a short trip without luggage, decided at the last minute. An app suits you when budget comes first and timing is flexible. A private chauffeur wins as soon as the arrival matters: landing with luggage, a stay in a palace hotel, a business meeting, children to seat (car seats provided free of charge), a full day out or a need for discretion.

VII.Frequently asked questions

Is a private chauffeur a taxi?

No. A taxi is the only car you can hail in the street or take from a rank, and its price follows a meter or a fare set by the Paris prefecture. A private chauffeur works by booking only, at a price agreed in advance.

What is a “grande remise” company?

Grande remise was the former French status for prestige cars with a chauffeur. It was abolished by the law of 22 July 2009 and replaced by the VTC regime. A company that still calls itself “grande remise” therefore operates, legally, as a VTC operator.

Can you hail a VTC in the street?

No. French transport law reserves pick-ups without a booking to taxis. A VTC, and therefore a private chauffeur, can only take a passenger with a prior booking.

Is a private chauffeur more expensive than a taxi?

Usually, yes. Between CDG and Paris, taxis charge a €62 flat fare; a private chauffeur transfer starts at €140 in a Mercedes E-Class. The difference pays for a price fixed in advance, a name-board welcome, waiting time included and the car you chose.

Can a private chauffeur's price go up on the day?

Not with us. The rate is set and confirmed before departure. It depends only on the vehicle and the destination: neither the time, the traffic nor a flight delay changes it.