Taxi or Private Driver from Paris Airports: Which to Choose?
When you land at Paris Charles de Gaulle or Orly, two door-to-door options will take you to your address: a taxi from the taxi rank, or a private driver (called a VTC in France) booked in advance. Here are the practical differences to help you choose.
Booking
You take a taxi from the queue outside the terminal, with no booking. A private driver must be booked in advance: that is French law. The upside is that your driver is already waiting when you walk out, with no queue at peak times.
Price
Paris taxis charge a regulated flat fare between the airports and central Paris; outside the city, the meter runs. With a private driver, the price is set when you book, for Paris and the rest of the Île-de-France region, and it does not change, even in traffic.
Meet & greet
A private driver tracks your flight and waits for you in the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name, then helps with your luggage. With a taxi, you make your own way to the rank.
Families and groups
Most taxis are sedans. With a private driver you can book a 7-seat van with room for all your suitcases, and request child seats in advance.
Our advice
For a last-minute trip alone with little luggage, a taxi is convenient. For a family arrival, a late flight, an address outside Paris, or if you want to know the exact price before you travel, a pre-booked private driver is more comfortable.