Best Cab Options in Paris: Taxi, Ride-Hailing App or Private Transfer?
Getting a cab in Paris usually means one of three things: an official taxi, a ride-hailing app, or a private transfer booked in advance. They overlap, but they are not interchangeable. Here is how each one works and when it is the right choice, so you can pick the best option for your trip rather than the first one you find.
1. Official Paris taxis
Licensed taxis can be hailed in the street, found at taxi ranks, or booked by phone or app. Inside Paris they run on a meter; between Paris and the CDG or Orly airports they charge a regulated flat fare, which depends on whether you go to the right or left bank of the Seine.
- Good for: short trips inside the city, and airport runs when you have not booked anything.
- Watch out for: queues at stations and airports at peak times, metered fares that rise in traffic, and child seats that are not guaranteed.
2. Ride-hailing apps
App-based drivers (VTC) are booked through a smartphone app that shows an estimated price before you confirm. Availability is good in central Paris.
- Good for: spontaneous trips when you have mobile data and travel light.
- Watch out for: dynamic pricing at busy times, pickup points that can be hard to find at airports, and no guarantee of a large vehicle or a child seat.
3. Private transfers booked in advance
A private transfer is a car and driver reserved for a specific trip, at a price fixed when you book. This is what Paris Cab Service does. Every transfer includes:
- a fixed price that does not change with traffic or time of day;
- meet & greet with a name sign at airports, flight tracking and 60 minutes of free waiting;
- free child and booster seats;
- free cancellation and service 24/7;
- payment by card, PayPal, SumUp or cash to the driver.
Sample starting prices for 2 passengers: CDG → Paris from €65, Orly → Paris from €65, Paris → Disneyland Paris from €80, Beauvais → Paris from €132.
- Good for: airport arrivals and departures, families, groups with luggage, early or late flights, Disneyland Paris and Beauvais.
- Less useful for: a five-minute hop across the city decided on the spot.
Which cab option should you choose?
| Trip | Best option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Short ride inside Paris, now | Taxi or app | Fastest to get, no booking needed |
| Arrival at CDG or Orly | Private transfer | Driver waiting in arrivals, flight tracked, fixed price |
| Family with young children | Private transfer | Child seats guaranteed and fitted |
| Disneyland Paris | Private transfer | Door to door with luggage, no train changes |
| Beauvais airport | Private transfer | Outside the taxi flat fares, about 80 minutes from Paris |
| Early-morning flight | Private transfer | Booked in advance, no waiting for a free car |
How to pick a good private transfer company
Whoever you book with, check four things before paying: that the price is fixed and all-inclusive, that waiting time at the airport is included, that child seats are free and guaranteed, and that you can cancel without fees. A company that shows its prices openly per route, before you enter any payment details, is usually a good sign.
Book your Paris cab
Compare every route and price on the prices page, or choose your trip on the transfers page and book in about two minutes.