Private hire (VTC) or taxi in Strasbourg: what is the difference?
Taxis and VTCs (voitures de transport avec chauffeur, French private-hire cars) both carry passengers for payment, but the rules are not the same. This article summarises what the official sources say, without taking sides: both have their uses.
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The differences, according to official sources
The information below comes from the French ministry for ecological transition (ecologie.gouv.fr) and the Entreprendre.Service-Public.gouv.fr portal.
| Taxi | VTC | |
|---|---|---|
| Taking a customer | Can be hailed in the street or booked | Only on advance booking |
| Waiting for customers | May park and drive around looking for customers in its authorised zone | Must not park on the public road; with no booking registered, it returns to park |
| Price | Regulated fares, shown on the taximeter | Free, unregulated prices: a fixed price agreed at booking, or calculated by time and distance |
| Equipment | Taximeter, roof light | No taximeter required |
| Authorisation | Parking authorisation (licence) and professional card | Professional card and entry in the VTC register |
When to choose a taxi
- You have not booked anything and want to get in straight away, for example at a taxi rank.
- You prefer a regulated fare shown on the meter.
- You are at a taxi rank or hailing a free taxi.
When to choose a VTC
- You know in advance where and when you leave.
- You would rather book ahead and agree the price at booking (ask a taxi that takes bookings too).
- You are travelling in a group or with luggage: say so when you book, whichever you choose.
Both work for everyday journeys. What matters is choosing for your situation: urgency, number of people, budget.
Good habits, whichever you choose
- Check that the driver is a professional: a professional card is required for taxi and VTC drivers alike.
- Ask for the price before leaving if you book: an announced price avoids surprises.
- State the number of passengers and suitcases when you book.
- For a long distance (airport, Colmar, Black Forest), always ask for a quote.
How we work
At Strasbourg Van, you book in advance: with the simulator, by phone or by WhatsApp.
- The price is announced before departure, for the whole vehicle, not per person.
- A van carries up to 8 passengers with their luggage; a saloon car, up to 3. More than 8 people: several vehicles on quote.
- Service 24/7, including 24 and 25 December.
- At the station or airport, a greeting with a sign and flight tracking.
- Child seats on request.
- Our drivers speak English, French and Arabic.
Guide prices: station or airport to a hotel in Strasbourg, from 55 euros; Strasbourg to Colmar, about 190 euros one way and about 360 euros return; Frankfurt, about 550 euros.
Book your driver
Get your price in 30 seconds with the simulator, then book on the Booking page. Or call +33 3 88 26 13 13 or message us on WhatsApp.
See also: Late-night taxi in Strasbourg · Strasbourg practical guide.