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Become a taxi driver

Verified 01 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Want to become a taxi driver? It is essential to have your driving licence, medical certificate, training 1ers emergency and blank record. You must pass an exam, on professional competence certificate (CCPCT), then request a business card. Then you have to get a licencecalled ADS (parking authorisation). We present you with the necessary information.

Step-by-step approach

Make sure you fill in all the following conditions:

  • Have a driving licence (category B) 3 years minimumor 2 years if you have done accompanied driving)
  • Have a blank criminal record on ballot 2 (no conviction criminal
  • Having completed a medical check which resulted in a positive medical approving that you can perform this job (cerfa 14880). Only a licenced physician can do this check. This isn't your doctor. You can find the list of accredited doctors on the website of your prefecture.

The first aid certificate is no longer mandatory but it remains useful and advisable.

Please note

The prefecture checks all these documents and certificates when you apply for a professional card.

Anticipating Difficulties

These courses are optional, but recommended for your success.

  • Plan difficulties
    • Make a financial reserve to deal with unforeseen events
    • Prepare for steady pace of work

Please note

Learn more about the trade. For example, differences in exercise between taxi drivers and VTC driver.

Make a business plan

It is recommended to make a business plan of your future company.

It's a necessary file for persuade banks to support you.

It's also a management tool over the first three years.

You're told how to build it.

Who can help you?

You can also request different support solutions.

Get closer to CCI: titleContent your region.

Each CCI offers a training (3 to 5 days) to succeed your company creation project.

The KICs also provide personalised follow-up on your project.

Who shall I contact

1st possibility: being a craftsman

Characteristics of your craftsman status

As a craftsman, you are independent.

Your profits you come back entirely.

You must be owner of licence (either purchased or obtained free of charge).

You are responsible for your vehicle, its maintenance and its insurance.

Creating your company

You must create your company ::

  1. To do this, you must first choose the legal form of your company.
    • If you go it alone: micro-entrepreneur, ISIS, EURL or UAS
    • If you want to create a business with associates: SARL or SAS
  2. Then you have to register your company RNE: titleContent.

Warning  

From 1to January 2023, it is no longer possible to make your paperwork in a company Formalities Centre (CFE). You have to make them on the website of company formalities window.

Company formalities window

You must create a personal account. Then you must click on the column “ Company ” and then click on "Drop a company formality". One interactive online form of 8 pages is proposed to you; you have to fill it step by step. A manual is available on this Single Window website.

As a craftsman, your interlocutor is the chamber of crafts and crafts in your area. The CMA: titleContent are here for you accompany and you advisor in your steps.

You can call or contact by email ::

2nd possibility: be a licence tenant

You must rent a licence to a Specialised company in the rental of taxi licences.

You sign management lease with the company.

The minimum contract duration is 1 year.

You have to pay monthly for the licence.

The price of the rent depends on the company of rental.

Example :

In Paris, the monthly rent for a taxi's licence is about €3,500.

Characteristics of your status

You're an independent entrepreneur.

It is the rental company that has to service your car.

You collect all of your receipts.

You are not covered by unemployment insurance if you stop working.

Creating your company

You must create your company ::

  1. To do this, you must first choose the legal form of your company.
    • If you go it alone (micro-entrepreneur, ISIS, EURL or SASU)
    • If you want to create a business with associates (SARL or SAS)
  2. Then you have to declare your craft activity
  3. You must register your company to RNE: titleContent.

3rd possibility: be an employee

You can exercise the trade by being an employee of a taxi company.

You are bound by a contract of employment with your employer.

You do not have a licence taxi service.

You perceive a fixed salary.

You also receive a percentage of the monthly turnover at your counter.

Please note

It is the company that maintains your car and pays for its insurance.

What training?

Training to become a taxi driver is highly recommended to have a chance of pass exam.

It is not mandatory.

Training lasts between 50 hours and 300 hours about. The duration varies depending on the training centre and where you do it.

The content of the training is intended to prepare for the examcalled professional competence certificate (CCPCT).

It trains you in theoretical written tests (regulations) and practical tests (driving, behaviour, etc.).

Where can I get a taxi training?

You find list of approved training centres on website of your prefecture.

Who shall I contact

Pôle emploi has a search tool to find training who suits ::

Where can I find my taxi driver training?

How much does the training cost?

It costs between €400 and €1,500 about. The price varies depending on the training centre.

It is payable either online at the training centre or on site.

You can use your training staff account.

You can get aid for its financing by asking Pôle emploi for advice.

Who shall I contact

Please note

Most training centres offer distance course, so that you can prepare yourself even in the event of a health crisis, for example.

The exam is called the professional taxi driver certificate (CCPCT).

How do I enrol in the exam?

Theenrolment in review is done by filling in form available your prefecture or website of your prefecture.

Registration is paying.

Its cost is €200 approximately, payable online.

Who shall I contact
What are the trials?

The event takes place in 2 Parts ::

  1. Knowledge tests
    • Management company and accounting
    • Regulation on taxi activity
    • Rules road safety
    • Master of French andEnglish
  2. Practice ::
    • 20-minute route of driving as a taxi driver. You must prepare it, secure it (anticipate difficulties, work, facilitate the journey) and carry it out.
    • The examiner will then verify the following:
      • Your knowledge in the territory covered (geographical, cultural, tourist)
      • Your ability to host a customer
      • Your ability to bill a customer and to use the credit card terminal

If you pass the CCPCT: titleContent, you are entitled to your business card.

It costs money.

Its cost is about €60, payable online on the simplified steps.

To receive your card, you must request to your prefecture during the 3 months after your success under review.

You must fill out a form, available on the simplified steps.

Application for a taxi driver's professional card

Who shall I contact
Documents to provide for your card request

Copies of the following documents must be sent to the Prefecture:

  • Identity Card (CNI: titleContent) back or back or passport
  • Valid driving licence
  • Proof of passing the exam
  • Positive medical opinion (cerfa 14880)
  • 2 recent photos

FYI  

Your card is only valid for your activity in the department where you passed the test.

You wish to carry out your activity in a different department than the one where you took the exam.

This extension is called the interdepartmental mobility.

Warning  

You have the right to practise in 4 maximum.

Perform a required internship

To be able to practise in another department, you must pass a continuing education.

It lasts 14 hours (or 35 hours in Paris).

The purpose of the internship is to gain knowledge about 2 items following:

  • New geographical, cultural and tourist territory
  • Local regulation

You find list of approved training centres on website of your prefecture.

Who shall I contact
Request a new business card

If you validate the internship, you receive a certificate.

You must apply of new card on which are indicated the new departments where you can exercise.

To do this, you must fill out a mobility application form.

This new card is paying.

Its cost is about €60payable online on the simplified steps.

Request for mobility of the taxi driver's professional card

The taxi licence is officially called parking authorisation (ADS).

More commonly, we talk about plate.

It mandatory for all craft taxis, but not for taxis.

You can get it from 3 ways ::

  • Ask your town hall for free
  • Buying it from another taxi
  • By renting it to a specialist company

Warning  

You can't get it if you don't have business card.

Free

General case

You must register on a wait list to your town hall.

Registration for your application must be renewed every year.

Timeout is often very long in large cities (several years).

The priority is given to taxis or leasing a licence and already in operation since at least 2 yrs.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

If resell licence obtained free before 1to October 2014, you must wait 15 years activity without discontinuous.

Paris

You must register on a wait list to police prefecture in Paris.

Registration for your application must be renewed every year.

Timeout is often very long (several years).

The priority is given to taxis or leasing a licence and already in operation since at least 2 yrs.

Warning  

If resell licence obtained free before 1to October 2014, you must wait 15 years activity without discontinuous.

Purchased

You can buy your licence from a taxi that sells his.

The price is set by the seller.

It can vary between €30,000 and €300 000.

Example :

In Paris, the cost of a licence is about €190 000. In Nice, €250 000.

You can't buy a licence that a taxi got for free after the 1to October 2014. If he obtained it free of charge forward this date, he can sell it to you only after 15 years minimum of non-discontinuous use.

Warning  

You can resell a purchased licence, provided that 5 years of use without discontinuity.

Rented

You can rent a licence to a Specialised company in the rental of taxi licences.

You sign management lease with the company.

The minimum contract duration is 1 year.

You have to pay monthly for the licence.

The price of the rent depends on the company of rental.

Characteristics of your status

You are an entrepreneur independent.

It is the rental company that has to service your car.

You collect all of your receipts.

You are not covered by unemployment insurance if you stop working.

How long is it valid?

Your licence is valid 5 years.

You have to request for renewal3 months the end of validity.

Vehicle characteristics

Your business vehicle must have 9 seats maximum (driver included).

It must include the following:

  • Rectangle with roof lighting. The taxi endorsement must be included. The name of the municipality in which you practise must be entered in the register. It lights up green when the taxi is free, red when it is busy.
  • Taximeter called counter which measures the time of the race and the number of kilometres made
  • Smartphone with an internet connection and driver application approved by the.taxi
  • Terminal electronic payment (credit card terminal)
  • Printer connected to the metre to give a note of the race to the customer
  • Plate fixed to the vehicle and visible from the outside indicating the licence number and the department or departments where the driver is authorised to exercise
Know the regulated tariffs

You should be aware of your obligations as a taxi driver, including regulated tariffs.

Ensure your vehicle and your business

Remember to insure your vehicle as a professional vehicle and take out insurance for your business.

This is insurance."professional liability"that you can ask from all insurers.

Technical inspection

The technical inspection is mandatory 1re year of your activity, and 1 times a year.

He is your initiative, you do not receive any reminders.

Renew your ADS: titleContent (licence)

You should consider renewing your ADS.

It is valid 5 years.

3 months at the end of validity, you must continuous training.

Hard training 2 days (14 hours).

If you validate the training, you receive a certificate.

You find list of approved training centres on website of your prefecture.

Who shall I contact
Vehicle technical inspection

You must perform the technical inspection of your vehicle 1 times a year.

This approach must be made of your own initiative.

Please note

You do not receive a reminder or call to do so.

Electronic Marker

The marauding electronic mandatory since december 2021.

You must choose a "driver" application approved by the state start-up called le.taxi.

You must connect to availability register taxis, called: taxi.

Taxi availability register: le.taxi

You can view driver's guide to use this register.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

To small and medium-sized and micro-entreprises, do you have a business project, a difficulty or a question ?

Quick and simple public service: you will be contacted over the phone by one of our experts.

Speak with an advisor on Place des Entreprises