How to become a taxi driver in France: complete 2026 guide

Becoming a taxi driver in France: the complete 2026 guide

The taxi driver profession is one of the oldest and most iconic in French passenger transport. With approximately 55,000 taxis operating in the country, including nearly 18,000 in Paris, it is a career that offers independence, flexibility, and daily human interaction. But becoming a taxi driver is not something you can improvise: you must meet strict requirements, pass a demanding exam, and obtain a parking authorization. This guide walks you through every step of the process.

Prerequisites

Before even registering for the exam, you must meet several mandatory legal requirements.

Age and license requirements

• Minimum age: 21 years (some departments accept candidates from 18 under certain conditions)
• Category B driving license: valid, with at least 3 years of seniority (2 years if accompanied driving was completed)
• No current suspension or cancellation of the license

Criminal record

You must present a clean criminal record (bulletin no. 2) free of certain entries. Convictions incompatible with the profession include:

• Serious traffic offenses (drunk driving, hit-and-run)
• Criminal offenses (theft, violence, fraud)
• Drug-related offenses

The prefect may nonetheless assess certain situations on a case-by-case basis.

Medical fitness

A medical fitness certificate for driving is mandatory. It must be issued by a doctor approved by the prefecture and covers:

• Visual acuity (minimum 5/10 for each eye, or 8/10 for one and 1/10 for the other)
• Hearing
• Physical and psychomotor capabilities
• Absence of incompatible conditions (unstabilized epilepsy, certain heart diseases, etc.)

This certificate must be renewed every 5 years (or more frequently after age 60).

PSC1 training (first aid)

Since 2017, candidates must also have completed PSC1-level first aid training (Prevention and Civic Rescue Level 1). This 7-hour course is provided by the Red Cross, fire departments, or other approved organizations. Cost: approximately 60 to 80 euros.

The professional capacity certificate exam

The exam is organized by the Chamber of Trades and Crafts (CMA) in your department. It consists of several tests covering the theoretical and practical knowledge required for the profession.

Exam components

The exam comprises two groups of tests:

Eligibility tests (common core for taxi/rideshare)

Admission tests (taxi-specific)

Subject details

Transport regulation

This test covers the legal aspects of the profession:

• The Transport Code and the Grandguillaume law (2016)
• Rights and obligations of the taxi driver
• Regulated fares and meter operation
• Mandatory insurance
• Passenger rights
• Administrative and criminal penalties

Road safety

Questions covering:

• The Highway Code (signage, right of way, safe following distances)
• Driving in difficult conditions (rain, snow, fog)
• Eco-driving and fuel consumption reduction
• Mandatory vehicle safety equipment
• Emergency situation management

Business management

Essential knowledge for the future self-employed taxi driver:

• Different legal statuses (self-employed, company, tenant)
• Simplified accounting and tax obligations
• Revenue and profitability calculation
• Social charges (RSI/SSI, URSSAF)
• VAT applicable to taxis

French

Test verifying the ability to:

• Understand administrative or regulatory texts
• Write professional correspondence
• Communicate clearly with passengers and authorities

Local geography

This is often the most feared test. It evaluates:

• Knowledge of main streets, avenues, and boulevards in the practice area
• Monuments, hospitals, train stations, government buildings, hotels, and tourist attractions
• Optimal routes between major points in the city
• Map reading and ability to propose alternative routes

Passing requirements

• Eligibility: achieve an average of at least 10/20 across all common core tests, with no grade below 6/20
• Admission: achieve an average of at least 12/20 on taxi-specific tests, with no grade below 6/20

The average pass rate is approximately 50 to 60% depending on the department.

Training: specialized driving schools

Choosing a training center

Training is not mandatory but strongly recommended. Nearly all candidates who pass the exam have completed training at an approved training center. These centers are often driving schools specializing in taxi training.

Duration and content

Typical program

• Regulation module: 60 to 80 hours
• Road safety module: 30 to 40 hours
• Business management module: 20 to 30 hours
• Local geography module: 80 to 120 hours (the most intensive)
• Languages module: 15 to 20 hours
• Practical scenarios and mock exams: 30 to 50 hours

Training financing

Several financing options exist:

• CPF (Personal Training Account): taxi training is eligible for CPF. If you have accumulated rights, you can finance all or part of the training
• France Travail (employment agency): job seekers can receive funding assistance (AIF)
• Self-financing: installment payment available at most centers
• Bank loan: some banks offer professional training loans

The parking authorization (ADS): the taxi license

Once you pass the exam, you must obtain a Parking Authorization (ADS), commonly called the "taxi license" or "plate." This is the right to operate as a taxi in a given municipality or geographic area.

Obtaining a free ADS

Since the Thevenoud law of 2014, new ADS are issued free of charge by city halls or prefectures. However, demand often far exceeds supply, creating waiting lists that can range from a few months to several years depending on the city.

• Paris: waiting list of approximately 3 to 5 years
• Lyon, Marseille: 1 to 3 years
• Medium-sized cities: a few months to 1 year

Buying or renting an existing ADS

ADS issued before 2014 are transferable (can be sold). The price of an ADS varies considerably by city:

Note: ADS prices have tended to decrease since the 2014 reform and the arrival of rideshare services. Purchasing is a significant investment that should be evaluated carefully.

Management lease

If you do not wish to or cannot purchase an ADS, a management lease is an alternative. You rent the ADS from a holder who no longer operates it, for a monthly fee. This is the most common solution for getting started.

Professional status: self-employed, employee, or tenant

Self-employed taxi driver (most common)

• You own or rent your ADS
• You are registered with the Trade Registry
• You are your own boss: you choose your hours and work area
• You are subject to the self-employed social security regime (SSI)
• Tax: BIC (Industrial and Commercial Profits) under simplified or micro-BIC regime

Employee of a taxi company

• You are employed by a company that holds ADS
• You receive a fixed salary + bonuses (often a percentage of revenue)
• Standard social protection (social security, unemployment, retirement)
• Less freedom but more financial security

Tenant (management lease)

• You rent the ADS and vehicle from an owner
• You pay a fixed monthly rent (1,000 to 2,500 euros depending on the city)
• You keep all revenue above the rent
• Intermediate status between self-employed and employee

Taxi driver income

Income varies considerably depending on the city, status, number of hours worked, and time of year.

Average revenue

Expenses to deduct (self-employed)

For a self-employed taxi driver, net income is calculated after deducting expenses:

• Fuel: 500 to 1,000 euros/month (depending on mileage)
• Vehicle insurance: 250 to 400 euros/month
• Maintenance and repairs: 150 to 300 euros/month
• Social charges (SSI): approximately 40 to 45% of net profit
• ADS rent (if leasing): 1,000 to 2,500 euros/month
• Accountant: 100 to 200 euros/month
• Vehicle leasing or loan: 400 to 800 euros/month

Average monthly net income of a self-employed taxi driver after expenses: 2,000 to 3,500 euros for 50 to 60 hours of work per week.

Advantages of the taxi driver profession

Independence and freedom

The main attraction of the profession is organizational freedom. As a self-employed driver, you choose your hours, days off, and work area. No boss, no office, no routine.

Human contact

Every ride is an encounter. Taxi drivers meet people from all walks of life: tourists, business professionals, families, public figures. It is a profoundly human and social profession.

Job security

The taxi sector knows no unemployment. Transport demand is constant and structural. Even during economic downturns, taxis remain in demand for airports, train stations, hospitals, and business travel.

Potentially high income

With experience and good organization, a taxi driver can achieve comfortable earnings, especially in large cities and during tourist seasons.

Access to bus lanes

A unique advantage of taxis: the right to use bus lanes in many French cities. This saves considerable time during rush hours and improves customer satisfaction.

Join TaxiNeo as a partner driver

If you are already a taxi driver or about to become one, TaxiNeo offers you an opportunity to grow your business through our platform.

TaxiNeo advantages for drivers

• Additional rides: access online bookings you would not have had otherwise
• Guaranteed fixed price: you know the amount of each ride before accepting it
• Secure payment: no risk of non-payment, payment is guaranteed by the platform
• Total flexibility: you choose which rides to accept, when you want
• No fixed costs: commission only on rides completed through the platform
• Dedicated driver app: simplified ride management, integrated navigation

How to become a TaxiNeo partner

1. 1.Register on the TaxiNeo Driver platform
2. 2.Provide your documents: professional card, ADS, insurance, vehicle registration
3. 3.Validation within 48 hours
4. 4.Start receiving rides

The taxi driver profession is a career with a future, despite common misconceptions. The demand for quality, regulated, and reliable transport continues to grow. And with TaxiNeo, taxi drivers have a modern tool to grow their business and satisfy their customers.