Parisian taxis: how to recognise the real deal

Boasting the status of one of the most iconic vehicles in the world, it’s easy to think we all know what a Parisian taxi looks like. But how can we really tell them apart from the rest? Here at taxi-resa.fr we asked ourselves this question and decided to share our findings with you! We’ll help you to understand the key features of a Parisian taxi and how to tell them apart from others of its kind.

Parisian taxis: qualifications needed to become a licensed driver

Taxi drivers in Paris join the ranks of qualified professionals who must follow strict rules and regulations to be able to practice in the city. The rules include the fact that a driver cannot have a previous criminal conviction. Drivers must have the professional license authorized by the city prefecture, and must have followed an intensive training course before becoming a Parisian taxi driver. This training course needs to be taken every 5 years to ensure taxi drivers are aware of all the most recent rules, regulations and systems. Lastly, a true Parisian taxi can never have more than 8 passengers aboard, according to the security rules put in place by the authorising body.

Parisian taxis: obligatory external features

So what makes the physical appearance of a Parisian taxi distinctive from others? The equipment used by the vehicle is of utmost importance: regulations and rules are in place for authorized taxis and their appearance. Let’s start with the external features.

Taxis in Paris are required to drive around with an obligatory “roof dome”, or white LED light with the word ‘taxi’ clearly visible. This dome lights up depending on the taxi’s availability: in Paris green means a free vehicle, whereas red means the taxi already has a passenger inside. A Parisian taxi without this light is like a bike without wheels!

The second key piece of gear a Parisian taxi needs is a specific registration plate which usually appears above the right hubcap on the vehicle. This plate gives the licensed number of the driver and is imperative in recognising a true Parisian taxi. If you see it, you can feel safe in the knowledge that your taxi is authentic.

The last external feature of a taxi is the aforementioned professional license card which appears in the windscreen on the left-hand side.

Features you’ll always find inside a Parisian taxi

As for the internal features of a taxi in Paris, you probably have in mind the notorious taxi meter dreaded by all passengers across Paris. The meter – situated on the dashboard – counts how many kilometres the taxi has driven to work out the overall cost.
Another key sign that you’re in a real Paris taxi is the transparent sticker on the back left window, reminding clients of the different fares available and also showing the registration number of that particular vehicle.
And if you’re still not sure that your Parisian taxi is 100% authentic, you can always ask the driver to print you out a car receipt – in French, a “bulletin de voiture”. This practice is exclusively reserved to official drivers.

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