Private Hire / Taxi Licensing

[paulus]

I am considering several employment options for when I move to the Charente soon; one option I am considering is a private hire/taxi service to run people to and from any of the regional airports in the area. I would like to know if there is a license required to run this kind of service and also if a special insurance would be required to carry fee paying passengers. Can anyone help please?

[Cat]

Although I don't know of any specific laws, I am fairly sure that outside of large towns or cities, only one taxi service is allowed per commune.  Someone is bound to be along in a minute who knows more about this than me though.

[Sunday Driver]

Rules for private taxis are set down in the Loi n°77-6 du 3 janvier 1977 relative à l'exploitation des voitures dites de "petite remise".

Drivers may only use their vehicle for pre-booked trips for persons and their baggage. They may not park in taxi ranks or seek out clients at the kerb.  They may not display any external signage advertising their activity. Their vehicle may not be fitted with a radio, although this is sometimes tolerated in rural areas.

There is no specific licence requirement other than a valid driving licence with category B entitlement if the vehicle has less than nine seats including the driver. For a vehicle with more than nine seats, then a category D licence is required.

Authorisation to operate such a service must be obtained from the prefecture and applications must have the support of your mairie or police municipale. Authorisations are not transferrable.

Any breach of the above rules may result in a six month suspension of your authorisation. Anyone carrying out this activity without authorisation or whilst under suspension will be subject to a 4,500€ fine and possible confiscation of the vehicle.

You will, of course, require insurance covering carrying of passengers for hire/reward.