Private chauffeur in Paris: how hourly hire really works

Transfer or hourly hire: two ways to book

A transfer is a single journey from one point to another at a fixed price: for example, between Charles de Gaulle airport and Paris, 120 € in a sedan or 150 € in a van with Paseo Privado.

Hourly hire works differently: you book a length of time and the chauffeur stays with you throughout. He drives you, waits at each stop and sets off again when you decide. It is billed by the hour, 80 € in a sedan and 120 € in a van, taxes included, with a 3-hour minimum.

Why booking is always made in advance

In France, this service falls under the VTC category (private hire vehicle with driver). According to the official information published by the French administration, a VTC driver may not pick up a client who has not booked the journey in advance, and must be able to prove that booking if checked. Nor may he drive around or park on the public road in search of clients.

In practice, a private chauffeur is not hailed in the street: everything is arranged beforehand. With Paseo Privado, online booking is available from the following day.

One possible day in Paris, as a suggestion

There is no compulsory route. What follows is one way to organise the day, which you can shorten, reverse or change entirely; timings depend on traffic and on how long you wish to stay in each place.

If you wish to go inside a monument or museum, confirm opening hours, closing days and whether booking is required on each venue's official website before your visit. Bear in mind that a 20 % night supplement applies when the pick-up takes place between 10 pm and 6 am.

One important point: the chauffeur is not a licensed guide. He drives, waits and brings you back; he does not give guided tours. If you would like a qualified guide, one can be requested as an option, subject to availability.

• Morning, Right Bank: the Trocadéro esplanade, with its view of the Eiffel Tower across the Seine; then the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe.
• Afternoon, your choice: the Left Bank, with Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, or the Marais, on the Right Bank, for an unhurried walk.
• Evening: a drive through Paris illuminated, with photo stops along the Seine.

Sedan or van: which to choose

The premium sedan takes up to 3 passengers and 3 suitcases; it is the natural choice for a couple or a single traveller. The luxury van takes up to 7 passengers and 7 suitcases, and suits families and groups, or anyone travelling with a pushchair or planning bulky shopping.

Reference models are of the Mercedes E-Class and V-Class type; the exact model is confirmed with your booking. Child seats and boosters are provided at no charge: state each child's age when you book.

Adjusting the route and keeping the same chauffeur

The itinerary is not fixed at the time of booking. The concierge replies on WhatsApp, in English, Spanish or Portuguese, to adapt the plan: bring the pick-up time forward, add a stop or change the order of the districts if it rains.

If your stay lasts several days, you can ask the concierge for the same chauffeur on each service. It is a request, not a guarantee: it depends on scheduling, and is best made with your first booking.

How to book and pay with Paseo Privado

Booking is made online: choose the hourly chauffeur, the vehicle, the duration, the date and the pick-up place. The price appears immediately, taxes included, and the concierge confirms the details on WhatsApp. There are four ways to pay:

• Payment in full, with a 10 % discount and free cancellation up to 48 hours before.
• A 30 % deposit, with the balance due 48 hours before the service.
• Payment in three instalments.
• Cryptocurrencies.

Frequently asked questions