Become a ride-hailing driver

Verified 12 August 2026 - Entreprendre Service Public / (Prime Minister)

Do you want to become a driver of a VTC (chauffeur-driven transport car)? For this, you must fulfill conditions like holding the license for 3 years, pass an exam, have the business card VTC, register at VTC register. You must choose the legal form of your company (micro-entrepreneur, IS: titleContent, business). We present you with the necessary information.

Step-by-step approach

The conditions for practicing the profession of VTC driver are as follows:

  • Have the driver's license (category B for VTCs, category A for VMDTR: titleContent) for 3 years minimum (or 2 years if you have been driving accompanied)
  • Have a criminal record exempt from certain convictions on the bulletin n°2
  • Have passed a medical check which gave rise to a positive medical opinion certifying that you can practice this profession (cerfa n°14880). Only a licensed doctor can do this check. It's not your doctor. You can find the list of approved doctors on the website of your prefecture
  • Succeed the theoretical and practical examination of VTC driver.

Please note

The exam is accessible regardless of the candidate's level of education.

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

Warning  

As of August 12, 2026, professional experience no longer allows access to the profession of VTC driver. THEexamination is now thesingle access route. Applications for a professional card made before this date are not subject to this obligation.

It is impossible to work as a VTC driver if one of the following convictions appears on bulletin No. 2 of the criminal record:

  • Conviction for an offense punishable by the Highway Code by a reduction of half of the maximum number of points of the driving license
  • Conviction for driving a vehicle without holding a driving license corresponding to the category of the vehicle used or for driving despite the cancelation of the driving license or despite the prohibition on obtaining the issue of the license, or for refusing to surrender his driving license after its invalidation or cancelation
  • Sentence handed down by a French or foreign court to a criminal or correctional sentence of at least 6 months' imprisonment for theft, fraud, breach of trust, willful violation of personal integrity, sexual assault, arms trafficking, extortion or drug offenses.

How to anticipate difficulties?

These courses are optional, but recommended for your success.

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

Please note

Learn about the differences in exercise between taxi driver and VTC driver.

Make a business plan

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

It's a essential file for convince the banks to support you.

It is also a management tool over the first 3 years.

We explain how to develop it.

Who can help you?

FYI  

Before you start, we offer you tips and tools for preparing to become a head of company.

You can also request different support solutions.

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

The CCI also offer personalized follow-up on your project.

Get closer to theCCI: titleContent from your region :

What training?

Training to become a driver VTC: titleContent or VMDTR: titleContent is highly recommended to get a chance to pass the exam. But it is not mandatory.

Training can last between 50 and 300 hours about.

The duration varies according to the training center and the place where you perform it.

The content of the training is intended to preparing for the VTC exam.

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

Where to find a VTC training?

You find there list of approved training centers on the website of the CMA: titleContent of your department.

How much does the training cost?

It can cost between €400 and €3,000 about.

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

Its price varies according to the training center and the number of hours.

You can use your personal training account.

You can get aid for its financing seeking advice from France Travail (formerly Job center).

Who shall I contact

  • By phone 

    39.49

    • To update your situation, report a change of situation, inform you of a payment: automated service 7 days a week, 24 hours a day - Free service + call price
    • To be put in contact with an advisor to register, inquire, modify an appointment: service accessible at the times set by each agency France Travail (formerly Job center) - Service gratuitous + price call

    From foreigner: + 33 1 77 86 39 49

    By courier

    Access via the contact form

Please note

Most training centers offer distance learning, so that you can prepare (even in the event of a health crisis, for example).

How do I register for the exam?

You must register on the website of the CMA: titleContent of your region.

The cost of registration is €200 approx. You can pay online.

What are the tests?

The event takes place in 2 parts :

  1. Knowledge Tests
    • Management company and accounting
    • Trade negotiation and loyalty
    • Regulation on the activity of VTC
    • Regulations on gender-based offenses and/or sexual and on the discrimination (definition, prevention, penalties incurred)
    • Rules of road safety
    • Mastery of French and theenglish
  2. Practical test :
    • 20-minute route from driving as a driver of VTC or VMDTR: titleContent. You must prepare the route, secure it (anticipate difficulties, works, facilitate the journey) and carry it out.
    • The examiner then checks:
      • Your knowledge on the territory traveled (geographical, cultural, tourist)
      • Your ability to welcome a customer

When you succeed the exam, you receive a certificate from the CMA: titleContent.

Once you have passed the VTC exam, you can set up your company. You then have to choose your legal form.

There are 2 main legal forms:

  • Individual business (EI). Micro-company (or self-company) is an individual business benefiting from a simplified tax and social regime.
  • Business: EURL, SASU, SARL (if you have one or more associates), etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of micro-company

not to be exceeded

To benefit from the micro-company, your turnover must not have exceeded a certain threshold in each of the previous 2 years.

In 2026, this threshold is €83,600 for the provision of services and the liberal professions and €203,100 for trade and accommodation activities.

For 2025, the turnover threshold was €77,700.

Strengths

The status of the micro-company allows to pay very little or no social contributions.

Your administrative procedures are shorter, faster.

Weaknesses

In micro-company, you can't deduct business expenses from your taxes, or recover the TVA.

You have little social protection (illness, retirement, unemployment, etc.).

You cannot combine multiple different activities (i.e. with 2 different unique Siren ID numbers).

You can carry out 2 different activities but in the same micro-company, so these 2 activities must be linked (e.g. a bicycle seller and repairman).

For more information, please visit: What consequences for a micro-entrepreneur who exceeds the turnover thresholds?

Advantages and disadvantages of business

Strengths

With the business status, you can deduct your business expenses from your taxes.

You have maximum social protection.

You can partner.

You can hire one or more employees.

Weaknesses

Administrative procedures in the form of business are longer.

You must write and save your business' statutes.

If you have a partner, you have to make the decisions together.

As a VTC driver, you are responsible craft sector. As such, your company must be registered in the National Register of companies (RNE) in the craft trades sector.

You must register it ( individual business, micro-company business on the website of the company formalities office:

Window of company formalities

The declarant shall create a personal account. Then he must click on the column " Company » and then on « File a company formality ». One interactive online form of 8 pages is proposed to him; he must fill it out step by step. Instructions for use are available on this Single Window website.

The registrant must digitize and then upload the supporting documents following:

The company Formalities Window shall send the declarant a acknowledgement of the file. If a document is missing, he is informed and has a 15 days renewable 1 time to transmit the missing supporting document.

The companies' formalities department stores this data for a maximum of 3 years (the information in the declaration and the supporting documents provided).

If you have validated the exam, the CMA: titleContent sends you the certificate of success. Upon receipt, you must request your business card. It is essential to practice.

What is the VTC card?

You must have the VTC professional card to carry out your activity.

It must be renewed every 5 years.

The card must be prominently displayed on the windscreen of your vehicle and visible from the outside.

You can remove it when you are not doing your business.

FYI  

It is valid on the entire national territory. It allows you to travel there as a professional. However, in case of a move, you must report your new residence address on the VTC register in your personal online account.

The professional VTC card is fee-paying.

After the request, the declarant receives an email from the Imprimerie nationale to make the payment. The cost is about €60.

How to apply for the business card?

The approach is different depending on the type of transport (VTC or VMDTR: titleContent) and recognition of competences (examination or equivalence).

VTC

The approach is different depending on the recognition of qualifications: examination or equivalence of diplomas.

As a result of passing the exam

The registrant must apply for a VTC professional card only online:

Apply for the Professional Transport Car Driver Card with Driver (VTC) by exam

By equivalence of diplomas

The registrant must apply for a VTC business card only online:

Apply for the professional driver card of a chauffeur-driven transport car (VTC) by equivalence

VMDTR

As a result of passing the exam

The registrant must apply for a VMDTR business card only online:

Apply for the Professional Driver Card for a two or three-wheel vehicle with driver (VMDTR) by examination

By equivalence of diplomas

The registrant must apply for a VMDTR business card only online:

Apply for the Professional Driver's Card for a two or three-wheeled vehicle with driver (VMDTR) by equivalence

Please note

The fine for holding an invalid business card is €1,500.

In case of loss or theft, you must apply for a new card according to the same procedure and pay the same rate.

Registration for the VTC Card Control Service

Drivers holding the professional card are all automatically registered on the online VTC card control service, called "Cerberus Authentication Portal".

This service allows customers and booking platforms to check the validity of cards.

Check the validity of VTC business cards

Registration at the Register of VTC operators is mandatory to carry out the activity.

It must be done online. Its cost is €170, payable online on the registry website.

Application for registration in the Register of Operators of Chauffeur Driven Transport Cars (REVTC)

For a 1re registration, the following documents must be provided:

  • Certificate of professional civil insurance
  • Proof of company registration: Siren number, proof of registrationat RNE: titleContent or extract Kbis
  • Copy of Certificate of Registration (vehicle registration certificate)
  • Copy of the VTC business card
  • Proof of the financial guarantee from €1,500 for each vehicle used regularly. This warranty is not required if you own the vehicle or rent it (rental longer than 6 months). In this case, you must provide any proof of ownership or rental.

Warning  

As of June 27, 2026, operators must report in the register the names of the drivers they employ, their business card number, and the license plates they operate.

Registration allows access to a personal account. The operator must register there all events of his professional life.

Any change of situation, including a change of address, or the cessation of activity, must be reported within 3 months.

In addition, this registration must be renewed every 5 years.

Warning  

Since the June 27, 2026, the penalties for fraud or illegal pursuit of the activity of VTC have been strengthened.

  • THEabsence of registration in the register of VTC operators is now punished by 3 years' imprisonment and €45,000 a fine for a natural person, and €225,000.
    The judge may also pronounce against natural persons additional penalties following:
    • Suspension of driving license for a maximum of 5 years
    • Detention of the vehicle used to commit the offense for a maximum period of 1 year
    • Confiscation of the vehicle used to commit
    • Prohibition to appear in certain places or categories of places determined by the court in which the offense was committed (stations, airports, etc.)
  • The making available by an operator of its registration in the register of VTCs with a third party is prohibited whether free of charge or for remuneration. Thus, the operator of a VTC who lends or leases his registration to a third party is considered to be his employer. This provision is automatically considered to be an employment contract. It also entails the immediate removal of this operator from the register, with a ban on re-enrollment of up to 3 years.
    In addition, the officer of that operator may be prohibited, for a maximum period of 3 years, from acting as the officer of an operator registered in the register of VTC operators.

You have the choice between several types of contact with your customers.

Here are the 2 main possibilities:

  • Register on one or more VTC booking platforms (for example, Uber, Heetch, Bolt, Free Now, Marcel, Allocab, LeCab, etc.). They will be able to regularly send you requests for groceries from customers using their applications. In return, you will have to pay a commission to the platform levied on each race. This fee may vary depending on the platform. Similarly, the pricing conditions of a race vary from one platform to another.
  • Develop your own customer portfolio in total independence. This autonomous option does not prevent you from being a partner of hotels, airports, tourist agencies, etc.

The full list of reservation centers is available on the website of the Ministry of Ecology:

List of reservation centers for private public transport of persons

Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion

Pour en savoir plus

Please note

Platforms also sometimes offer "turnkey" courses with exam registration, training, etc.

VTC car (4 wheels)

Your car must comply with the following characteristics:

  • Have Entered 4 and 9 seatsincluding driver
  • Seniority 7 years maximum (unless it is a vintage car)
  • Minimum 4 doors
  • Minimum dimensions: 4.50 m x 1.70 m
  • Engine power (net): not less than 84

Please note

These limitations do not apply to hybrid and electric vehicles.

Professional Insurance

You must take out insurance for your company, called professional liability.

You can request it from all insurers.

Please note

If you don't have insurance, you risk a fine that can go up to €3,750.

Thumbnail

You must display signage Transport car with driver (VTC).

This is a red sticker required.

You must request your thumbnail.

The request is made using your personal space on the register of VTC:

Application for registration in the Register of Operators of Chauffeur Driven Transport Cars (REVTC)

Its cost is €35 approximately, payable online on the registry website.

Pending the final thumbnail, you can receive a temporary thumbnail.

It has a maximum duration of 30 days. After this period, you must put the final sticker.

The temporary sticker must be placed in front of the vehicle, in the corner of the front windshield, bottom left, on the side of the driver's seat.

It shall include the following information:

  • Registration number of the company in the register of VTC (in the 1er white square)
  • Vehicle registration number (within 2nd white square)

It must be glued to 2 places following:

  • At the front of the vehicle: in the corner of the front windshield, bottom left, on the side of the driver's seat
  • At the rear of the vehicle: in the corner of the rear windshield, lower right, opposite the driver's seat

Warning  

He is forbidden to use a luminous external device, to avoid confusion with taxi activity.

VMDTR (2 or 3 wheels)
Vehicle characteristics
  • Engine with a net power of 40 or more
  • Seniority 5 years maximum

Please note

These limitations do not apply to hybrid and electric vehicles.

Professional Insurance

You must take out insurance for your company, called professional liability.

You can request it from all insurers.

Please note

If you don't have insurance, you risk a fine that can go up to €3,750.

Thumbnail

You must display signage Transport car with driver (VTC).

This is a blue sticker required.

It is square and measures 8 x 8 cm.

You must request your thumbnail.

The request is made online using your personal space on the VTC register :

Application for registration in the Register of Operators of Chauffeur Driven Transport Cars (REVTC)

Its cost is €35 approximately, payable online on the registry website.

Pending the final thumbnail, you can receive a temporary thumbnail.

It has a maximum duration of 30 days. After this period, you must put the final sticker.

Parking and marauding prohibited

The marauding is prohibited. This practice consists of driving slowly empty in search of a customer. The driver is not allowed to be hailed by a customer on the street. This practice is reserved for taxis.

FYI  

The marauding electronic, just like physical marauding, is forbidden to the drivers of VTC.

The VTC driver must not park on the public highway. After completing a ride, the driver of a VTC who does not have a registered reservation, must return to park:

  • or the location of the company operating the car: the driver's home if he is self-employed, the company's registered office;
  • Either in a place, off the road, where parking is allowed (garage, parking).

FYI  

Around a station or airport (or inside), the VTC driver can park to wait for a customer who has booked. Ec parking shall not exceed 1 hour maximum.

Prior reservation required

The driver of VTC is not allowed to take a customer who does not have booked his race in advance.

The VTC driver must be able to prove each prior reservation in case of control.

For this purpose, it may provide the control officer with a supporting document, in paper or electronic format, including information following:

  • Name or company name and contact details of the business operating a chauffeur-driven transport car (VTC) or a two- or three-wheel motor vehicle (VMDTR)
  • Name and telephone number of the customer requesting a particular public transport service for persons for consideration
  • Date and time of the prior reservation made by the customer
  • Date and time of pick-up desired by the customer
  • Pick-up location indicated by the customer.
  • Operator's registration number on the VTC register (REVTC) instead of the Atout France number
  • Unique operator identification number (Siren) issued following registration in the National company Register (RNE) via the company Formalities Window

In the event that the information concerning the name and telephone number of the customer is not included in the proof, the driver must provide, without delay, to the control officer, the means of contacting the customer.

Warning  

Since the June 27, 2026, the penalties for taking care of a customer without prior reservation have been strengthened.

The driver shall be liable to a criminal penalty of 3 years' imprisonment and €45,000 a fine for a natural person, and €225,000.

The judge may also pronounce against natural persons additional penalties following:

  • Suspension of driving license for a maximum of 5 years
  • Detention of the vehicle used to commit the offense for a maximum period of 1 year
  • Confiscation of the vehicle used to commit
  • Prohibition to appear in certain places or categories of places determined by the court in which the offense was committed (stations, airports, etc.)

Rates of the races

The driver must be paid by the race.

The fare of the race can be:

  • Be fixed and determined to the race from the time of booking
  • Is calculated after the race as a function of the journey time and the distance traveled.

Prices are free and are not regulated, unlike taxis.

Minimum income per race

When the VTC driver is connected to a booking platform, each service, regardless of its duration or the distance traveled, gives rise to the payment to the driver, by the platform, of a minimum income of activity.

This minimum income per stroke must be equal or greater à €9.

In the case of a contract with a platform, this amount is calculated less the commission fees received by the platform, when it receives them.

This amount is subject to annual review in the light of economic conditions.

This minimum income is valid throughout the national territory.

Minimum guarantee of hourly income from activity

The driver must be paid for every hour worked at least €30 by the platform.

Income per kilometer browsed during a race must be from €1 minimum.

Please note

A new agreement of 19 September 2023 obliges platforms to better communicate information on the termination of commercial relations to the driver in advance.

As a VTC driver, you must offer customers a high quality service.

You can provide proof of this and advertise it through a quality label.

You can get the label for this « Destination of excellence ».

You must meet criteria related in particular to the following services:

  • Quality of reception of customers
  • Services offered in the vehicle (water bottle, digital tablets, etc.)
  • Proficiency in foreign languages
  • Comfort and cleanliness of vehicle
  • Eco-responsible practices.

The labeling application process is carried out on the online platform ofAtout France :

"Destination of excellence" label for tourism professionals

Please note

To learn more about this label, you can consult the following page: Destination of excellence: everything you need to know about this tourism label.

Renew your business card

Every 5 years, you need to renew your business card.

To obtain the renewal, you must make a continuing education course.

This internship lasts 2 days (14 hours).

If you validate the internship, you receive a attestation.

This must be done 3 months before the end of validity.

As soon as you receive the certificate of your continuing education internship, you can apply for your new card.

Renewal is subject to payment.

Its cost is about €60.

You find there list of approved training centers on the website of the CMA: titleContent of your department.

How to apply for the renewal of the business card?

The approach is different depending on the type of transport: VTC or VMDTR: titleContent.

VTC

The registrant must apply for the renewal of his professional VTC card only online, on the website of the simplified procedures:

Request the renewal of the driver's business card for a transport car with driver (VTC)

VMDTR

The registrant must apply for the renewal of his VMDTR professional card only online, on the website of the simplified procedures:

Request renewal of the 2 or 3-wheel motor vehicle driver's professional card (VMDTR)

Renew your registration in the VTC register

Every 5 years, as soon as you get your new card, you must re-register in the VTC: titleContent.

Application for registration in the Register of Operators of Chauffeur Driven Transport Cars (REVTC)

Do the technical inspection of the vehicle

You must carry out the technical inspection of your vehicle 1 time per year.

This approach stems from your own initiative.

Please note

you do not receive a reminder or a summons to do so.

Change Vehicle
VTC (car)

If you are a driver of VTC: titleContent, you must change of vehicle and use one new every 7 years (maximum).

Please note

if your car is a hybrid or electric vehicle, this limit does not apply.

2 or 3 wheels (VMDTR)

If you are a driver of VMDTR: titleContent, you must change vehicles and use one new every 5 years (maximum).

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • For any questions and information on the steps of the VTC

    For any question about the steps

    By phone

    09 74 36 31 72

    By email

    registre-vtc@developpement-durable.gouv.fr

  • For drivers' business card applications (except in Paris)

    Prefecture

  • For the professional card application of drivers living in Paris

    Paris Police Prefecture - Office of Taxi and Public Transport

FAQ