Taxi or private car in Strasbourg: which to choose? 2026 review

In Strasbourg as everywhere in France, taxis and private cars (VTC) are two passenger transport activities governed by different rules (French Transport Code, articles L. 3120-1 et seq.; Thevenoud Law of 1 October 2014).

The taxi holds a parking authorisation (ADS) issued by the municipality. This licence allows it to park on public streets while waiting for customers, use lanes reserved for taxis and buses, and be hailed directly in the street. Fares are regulated by prefectural decree and calculated by an approved meter.

The VTC (private car with chauffeur) must be pre-booked. It is not allowed to park while waiting for fares, cannot be hailed in the street and uses freely negotiated fares agreed upfront. VTC chauffeurs hold a professional card issued by the prefecture after an exam, and the company is registered in the EVTC registry of the French Ministry of Transport.

FJ13 is a VTC service registered with the EVTC registry under number EVTC067190060. FJ13 is not a taxi company and cannot become one: the quality of service offered (Mercedes E, S and V-Class, English-speaking chauffeurs, fixed prices) flows directly from the VTC business model.

In Strasbourg, taxi fares are set by the Bas-Rhin prefectural decree. In 2026 the grid includes a fixed pickup charge (around EUR 4), a per-kilometre rate (EUR 1.12 to 1.68/km depending on time slot and trip type) and an hourly rate for waiting. The fare is metered: the final total is known only on arrival.

A FJ13 private car operates with a flat-rate price announced at booking. From Strasbourg city centre to Entzheim airport, the fixed fare starts at EUR 45 in E-Class. To the TGV station: from EUR 20. To Colmar: from EUR 160. To Baden-Baden: from EUR 120. No surprises on arrival, the price is locked even in heavy traffic.

On short rides during off-peak hours, taxis can be slightly cheaper than VTC. For airport transfers, night rides (significant taxi B/C/D surcharges) and long distances, FJ13 VTC is generally competitive with higher quality. See the detailed fare grid.

A taxi in Strasbourg can be taken three ways: phone call to a dispatch centre, taxi rank (station, Place Kleber, hospital), or direct hailing in the street. The dispatcher sends the nearest taxi, usually available within 5 to 15 minutes during off-peak hours, with delays sometimes exceeding 30 to 45 minutes on Friday and Saturday nights, during Christmas markets or European Parliament sessions.

A private car must be booked in advance. FJ13 offers multiple channels: 24/7 online booking on fj13.fr, phone +33 3 74 47 26 67, email contact@fj13.fr, WhatsApp for existing clients. Confirmation is sent within one business hour with chauffeur name, vehicle model, colour and plate, and meeting point. The chauffeur is on site 5 to 10 minutes before the scheduled time.

For spontaneous city-centre rides (after dinner, returning from an unplanned night out), a taxi is faster to obtain. For any airport or station transfer, business meeting, post-show ride from the Zenith, wedding or seminar, a private car is more reliable because it is planned in advance with a guaranteed slot.

The Strasbourg taxi fleet is diverse: Toyota Prius, Skoda Octavia, sometimes Mercedes E-Class, Volkswagen Passat. Average age and equipment level vary by driver and company. The client does not choose the vehicle, simply takes the one that arrives.

FJ13 operates exclusively Mercedes-Benz: E-Class for urban rides, S-Class for executive and VIP missions, V-Class for delegations, seminars and families of up to 7 passengers. Fleet average age under 4 years, monthly maintenance, standard equipment: leather seats, mineral water, press, USB chargers, 4G Wi-Fi, child seats on request.

For an important business trip, an airport pickup after a long flight or a reception where the vehicle matters (wedding, gala, VIP welcome), VTC offers a service level that a standard taxi does not reach, unless a high-end taxi is specifically requested.

Strasbourg taxi drivers know the city and the Bas-Rhin perfectly. Their training focuses on local roads, taxi legislation and road safety. The client does not choose their driver and does not necessarily have a reference driver.

FJ13 chauffeurs hold the VTC professional card (theory and practical training, prefectural exam), are trained in institutional protocol (European Parliament, Council of Europe, European Court of Human Rights), all fluent in French and English, some in German for cross-border trips to Karlsruhe, Offenburg or Basel.

For corporate accounts, FJ13 assigns a reference chauffeur for recurring missions (CEOs, executives). This continuity is not possible with a taxi taken at random.

Choose a taxi in these situations: instant need without booking (after dinner, end of an evening, unplanned emergency), very short metered ride (station exit to hotel 800 metres away), no requirement on vehicle or driver, pickup at the foot of a taxi rank (station, hospital, Place Kleber).

Choose a FJ13 private car in these situations: transfer to Entzheim or Basel-Mulhouse airport (upfront fare, flight tracking), pickup at TGV station with platform welcome sign, business trip with strict punctuality and vehicle quality requirements, wedding, seminar, gala, event, long-distance transfer (Paris CDG, Frankfurt, Geneva, Zurich), corporate rides with centralised billing and VAT recovery, welcome of international English or German-speaking clients.

FJ13 offers a complete alternative to taxis in Strasbourg on every ride that can be planned. Free booking and confirmation, transparent upfront quote, card payment or company billing.