Experiences involving transportation in France
These information pages can help you get started in learning about some of the laws and registration requirements that may apply to your experiences on Airbnb. These pages include summaries of some of the rules that may apply to different sorts of activities, and contain links to government resources that you may find helpful.
Please understand that these information pages are not comprehensive, and are not legal advice. If you are unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your Experience, we encourage you to check with official sources or seek legal advice.
Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the laws or procedures have not changed recently.*
The rules that apply will depend on your intention to make a profit or not when you provide the passenger transport service. The duration of your Experience may also be relevant here (depending on whether it is a single Experience or an Immersion).
Passenger transport for a fee with a profit
I personally provide the passenger transport service (rules regarding taxis or drivers of chauffeured vehicles)
Case 1: I offer to drive my guests to the place of my Experience and to drive them back once it is completed. This service is subject to a fee and the price I charge is higher than the actual travel cost (i.e. price higher than the cost of gas and other expenses).
Do I need an authorisation or a licence for this?Yes, in order to transport passengers for a fee with a profit, you must hold a taxi licence or a chauffeured vehicle driver professional licence such “VTC” (carte professionnelle).
Details on the chauffeured vehicle driver professional licence
If the vehicle you are driving is a car, you are subject to Articles L. 3122-1 and following of the Transport Code. In particular, these require that you:
- have the necessary professional skills (which may involve successfully passing a specific exam);
- obtain a professional licence (carte professionnelle);
- undergo training every 5 years;
- own a vehicle which complies with a specific set of standards;
- be registered in an official register available here.
Further information here.
If the vehicle you are driving is a two or three-wheel vehicle (motorbike or scooter), specific rules apply pursuant to Articles L.3123-1 and following of the Transport Code.
Further information here.
What happens if I transport passengers for a fee with profit, without holding the necessary licence or professional card and / or without having completed the necessary registration?You may expose yourself to criminal sanctions (up to 1 year of imprisonment and a fine of €15,000), to administrative sanctions (warning or withdrawal of the professional card), as well as other repercussions including suspension of your driver’s licence and confiscation of the vehicle used to commit the offence.
What about insurance? Do I need to take out a specific insurance?Yes. As a driver of a passenger transport vehicle, you must take out at least two types of insurance:
- A liability insurance specific to taxis and chauffeured vehicle drivers (Article L. 3120-4 of the Transport Code) to cover any damage to the passengers and their goods;
- A standard automobile insurance (required under Traffic Regulations), see here.
I do not personally provide the transport service (rules regarding travel agencies)
Case 2: I wish to provide my guests with transport to the place of my Experience and from this location once it is completed. I do not drive and I will order a VTC, a taxi or another type of authorised transport. I plan to include the cost of this service in the price of my Experience. I wish to invoice a little more than the actual cost of the ride that I pay for the transport of my guests.
Do I need an authorisation or a licence for this?If my Experience lasts more than 24 hours, it is quite likely that this practice triggers the application of rules regarding package travel that apply to travel agents (in accordance with Articles L. 211-1 and L.211-2 of the Tourism Code). Travel agents are subject to different obligations, such as registering in an official register and taking out a professional liability insurance. Further information here.
If my Experience lasts less than 24 hours, it is possible that this practice triggers the application of the rules regarding “travel agents”. If you are unsure, you should check with a legal advisor.
Transport of passengers without making a profit
I personally provide the transport service
Case 3: I offer to drive my guests to the place of my Experience and to drive them back once it is completed. I do not wish to make a profit from this service.
Do I need an authorisation or a licence for this?No, the fact of transporting passengers without making a profit, either by invoicing the actual costs incurred (similar to the practice of carpooling), or totally free of charge (simple service rendered to the guest), does generally not require any licence or prior registration.
The legal requirement is not to make a profit by offering this service. In case of carpooling, the only costs you share correspond to expenses actually incurred (i.e. gas fill-up, tolls, maintenance costs, repairs, and vehicle’s automobile insurance).
What about insurance? Do I need to take out a specific insurance?Any car owner has a legal obligation to take out an automobile insurance. The lack of insurance may expose you to criminal sanctions (fine). In the event that you are not the owner of the vehicle you are driving (borrowed vehicle for example), it is necessary to verify whether you and your passengers are covered by the vehicle’s insurance. No additional specific insurance is required to provide passenger transport without making a profit (carpooling practice).
It is recommended to verify the terms of your insurance policy and the initial declarations made to your insurer.
Further information here and here.
I do not personally provide the transport serviceCase 4: I wish to provide my guests with transport to the place of my Experience and from this location once it has been completed. I do not drive and I order a VTC, a taxi or another type of authorised transport. I do not wish to make a profit from this service.
Do I need an authorisation or a licence for this?No.
What about insurance? Do I need to take out a specific insurance?No.
*Airbnb is not responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites (including any links to legislation and regulations).