How can a VTC or private-hire driver earn more?

How much does a VTC driver earn today?

In 2024, France counted about 71,300 VTC drivers active on the platforms. Almost half (46.9%) earned between €30 and €35 gross per hour of activity, and 60% of rides were paid between €9 and €15 (ARPE, ONT3P observatory, 2024). Those are gross figures: the car, energy, insurance and social contributions still come out of them.

Under the sector agreements approved by the ARPE, a ride ordered through a platform pays the driver at least €9 net, with floors of €30 per hour of activity and €1 per kilometre. The floors stop the worst from happening. They won't lift your income on their own.

Where does the money from a ride go?

Worked example, for a ride the passenger pays €40:

In both columns you still owe VAT (10% on passenger transport in France, if you are registered), energy and social contributions. What changes is the commission, and it goes on every single ride.

What actually raises income?

Direct rides first. You don't need many: a handful of regular clients is enough to move the average, since their rides pay no commission.

Then the quiet hours. A 5:30 a.m. run to Roissy, booked the night before, beats an hour sitting in a car park waiting for the app to ping. Better-paid work follows the same logic (long distance, hourly hire, business travel), but it needs a client who already knows you.

Two smaller adjustments take less effort:

• Cut empty kilometres by grouping your direct bookings around your area and avoiding long drives home with no passenger.
• Track your net income per hour, not per ride. A short, well-placed ride sometimes pays more than a long one that leaves you empty on the far side of the county.

Should you quit the apps to earn more?

No, or at least not all at once. The apps bring volume and your direct clients bring margin. Most drivers who do better run both, then ease off the apps as their clients fill the week. See How do you go independent as a VTC driver without depending on Uber and Bolt?

What should you not do?

• Pick up a passenger with no booking. That is plying for hire, which VTC drivers may not do in France. Every direct ride must be booked before pickup.
• Suggest to a passenger that you redo an app ride outside the app. While the passenger is on an Uber or Bolt ride, the app's rulebook is the one that counts.
• Undercut to win people over. A price that always sits below the apps doesn't hold for long (see How should a VTC driver set prices for direct clients?).

What do you need to get booked direct?

The basics cost nothing: a Google Business Profile, WhatsApp Business and your number on a plain business card. A home-made site on Wix or WordPress works too, if you have the time to build it and keep it up to date.

Chauffeur Pro gives VTC and private-hire drivers a website, a QR code and business cards so their passengers book them direct, with no commission. It is a subscription: you set the fare with your client, and no commission is taken from it. Chauffeur Pro is not affiliated with any ride-hailing app.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Uber take from a VTC ride?

Uber charges a service fee that changes from one ride to the next. It is often estimated at around 25% of what the passenger pays, sometimes more on certain trips. Each ride's breakdown is in the driver app.

Is there a minimum income for VTC drivers in France?

Yes, on the platforms: at least €9 net per ride, €30 per hour of activity and €1 per kilometre, under the sector agreements approved by the ARPE. With your direct clients those minimums don't apply, because you set the price with them.

How much do a few direct clients bring in?

Worked example: take five airport transfers a week at €60, booked direct. Compared with an app at 25%, you keep €15 of commission on each ride, so €75 over the week. Run the numbers again with your own trips and prices.

Is a VTC driver allowed to have their own clients?

Yes, if they are self-employed and every ride is booked before pickup. Keep a record of the booking (a message, an email) with the date, time and pickup place. See Can a VTC driver take direct clients?