10/01/2020
The main difference between a cab and a VTC driver is the quality of service provided. The other main difference is the rate, for the cab it is regulated while for the VTC driver it is free but must be announced at the time of booking. In the last few years, chauffeur-driven cars(VTC) have made their appearance to the great dismay of cabs. Numerous social movements have taken place in France over the last few years opposing cabs (the historical leader in passenger transport) to VTCs, who accuse them of unfair competition. The State has appointed Mr. Grandguillaume, a PS deputy in charge of finding a solution so that VTC and cab can agree on the organization of transport in France. The main point of discordance lies in the fact that cabs have paid a sometimes very expensive license, while VTC drivers do not have to pay any, which drastically reduces their expenses. Is this notable difference the only one between Taxi and VTC?
What are the main differences between cab and VTC?
| Difference | Cab | VTC |
|---|---|---|
| Discreet vehicle | No | Yes |
| Cost of care | Yes | No |
| Fixed price | No | Yes |
| Wifi | No | Yes |
| Water bottle | No | Yes |
| Cleanliness of the vehicle guaranteed | No | Yes |
| Reservation in advance | Yes with fees | Yes at no cost |
| Welcome with sign | No | Yes |
| Personalized service | No | Yes |
| Professional dress code | No | Yes |
Cabs, a different model from VTC!
At present, the whole vision of passenger transport in France has been called into question. How can cabs face the future? Will cabs disappear?
To be a cab driver is to accept the constraints imposed by the State. Indeed, the profession of Taxi driver is said to be “regulated”, that is to say that the prices are fixed by the State each year according to a very specific scale called Taxi rates. You will be able to realize the incidental expenses such as the reservation in advance (7€) or immediately (4€) of the cab driver. Is this scale justified in 2020? This question goes far beyond the Taxi/VTC conflict, does a magician reveal his secrets?
There is another tool that makes the difference with VTCs, it is the time stamp in cabs. This famous meter that customers fear is extremely detrimental to the cab driver community: not knowing the price of the service in advance is no longer in the cultural mores, today customers have expectations regarding transportation and a clear and defined price when booking their cab or VTC driver seems to be the norm.
The regulations do not only play tricks on them. Cab drivers have the power to park in designated areas, they can also marauder (unlike the VTC), that is to say they can take a customer on the public road (the hand up to order a Taxi). Finally the cab driver has the right to use the bus lanes, this advantage that the VTC driver does not have can be clearly determining for the customer depending on the time of his transport.
Price difference between cab and VTC
The profession of VTC driver has existed for several decades in the same way as cabs in the world of passenger transport. Initially created to take care of very rich and demanding customers (called the Grande Remise), the VTC is today compared to a cab. The VTC driver-client relationship application has democratized the VTC profession and today it is not uncommon to hear from a client: “I’m in a cab” when he is in a VTC.
A VTC driver has therefore a solid training on how to treat the customer during his trip, he has much less regulatory requirements than a cab driver. The strength of a chauffeur-driven car service compared to a cab is the personalization brought to the customer. Thus, a VTC driver will always aim for quality and comfort at the expense of travel time. The customer, when entering a car with driver, must have the impression to be in his house, as at home.
What does VTC mean?
The prices of the VTC driver, unlike the cab, are free. A VTC can charge any fare as long as it respects the universal rule of not offering a service at a loss (this is prohibited and some cabs suspect VTCs of driving at a loss despite the prohibitions). In general, customers appreciate the fact that the VTC must be booked in advance, and the price is established before the VTC driver arrives. This way, customers do not experience any unpleasant surprises, as some have with cabs. Another point of difference is the light on the roof of a cab which is not present on the car of a VTC driver, it is thus more difficult to identify a VTC than a cab.
In a chauffeur-driven car, the customer can be demanding, and it is not uncommon for a VTC driver to offer a bottle of water, sweets and above all unfailing kindness. A VTC driver has the obligation to be well dressed (usually in a suit) to respect the standards of the service to the person. This type of transportation is now in vogue, customers are very interested in VTC because the personalized service allows to put the human being in his right position: that of a customer who pays for a service of car with driver.
As explained for cabs, a VTC driver will not have the right to use reserved lanes (except for a few exceptions), he will not be able to base his price on a regulation like a cab and above all he will not be able to maraud on the public road, i.e. to park on a place along the road to wait for a reservation. Marauding thus allows cabs to keep their monopoly on direct transport, leaving the way open for VTCs to make advance reservations via applications/websites.
Price difference between cab and VTC
It is important to know that a VTC driver charges you by the journey unlike a cabWhether you are 1 or 5 people, whether you have 1 or 5 pieces of luggage, or whether you have no cash to pay, the VTC driver will be able to adapt and offer you a solution at a reasonable price. For example, in the city of Nantes, a downtown/airport package is on average between 25/30€, while airport cab packages are closer to 35/40€.
If today the situation between cab and VTC seems tense, the future of transport remains in the hands of customers. By taking the time to choose the right solution between VTC and cab it is possible to save money thanks to the two modes of transport proposed. To conclude, it should be noted that the VTC cannot take a person on the fly and must work on reservation unlike the cab. The costs will generally be higher with a cab and the range of vehicles is random. With a VTC you will have the insurance to have a vehicle of very good range.
We hope this article on the difference between cab and VTC has helped you.