Taxis or Ubers? Which is faster? Which is cheaper? In this article, we’ll present a detailed analysis of the reliability, prices, and user-friendliness of these two transportation options in Lyon.
Table of Contents
In short
- Speed: Taxis have the advantage of dedicated lanes in the city, which can speed up journeys, while Uber offers a faster booking experience and often reduced waiting times.
- Cost: Uber tends to be cheaper than traditional taxis for similar journeys, although Uber fares can vary according to supply and demand.
- Safety: Taxi drivers are professionals, which can offer an added sense of security, while Uber offers features such as driver ratings and accessibility options.
Lyon Taxis
Taxi pricing
In Lyon, the price of a taxi ride is determined by a prefectural decree.
The criteria that determine the price are:
- The timing, and whether or not the customer gets off at a taxi station – represented by the letters A, B, C and D (to be defined below)
- The pick-up price
- The distance
- Additional costs (if there are 5+ people, 3+ suitcases, and if the reservation was immediate (€2) or in advance (€4))
- A minimum price – €8
Time Slots
| A | from 7am to 7pm with the customer getting off at a taxi station |
| B | from 7pm to 7am, Sundays, and holidays with the customer getting off at a taxi station |
| C | from 7am to 7pm with the customer not getting off at a taxi station |
| D | from 7pm to 7am, Sundays, and holidays with the customer not getting off at a taxi station |
Pricing
| Pick-up | Per kilometer | Per minute | |
| A | €3 | €0.98 | €0.65 |
| B | €3 | €1.47 | €0.65 |
| C | €3 | €1.96 | €0.65 |
| D | €3 | €2.95 | €0.65 |
Taxi Lyonnais (TL)
The number-one taxi company in Lyon is Taxi Lyonnais (also known as TL). This company has operated taxis in Lyon for over 50 years and owns more than 30% of the taxis in Lyon.
They offer a wide range of options:
- TL ECO: The most basic option with over 200 cars. It’s also the cheapest.
- TL VIP: An option with bigger and more luxurious cars as well as a more considerate driver who will do all he can to help you.
- TL MINIBUS: Over 50 vehicles that can carry up to 8 passengers and all their luggage. This is ideal for large groups.
- TL ACCESS: An option for disabled customers. All cars are equipped with a ramp and a nonslip floor as well as four seats for helpers at no extra charge.
- TL EVENT: A system that reserves up to 150 cars for the guests and/or participants in an event.
- TL CONVENTIONNÉ: A social security approved system for medical transportation.
- TL TOURNÉE: A system that reserves cars for regular trips with drivers who are specially trained to assist with the handicaps of their potential passengers.
We like:
- A large selection of cars
- An option for the disabled that takes into account the specifics of their situation
- Subscriptions for both professionals and individuals
Click here for more information on their website
My Taxi Lyon
My Taxi Lyon offers taxis in the entire Auvergene-Rhône-Alpes region and also has cheaper prices.
We like:
- The area covered by this company
- Their relatively low prices
We don’t quite like:
- There are next to no options
Click here for more information on their website – French
Uber, the Passenger Car with a Driver
UberX (cheapest)
| Pick-up | €1.96 |
| Per kilometer | €1.05 |
| Per minute | €0.31 |
Uber Black (premium cars and services)
| Pick-up | €5.00 |
| Per kilometer | €1.60 |
| Per minute | €0.50 |
First of all, the Uber app is very user-friendly. Uber has been the leader in the industry for over ten years thanks to its many options that cater to a variety of needs.
The options include:
- UberX: basic and cheap
- UberVan: for large groups with lots of luggage
- UberSelect: high-class cars
- UberBlack and UberBlack SUV: comfortable and beautiful cars
- UberLux: quality drivers and luxury cars
Uber also has three additional options:
- UberShare: You will be taken together with other people going to the same place as you are.
- UberAccess: For disabled people. The drivers have all been trained to assist people with different types of handicaps.
- UberGreen: Hybrid and electric cars. Surprisingly, this option costs the same as UberX.
We like:
- The drivers’ responsiveness
- The incredibly cheap UberShare option
- The many different types of cars
We don’t quite like:
- Drivers can’t drive in taxi/bus lanes
Taxi vs Uber in Lyon: Price Comparison
Here are some comparisons of trips in Lyon:
| Itinerary | Notre Dame de Fourvière Basilica → Parc de la Tête d’Or (7.1km) | Mur des Canuts → Fresque des Lyonnais (3.4 km) | City Hall → Lyon-St. Exupéry Airport (28 km) |
| Uber | €21 | €25 | €52 |
| Taxi Lyonnais | €36 | €23 | €77 |
| My Taxi Lyon | €40 | €25 | €70 |
Note: To calculate the price of a trip, Uber uses a “dynamic pricing factor” that adjusts prices for supply and demand. This could cause Uber to cost more than a taxi. If this happens, we recommend waiting a few minutes then refreshing the app to get a lower price.
Taxi vs Uber in Lyon: Option Comparison
The first thing to note is that Uber is much less expensive. When it comes to comfort, however, people often favor taxis because they are driven by professional drivers.
If you are in a hurry, taxis also have their own lane and can use bus lanes, which can often make the trip faster.
Here is a table comparing the options offered by Uber and the Lyon taxi companies:
| Uber | Taxi Lyonnais | My Taxi Lyon | |
| How to reserve | App or website | Taxi stops, telephone, website | Taxi stops, telephone, website |
| Maximum passengers | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| Average grade | 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 | N/A |
| Approach expenses | No | Yes | Yes |
| Airport trip price | irregular | stable | stable |
| Family cars | UberVan and UberBlack/SUV | TL Minibus | Van |
| Hybrid cars | UberGreen | No | No |
| SUV | UberBlack and UberLux | TL VIP | No |
| Disabled person-friendly | UberAccess | TL Access | No |
| Different people on the same trip | UberShare | No | No |
| Taxi/bus lanes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Social security approved | No | TL Conventionné | No |
| Waiting at the airport/train station | No | Yes | Yes |
| English-speaking driver | No | Yes | No |
| Domestic animals allowed | Depends on the driver | No | No |
| Subscriptions | No | TL Tournées | No |
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